Most of us enjoy the idea of pulling up to the terminal at Changi Airport in style, or having a chauffeur waiting with our name on a signboard to welcome us home, and the good news is that there are a number of of credit cards in Singapore that throw in this useful perk “for free” through the year.
It’s not quite as simple as that of course, the banks want to see some solid spend on your part before bestowing this rather costly perk, and the generosity varies considerably between them.
Here are the latest details for the six miles-earning credit cards in Singapore offering complimentary limo benefits, including the all-important eligibility, entitlement and booking rules, to help you decide if one of them is a good option for you.
Citi Prestige Card
| Annual Fee: | S$540.00 |
| Complimentary Rides: | 2 per quarter |
| Direction: | To or from Changi Airport |
| Minimum Spend: | S$12,000 in the same quarter |
| Provider: | E Capital Limousine |
| Car Type: | Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Luxury MPV |
| Maximum Pax: | 4 |
| 12am-6am Surcharge: | Nil |
| Sentosa Surcharge: | Nil |
| Cancellation / No Show: | Cancellation within 24 hours or no show (60+ mins) will deduct 1 entitlement |
The most ‘expensive’ of the bunch, Citi requires you to churn a significant S$12,000 spend on your Prestige card in a calendar quarter to award 2 complimentary airport limo transfers for use in the same period.
That increased in April 2019 from a reasonable S$1,500 in overseas (non-SGD) spend on the card in the same period – to an eye-watering S$20,000, which many assumed was either a typo or a sick joke.
Turns out it was neither!
Citi then cut the rate in February 2020 to S$12,000 – still a big ask.
Spend made via Citi PayAll does count towards the S$12,000 required to trigger the complimentary rides each quarter, however this won’t count if you’re using using the new zero fee PayAll option.
Under the current deal, you’ll get a maximum of 8 one-way airport transfers per year, with a minimum total spend of S$48,000 per annum (S$12,000+ in each quarter) on your Prestige card.
For most of our readers that would require you to use this as your everyday spend card in order to qualify for this benefit – but that’s rarely the best miles-earning strategy, with so many 4 mpd / 6 mpd options out there.
How it works
All bookings must be made via the Citi Prestige concierge (6337 2484) at least 48 hours before the desired pick up time.
You’ll have to make payment for the service using your Citi Prestige Card, and the bank will then later reimburse you (provided you met the spend criteria in the same quarter as the limo rides).
Reimbursement is to your card account, in the following quarter. The ‘quarters’ referred to in this case are Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep and Oct-Dec each year.
That means you can use up the limo ride(s) first, but meet the spend at a later date, provided the minimum is met in the same calendar quarter.
Bear in mind it can take up to six months to be refunded for your limo ride under this system. For example a booking on 1st July might not be paid back to your card until the end of the following quarter, in late December.
On the plus side there is no ‘midnight surcharge’ or additional fees payable for addresses on Sentosa Island under the Citi Prestige deal.
Full terms and conditions can be found here.
OCBC Voyage Visa Infinite
| Annual Fee: | S$492.50 |
| Complimentary Rides: | 2 per quarter |
| Direction: | To or from:
|
| Minimum Spend: | S$12,000 in a quarter |
| Provider: | E Capital Limousine |
| Car Type: | 4-seater Sedan or 7-seater MPV |
| Maximum Pax: | 3 (Sedan) 4 (MPV, on request) |
| 12am-6am Surcharge: | Nil |
| Sentosa Surcharge: | Nil |
| Cancellation / No Show: | S$60 for cancellation within 48 hours S$60 for no show after 45 mins |
For every S$12,000 you spend locally or overseas on your OCBC Voyage Visa Infinite card in a calendar quarter, you’ll be entitled to 2 free airport limo transfers. These are then valid for 3 months from the date of the award.
The ‘quarters’ referred to in this case are Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep and Oct-Dec each year.
