10 Airport Transfer Tips to Save Money and Avoid Problems

Whether you're a first-time traveler or a seasoned road warrior, these practical tips will help you get the most out of your airport transfer — and avoid the most common pitfalls.

1. Book in Advance — Always

Pre-booking guarantees a fixed price, a waiting driver, and zero stress after a long flight. Walk-up taxis at airports are almost always more expensive, and in some countries, they're a scam waiting to happen. Book at least 24 hours ahead through a reputable platform.

2. Compare Prices Across Platforms

Prices for the same route can vary 30-50% between services. GetTransfer's auction model often delivers the lowest price, while Welcome Pickups charges more but includes extras like app tracking and child seats. Spend 5 minutes comparing — it can save you €10-20.

3. Share Your Flight Number

Always provide your flight number when booking. This lets the driver track your flight in real time and adjust if you're delayed. No extra waiting fees, no panicked phone calls. Every major platform monitors flights automatically.

4. Screenshot Your Booking Confirmation

Don't rely on internet access at the airport. Take a screenshot of your confirmation email — especially the driver's name, phone number, and vehicle details. You'll need it if airport WiFi is down or your roaming isn't working.

5. Know Where to Meet

Most drivers wait in the arrivals hall, just after you exit customs. At some airports, drivers wait outside or in a designated meeting point. Check your confirmation email for specific meeting instructions. If your platform has an app (Welcome Pickups does), it will guide you to the exact meeting spot.

6. Don't Accept "Taxi?" Offers in the Terminal

In many countries, unofficial taxi touts approach arriving passengers inside the terminal. They charge 2-5× the normal rate. Ignore them and head to your pre-booked driver, or use the official taxi rank outside. This is especially common in Istanbul, Cairo, Bangkok, and many Southeast Asian airports.

7. Check the Vehicle Before Getting In

Verify the license plate matches your confirmation. Check that the driver knows your destination. This takes 10 seconds and prevents the (rare but real) scenario of getting into the wrong car.

8. Carry Local Currency for Tips

Tipping isn't mandatory with pre-booked transfers, but it's appreciated in most countries. Have a few local currency notes ready — 10-15% or €2-5 is standard where tipping is customary. See our tipping guide for country-specific advice.

9. Book a Return Transfer at the Same Time

If you know your departure date, book your return airport transfer when you book your arrival. You'll have one less thing to worry about later, and some platforms offer small discounts for round-trip bookings.

10. Leave a Review

After your transfer, take 30 seconds to rate your driver on the platform. Reviews help other travelers make better choices, and they help good drivers get more business. If something went wrong, report it — reputable platforms take complaints seriously.

Bonus: Platform-Specific Tips

Each transfer platform has quirks worth knowing about. On GetTransfer, always sort bids by driver rating rather than just price — the cheapest bid isn't always the best value. On Welcome Pickups, download the app before you fly — it's the key to their real-time tracking feature and much more useful than the email confirmation alone.

On Kiwitaxi, check if your route has multiple vehicle classes available. Sometimes the price difference between Economy and Comfort is only €5–10, and the upgrade is worth it for a longer transfer. On intui.travel, use the 48-hour window on the Standard fare — book early and cancel with the full amount returned if plans change.

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

Despite the best planning, things occasionally go sideways. If your driver doesn't show up, wait 15 minutes (flights are tracked, so delays are usually accounted for), then call the driver using the phone number from your confirmation. If you can't reach the driver, contact the platform's support immediately — Welcome Pickups has in-app chat, others use email.

If the vehicle doesn't match what you booked, take a photo and report it through the platform after your ride. If you feel unsafe at any point, don't get in the car — walk back to the terminal and contact support for a replacement. Reputable platforms take safety issues seriously and will arrange an alternative.

Always document issues with screenshots and photos. This makes it much easier to get a refund or resolution through the platform's support team. Most platforms respond to complaints within 24–48 hours and will issue refunds for legitimate service failures.