Shanghai Pudong Airport Transfers: Booking, Prices, and My Self-Paid Premium Ride Review
Pudong airport transfers involve a fairly long ride into Shanghai, China, since the airport is well outside the city center. Our trip to our hotel on Nanjing West Road took about 50 minutes.
Two common ways to get to your hotel are booking a ride through DiDi or reserving a private airport transferahead of time.
With a baby, a stroller, and suitcases in tow, we had plenty to carry, so a private airport transferfelt like the easiest option—and it absolutely was.
We met our driver right outside arrivals and had a comfortable ride straight to the hotel. We also booked a hotel-to-airport transfer for our flight home. Both rides went so smoothly that I wanted to share our experience!
1. Why We Booked Pudong Airport Transfers
Traveling abroad with a baby means bringing a lot of stuff. By the time you’ve collected your luggage and picked up the stroller, simply getting out of the airport can feel like a project.
In Shanghai, it’s easy to request a car through the DiDi app, but you still need to figure out the designated pickup point and find your assigned vehicle.
Rather than navigate all that while pulling suitcases and pushing a stroller, we decided to reserve a pickup in advance.
When booking an airport transfer, you enter your hotel or destination details and flight information, then choose your vehicle class. You can see the price upfront, and there’s no need to explain your hotel’s address in Chinese.
Many drivers in China speak little English, but with everything arranged beforehand, we barely needed to exchange a word from pickup to drop-off.
Check Airport Transfer Prices (Click Here)
I’ve also included Klook discount codes at the bottom of this post, so keep reading before you book.
2. Meeting Our Driver at Arrivals
As soon as we came out into the arrivals hall, we spotted our driver holding a sign with my name on it. No calls, messages, or searching required!
From there, all we had to do was follow him. I took a few photos along the way, but you really don’t need to memorize the route—just keep your driver in sight.
He even pushed our luggage cart, leaving us with only the baby’s stroller to handle.
Apparently, “e-hailing” means booking a ride through an app or online service, such as DiDi. I hadn’t come across the term before, but since we were following our driver, we didn’t need to figure out the signs ourselves.
He asked us to wait here for a moment while he brought the car around from a nearby parking area.
The driver loaded every suitcase for us and unloaded everything again at the hotel. From meeting him at arrivals to reaching our hotel, the whole process was wonderfully smooth.
3. Our Premium Airport Transfer: The Vehicle
We booked the Premium vehicle class and were assigned a VOYAH minivan.The Premium option wasn’t wildly expensive, either. If your budget allows, I’d recommend choosing Premium or another higher vehicle class.
This was my first ride in a Chinese-brand car, and it made a great first impression: big, gleaming, and spotless on the outside.
The sliding doors made getting in and out with a baby much easier, and the cabin had plenty of room. With beige leather upholstery and individual second-row seats, it was noticeably more comfortable than a standard sedan.
The seats even had a massage function with a decent amount of pressure. Settling in for a massage on the way to the hotel was one of those moments when I was very glad we’d booked Premium.
One important detail, though: we couldn’t add a child car seat to the Premium booking, so we ended up holding our baby during the ride.
And the thing I appreciated most? There wasn’t even a hint of cigarette smoke.With a 50-minute drive ahead of us, sitting in a car that smelled of stale smoke would have meant a headache—and a pretty miserable start to the trip.
Instead, the Premium cabin was spotless and odor-free. That mattered even more with our baby along for the ride.
Between the friendly driver and the excellent condition of the vehicle, we were very happy with the pickup.
4. Our Hotel-to-Airport Transfer
On the day we flew home, we also used a private transfer from our hotel to Shanghai Pudong Airport.You can arrange the return trip in advance along with your arrival pickup, either as a round-trip booking or as two separate one-way bookings,whichever works better for your plans.
A lovely vehicle turned up for the return journey, too, and the ride to the airport was just as comfortable and hassle-free as our arrival transfer.
Departure day always feels a little more hectic: you’re tired from traveling, still have to pack, and need to reach the airport on time. Having the car booked already took one big worry off our list.
Whether you need an arrival pickup or a departure transfer, it’s worth considering if you’re new to Shanghai or have lots of luggage. It can be especially good value for a group when you split the fare.
5. Booking Shanghai Airport Pickups and Drop-Offs
Two popular platforms for booking Pudong Airport pickups and drop-offs are Klookand MyRealTrip.Both let you reserve your ride in advance.
The two listings below have high traveler ratings and positive reviews, which is reassuring. Compare availability for your travel dates and the vehicle options before choosing.
Book on Klook (Click Here)
Book on MyRealTrip (Click Here)
On Klook, you can choose vehicle classes such as Economy, Comfort, and Premium. Economy is cheaper, but there are reports of inconsistent vehicle conditions, including lingering cigarette smells, so keep that in mind.
Comfort is a good choice if you want something a step up from the basic option; Premium is for travelers who prefer a spacious, more upscale vehicle.That’s the basic distinction.
When I searched with the child car seat option selected, only Economy and Comfort appeared—not Premium. I wondered whether they avoid installing car seats to protect the leather in the higher-end vehicles, but that was just my guess.
Vehicle sizes vary, too, with options such as five-seaters and seven-seaters. Check not only the passenger capacity but also whether your suitcases and stroller will fit. There are plenty of options, but the side-by-side details make them easy to compare.
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Klook Discount Codes |
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If you book through Klook, don’t forget to try these coupon codes for an extra discount.
|
Coupon Code |
Discount |
Minimum Spend |
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세시간전2600001 |
$1 |
On purchases of $37 or more |
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세시간전2600002 |
$2 |
On purchases of $74 or more |
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세시간전2600003 |
$5 |
On purchases of $149 or more |
– Valid through December 31, 2026
– Applicable to Klook products worldwide, with some exclusions
– How to use: Enter the coupon code at checkout
Search both platforms using the same dates and vehicle requirements, then apply any eligible discount codes and choose whichever offers the lower final price.It’s a simple way to compare the actual cost.
If you’re traveling with a baby and as much luggage as we were, I’d definitely book your Pudong airport transfers before the trip.