One nice benefit with this card is that each ‘earned’ ride is valid for 3 months. For example if you earn 2 free rides in late March (Q1) and 2 more in April (Q2), you could then take all 4 of those in mid-June (both the first and second pair of rides are still valid).
Another good aspect of the Voyage limo perk is the relatively wide range of pick-up and drop-off location options.
Rather than being restricted to Changi Airport, all the major ferry terminals and land checkpoints are available, as is Queen Street Bus Terminal (designed for cross-border bus and taxi services to Johor Bahru, but also handy for dinner in Jalan Besar and the Arab Quarter!).
How it works
You can book this service through the OCBC Digital App > Rewards at least 48 hours in advance.
Failing that, call VOYAGE Exchange (6593 9999) or email voyage@voyagemiles.com at least 48 hours in advance to book the service. This entitlement is not transferable and cardholder must be present for each service.
An email will be sent once your booking is confirmed.
You can book the service before meeting the spend requirement. For example, if you take a single airport ride in early January and another in February, but then go on to meet the spend threshold later that quarter (i.e. by 31st March), both rides will be free.
If you don’t meet the spend requirement, S$80 will be charged to your VOYAGE Card for each ride taken, but not qualified for.
Full terms and conditions are available here (see point 2).
HSBC Visa Infinite
| Annual Fee: | S$656.08 |
| Complimentary Rides: | Up to 24 per year |
| Direction: | To Changi Airport only |
| Minimum Spend: | S$2,000 in a calendar month for each complimentary ride, to be taken in the same calendar year |
| Provider: | Wolero Pte. Ltd. |
| Car Type: | Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Audi A6 |
| Maximum Pax: | 3 |
| 12am-6am Surcharge: | S$12 (when collection or drop-off falls in that window) |
| Sentosa Surcharge: | S$10 |
| Cancellation / No Show: | S$10 for change or cancellation within 1 hour of pick-up S$61 for no show or cancellation within 30 mins of pick-up |
Believe it or not, HSBC used to offer completely unlimited airport transfers for holders of its Visa Infinite card, with a spend of at least S$5,000 per quarter.
Those days are long gone (the benefit was ‘enhanced’ to the current deal in late 2016), however this card still arguably provides the best offer on the market – an airport limo transfer for every S$2,000 spent.
The downside? It’s one of only two cards in our list offering one-way to Changi Airport only. You’ll have to make your own arrangements, or use a different card benefit, to be picked up at the airport and whisked home.
HSBC starts you off with 2 complimentary airport rides at the beginning of each calendar year, or 4 such rides for HSBC Premier customers, with no minimum spend requirement.
After that you’ll earn a complimentary transfer to Changi airport for every S$2,000 spent on your card in a single calendar month. You are able to utilise these transfer(s) from the start of the following month through to the end of the calendar year.
You can earn up to 24 complimentary transfers per year, inclusive of those thrown in at the start of the year with no minimum spend requirement.
Complimentary rides cannot be carried into the following calendar year, with the exception of those earned in December, which can then be used in the subsequent calendar year.
How it works
Call HSBC at 1800-227 8811 (in Singapore) or 6227 8811 (outside Singapore) to make your booking at least 24 hours prior to the pick-up time.
2 guests of the primary cardholder can accompany you, provided that they are travelling on the same flight (though the FAQs says 3, it’s safest to go with the terms and conditions document, which says 2). Each primary cardholder can only have one outstanding booking for this service at any time.
Full terms and conditions are available here (see section 17), with frequently asked questions also available here.
Maybank Visa Infinite
| Annual Fee: | S$648.00 (first year waived) |
| Complimentary Rides: | Up to 8 per year |
| Direction: | To or from Changi Airport |
| Minimum Spend: | S$3,000 in the previous calendar month for each complimentary ride |
| Provider: | Unknown |
| Car Type: | Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Toyota Alphard |
| Maximum Pax: | 4 |
| 12am-6am Surcharge: | Nil |
| Sentosa Surcharge: | Nil |
| Cancellation / No Show: | S$90 for no show or cancellation within 24 hours of pick-up |
For every S$3,000 you spend on this card in a calendar month, you’ll unlock 1 complimentary airport limo ride to use in the subsequent month.
