Airport Transfers with Kids — Car Seats, Tips & Best Services

Traveling with kids adds complexity to every part of a trip — airport transfers included. The biggest question parents have: can I get a child car seat? Here's what you need to know.

Child Car Seats: What's Available?

Regulations on child car seats in taxis and transfer vehicles vary wildly by country. In many European countries, child seats are legally required. In Southeast Asia, they're rarely used even by locals. Regardless of local law, you'll want one for safety.

Welcome Pickups is the standout here — they offer free child seats on every route, including infant carriers, child seats, and booster seats. You select what you need during booking and it's ready in the car when you arrive. No other platform matches this.

Kiwitaxi, GetTransfer, and intui.travel all offer child seats on request, but availability depends on the local operator and there's often an extra fee (€5-15). If a child seat is critical, confirm availability before booking.

Best Service for Families

Welcome Pickups is our top recommendation for families. Beyond free child seats, their app-based tracking lets you see exactly where your driver is (calming for parents managing tired kids at baggage claim), and their curated drivers are experienced with families. The premium pricing is worth it when traveling with children.

On a tighter budget, Kiwitaxi offers reliable child seat availability on most popular routes at a lower price point. Just make sure to request the seat type during booking and double-check with customer support before your trip.

Practical Tips for Transfers with Kids

Book a larger vehicle. Even if you'd normally fit in a sedan, book a minivan when traveling with kids. The extra space for car seats, strollers, luggage, and a diaper bag makes a huge difference.

Bring your own car seat if you can. If you're renting a car at your destination anyway, bringing your own seat means you don't need to rely on the transfer provider. Gate-check it on the flight — most airlines do this for free.

Choose private over shared. Shared shuttles with kids are stressful — multiple stops, limited space, other passengers who may not appreciate a crying toddler. A private transfer gets you to your hotel faster and with less drama.

Request a meet-and-greet inside the terminal. All four platforms we compare offer this by default. The driver meets you inside arrivals, which means you don't need to navigate the airport with kids and luggage looking for a car.

Pack snacks for the ride. A 45-minute transfer after a 5-hour flight with a hungry 3-year-old is nobody's idea of fun. Small snacks and a tablet with downloaded content can save the day.

Age-Specific Recommendations

For infants (0–12 months), you'll need a rear-facing infant carrier. These are the hardest to source from transfer platforms — only Welcome Pickups reliably provides them on all routes. If using another platform, strongly consider bringing your own travel car seat.

For toddlers (1–4 years), a forward-facing child seat with harness is standard. Most platforms can provide these on request, though availability varies by destination. Confirm with customer support at least 48 hours before your transfer.

For older children (4–7 years), a booster seat is usually sufficient. These are more widely available across all platforms, as they're smaller and easier for operators to keep in their vehicles.

Children over 7–8 years typically don't need a special seat in most countries, though regulations vary. When in doubt, a booster seat provides extra safety and comfort on longer transfers.

What If the Car Seat Isn't Available?

It happens. If you arrive and the promised car seat isn't in the vehicle, you have a few options. If you brought your own (recommended for infants), install it yourself. If you didn't, ask the driver if they can source one — operators in tourist-heavy cities often have backup seats available from their base.

If no seat is available and you're not comfortable riding without one, ask the driver to wait while you contact the platform for a replacement vehicle. Document the situation and request a partial refund through the platform's support. This is rare with Welcome Pickups (their seat guarantee is strong) but can happen with marketplace platforms.

For critical travel with very young children, we recommend Welcome Pickups as the primary booking and Kiwitaxi as a backup — confirm child seat availability on both platforms before your trip. Having a Plan B gives peace of mind.