Travelling to Singapore With Kids? Here's How to Get Your Airport Transfer Right

Why Families Should Pre-Book — Not Grab

You have just landed after a 12-hour flight with two children, a pushchair, four suitcases, and two carry-ons. The youngest is already making known how they feel about the situation. This is not the moment to open an app, wait for a match, and then wonder whether the car that shows up will fit everything.

Grab and ride-hailing apps work well for solo travellers and couples with carry-on luggage. For families with young children, multiple bags, and a pushchair, the practical gaps appear quickly: standard sedans have limited boot space, drivers are not obligated to assist with loading, and there is no guarantee of vehicle size when you request a booking. At peak periods — school holidays, Friday evenings, public holiday arrivals — wait times can be long and surge pricing applies.

A pre-booked private transfer solves all of this. You confirm your vehicle size, luggage capacity, and any special requirements (car seats, extra stops) before you travel. Your driver is at the arrival hall with your name when you clear customs. The fare is fixed. The vehicle is loaded, and you are moving within minutes of meeting your driver.

Choosing the Right Vehicle for Your Family

For most families with children, the Toyota Alphard or Vellfire is the right vehicle for a Changi Airport transfer. Here is why:

The Alphard seats up to six passengers with a proper flat floor between the second and third rows — no awkward step over a wheel arch, no squeezing past a centre console. The boot accommodates three to four large suitcases with room for a pushchair. The cabin is wide enough that two children can sit in the second row without the lap-touching that makes any journey longer than it needs to be.

If you are travelling as a couple with one or two young children and only checked luggage (no pushchair), a Mercedes E-Class is a comfortable option and slightly lower in price. The boot fits two large suitcases comfortably.

For extended family trips — grandparents included, or two families travelling together — the Mercedes V-Class seats seven with full-size adult space across all three rows. It is genuinely spacious, not just technically capable of fitting the numbers.

Car Seats at Changi Airport Transfers

Singapore law requires children under 1.35m in height to use an appropriate child restraint in private vehicles. For airport transfers, Veloce Limo provides child safety seats on request — forward-facing, rear-facing, and booster options — at a surcharge of S$15 per seat.

Request the car seat when booking, specifying your child's age and approximate weight. This allows us to prepare the correct seat type and install it properly before your driver reaches the airport. Last-minute requests cannot always be accommodated, especially during busy periods.

Alternatively, if you are travelling with your own car seat (many families with infants do), your driver will assist with installation before departure from the arrival hall.

Navigating Changi with Children

Changi Airport is genuinely one of the most family-friendly airports in the world — but knowing where the family facilities are saves significant time and frustration after a long flight.

Nursing rooms and baby care facilities are available at all terminals. T3 has the most comprehensive facilities, including a dedicated children's play area near the transit area. If you have a long connection or your child needs immediate attention on arrival, T3's Level 3 transit zone is the best-equipped option.

Family immigration queues are available at all terminals. Look for lanes marked with a stroller icon. During school holidays, these queues can be longer than standard lanes — particularly at peak arrival times (7–10am and 4–8pm). Build extra time into your schedule during June and December school holiday periods.

Your Veloce Limo driver meets you at the Arrival Hall, Level 1 of your terminal. This is after you have cleared immigration and collected your bags. The exact meeting point is confirmed via WhatsApp on the day — your driver will send their location when you are close to clearing baggage.

What to Have Ready Before You Land

• Download and complete the Singapore Arrival Card (SG Arrival Card) before landing — this speeds up immigration significantly and is required for most foreign visitors
• Have your hotel address ready on your phone — you may be asked at immigration, and having it immediately accessible avoids fumbling
• Pack a small children's bag in your carry-on with nappies, a change of clothes, and snacks — accessible without opening checked luggage
• Confirm your WhatsApp booking with Veloce Limo the evening before your flight — your driver will acknowledge and send a reminder on departure day
• Note your terminal before landing — Singapore Airlines typically uses T1, T2, or T3; budget carriers including Scoot often use T3 or T2; T4 is used by Cathay Pacific, AirAsia, and Korean Air

Tips for a Calm Arrival With Kids

• Let your driver know if you expect a delay at baggage — oversized pushchairs often come off the belt last, and your driver will wait. There is no charge for the first 60 minutes of wait time
• Use the airport trolleys generously — Changi's trolleys are free and available immediately after baggage claim. Use one per adult if you have multiple bags
• Let your oldest child hold something — their bag, or pulling the smallest suitcase. It keeps them engaged and moving with the group
• Walk to the meeting point first, luggage second — confirm your driver has spotted you before loading up the trolley
• Ask for a specific drop-off point at your hotel when booking — some Singapore hotels have separate entrance points for vehicles with children and luggage versus standard arrivals

Family Transfer FAQs

Article by

Jovin Liau

Jovin is the founder of Veloce Limo, Singapore's premium chauffeur service. He oversees airport transfers, corporate ground transport and hourly chauffeur services across Singapore.