That was revised downwards in July 2023, from 2 complimentary rides for every S$3,000 spent.
This benefit is capped at 2 complimentary rides per month (e.g. S$6,000+ spend in February will give you 2 rides in March), and it tops out at 8 rides per calendar year.
Entitlement does not carry over into subsequent months, so if you unlock 2 rides in March as in the above example, from spend accrued in February, you can’t use them in April instead. In that case you’d once again have to meet the S$3,000+ or S$6,000+ spend in March, for 1 or 2 complimentary rides in April respectively.
Spend in the calendar month of December counts towards limo entitlement in January the following year, as you would expect.
How it works
Call Maybank Cards Priority Customer Service a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 2 months prior to travel to make your booking, with your arrival and/or departure flight details. The booking confirmation will then be sent via SMS.
You’ll be required to present your card at the time of travel for verification purposes.
Full terms and conditions are available here.
UOB PRVI Miles Amex
| Annual Fee: | S$259.20 |
| Complimentary Rides: | Up to 2 per quarter |
| Direction: | To Changi Airport only |
| Minimum Spend: | S$1,000 overseas (non-SGD) point-of-sale spend in the same quarter per complimentary ride |
| Provider: | Maxicab Limosine Services |
| Car Type: | Mercedes-Benz E-Class |
| Maximum Pax: | 4 (E-Class) 7-seater (+S$10) 9-seater (+S$20) |
| 11.30pm-6.30am Surcharge: | S$10 |
| Sentosa Surcharge: | S$10 (also for any trip >35km) |
| Cancellation / No Show: | S$10 for cancellation by 6pm the previous day S$45 for cancellation after that |
First point to clarify here is that only UOB PRVI Miles American Express cardholders are entitled to the free airport limo benefit. Those with the Visa or Mastercard versions don’t get any such perk.
You’ll be entitled to up to 2 complimentary airport transfers to Changi Airport in a quarter, with a minimum charge of S$1,000 in overseas (non-SGD) point-of-sale (physical) spend within the same qualifying period. Each qualifying S$1,000 gives you one transfer.
The ‘quarters’ referred to in this case are Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep and Oct-Dec each year.
This is actually one of the most generous credit card limo benefits in Singapore, provided you spend at least S$1,000 on overseas in-person transactions per calendar quarter.
How it works
Book at maxicab.sg/uob, or through the booking hotline (6651 2253) between 9am to 6pm, at least 2 days prior to departure date, otherwise a S$10 late booking fee will apply.
The cost of airport transfer will initially be charged to your card account, and then credited in the form of rebate at the end of the quarter.
As with the Citi Prestige card, you can be waiting a while for the rebate – e.g. for an early July booking you may not be reimbursed until the end of December!
Full terms and conditions are available here.
UOB Lady’s Solitaire Metal
| Annual Fee: | S$593.50 |
| Complimentary Rides: | 1 per year |
| Direction: | To or from Changi or any participating global airport |
| Minimum Spend: | Nil |
| Provider: | Varies by country |
| Car Type: | Varies by country |
| Maximum Pax: | Varies by country |
| 11.30pm-6.30am Surcharge: | Nil |
| Sentosa Surcharge: | Nil |
| Cancellation / No Show: | Nil |
The UOB Lady’s Solitaire card, which is available only by invitation, has perhaps the simplest free airport limo ride perk of all.
You’ll be entitled to 1 complimentary airport transfer to or from Changi Airport or any other participating airport globally under the Travel With Us by Mastercard benefit each year, with no minimum spend required.
How it works
Register and book at the Travel With Us by Mastercard site at least 48 hours prior to the required pick-up time.
FAQs are available here.
DBS Asia Treasures Private Client
Not a credit card as such, but those with a DBS Asia Treasures Private Client account, typically requiring investible assets of S$1.5 million or more, are entitled to complimentary unlimited airport transfers on arrival.
This is applicable at:
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
- Surabaya Juanda International Airport
- Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
- Taipei Songshan Airport
Advance reservations are required, via the DBS Asia Treasures Concierge. Details are available here.
What’s the value?
These complimentary limo rides all sound great, but how much are you actually saving each time you use one?
Companies like Wolero and E Capital typically charge around S$70-90 for a Mercedes-Benz E-Class airport pickup or drop off. Two things are for sure though, the banks aren’t paying anything like those rates for their contract arrangements with these firms, and most of our readers are unlikely to be willing to shell out that kind of cash for an airport transfer.
The fairer comparison is with an on demand ride-hailing app like Grab.
GrabCar Premium lists example vehicle types as Mercedes-Benz (E-Class & S-Class), BMW (5-series & 7-series) and Audi (A6 & A8), though we often find when booking this category that in fact a 6-seater Premium is substituted.
Grab lists example vehicles in the latter category as Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Viano, Toyota Alphard and Mercedes Vito.
The value then depends of course on where you stay in Singapore. For CBD-dwellers, a GrabCar Premium to or from the airport will be setting you back around S$31, assuming no demand surcharges are in force.
With these limo perks typically coming in at 8 free rides per year, that’s saving you at least S$248 per year if you can maximise the offer.
Let’s say you live in the East Coast instead though. A GrabCar Premium to or from the airport for those staying in Katong is around S$22 each way, again outside any demand surcharge. The perk is then only worth around S$176 per year if applied 8 times.
On the flip side, those staying in the west will clearly benefit most. A GrabCar Premium fare from Jurong West to Changi comes in at S$51 with no demand surcharge in force. If you can do that 8 times a year “for free” through your credit card – you’re saving at least S$408 annually with a typical airport limo benefit.
That goes some significant way to justifying the annual fee for some of these cards, even before assessing the value of their other perks like upfront welcome miles and complimentary lounge access.
Eligible transactions
We haven’t gone into detail in this article about which transactions each bank considers as ‘eligible’ to meet the minimum spend requirements for complimentary airport limo transfers.
You can broadly assume that transactions like money transfers, utilities, gambling, education, charitable donations and tax payments won’t usually be counted towards the minimum spend, though of course it’s great to see that Citi PayAll payments (with fee paid) are counted for the Prestige card, as mentioned above.
Each of the linked terms and conditions documents above for the airport limo benefits provides full details, so do review these beforehand to ensure your regular spend will indeed count towards the minimum each month or quarter.
Other fees apply
Be careful to note that fees usually apply for late amendments, late cancellation, waiting time in excess of 15 minutes and bulky luggage / sports equipment. Additional stops may also be charged, depending on how far ‘out of the way’ they are compared to the original route.
As with Sentosa Island surcharges and late night surcharges, where applicable, these must usually be paid in cash to the driver on the day.
Check the terms and conditions linked above carefully, as the fees differ from provider to provider.
Summary
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
That statement can equally be made for a free airport limo ride to or from Changi Airport. There are some good deals out there from the credit card issuers, but make no mistake – the banks want to see some solid transactions before they are willing to fork out for your Mercedes E-Class ride across town.
However, if you fly regularly and you can make this benefit work for you, it’s an important element of several Singapore-issued credit cards to take into account when choosing the one that’s right for you.
Be prepared to do some maths though. These cards tend to come with high annual fees and so you’ll need to determine how much you’re saving based on where you stay in Singapore, and weigh that up against the annual fee.
There’s also the value of any other card benefits to consider, like superior earning rates and complimentary lounge access perks.
(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)
“…with a minimum total spend of S$80,000 per annum (S$20,000+ in each quarter).
For most of our readers that would require you to use this as your everyday spend card in order to qualify for this benefit.”
You are very confident of your readership 😛
Good article though!
Please check, but I believe that with the Citi Prestige Mastercard there is a surcharge after 11pm.
No late night surcharge with the Citi Prestige limo.