Uber or taxi from Changi to Fairmont Singapore Hotel
May 14, 2016, 1:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Kailua Kona, HI , USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 262
Uber or taxi from Changi to Fairmont Singapore Hotel
We are arriving in Singapore in 10 days at around midnight. Is it best to just get a cab outside the airport, pre-arrange with a taxi company, take Uber or? If we take a taxi, do we need to get Singapore dollars from an ATM first? Your input is appreciated.
May 14, 2016, 4:48 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
The answers are pretty straightforward.
As it was in 2009, take a taxi.
Follow the signs. Taxis take credit cards. You can also get S$ at ATMs in the arrivals hall.
Myriad threads on this topic.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singa...ad-hilton.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singa...singapore.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/singa...car-hotel.html
May 14, 2016, 11:08 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Uber, hands down. For following reason:
- Taxi has 50% tariff hike after midnight
- Taxi also has $5 departure fee from Changi.
Uber at the same time does not have tariff hike after midnight and departure fee is $1.5
Last week I came home (west coast) from Changi after midnight. Bill was $23. In past taxi bill routinely was $35-$39.
Stopped using taxi from/to Chingi for more than a year already and it was one of smartest decision.
- Taxi has 50% tariff hike after midnight
- Taxi also has $5 departure fee from Changi.
Uber at the same time does not have tariff hike after midnight and departure fee is $1.5
Last week I came home (west coast) from Changi after midnight. Bill was $23. In past taxi bill routinely was $35-$39.
Stopped using taxi from/to Chingi for more than a year already and it was one of smartest decision.
May 14, 2016, 12:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,231
Uber, hands down. For following reason:
- Taxi has 50% tariff hike after midnight
- Taxi also has $5 departure fee from Changi.
Uber at the same time does not have tariff hike after midnight and departure fee is $1.5
Last week I came home (west coast) from Changi after midnight. Bill was $23. In past taxi bill routinely was $35-$39.
Stopped using taxi from/to Chingi for more than a year already and it was one of smartest decision.
- Taxi has 50% tariff hike after midnight
- Taxi also has $5 departure fee from Changi.
Uber at the same time does not have tariff hike after midnight and departure fee is $1.5
Last week I came home (west coast) from Changi after midnight. Bill was $23. In past taxi bill routinely was $35-$39.
Stopped using taxi from/to Chingi for more than a year already and it was one of smartest decision.
May 14, 2016, 9:35 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Depends on terminal. Look for signs for 'Arrival Pickup', but info counter should tell you.
At T3 is it Basement 1 (arrivals are at B2), at T2 - the same floor as a arrivals. T1 - have not used yet.
Uber app is smart enough to identify at which terminal you are and tell you where to go.
Also - at arrival pickup floor doors are numbered, so when you send message to driver, tell also next to which door you will be waiting.
At T3 is it Basement 1 (arrivals are at B2), at T2 - the same floor as a arrivals. T1 - have not used yet.
Uber app is smart enough to identify at which terminal you are and tell you where to go.
Also - at arrival pickup floor doors are numbered, so when you send message to driver, tell also next to which door you will be waiting.
May 15, 2016, 11:05 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
May 16, 2016, 12:09 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: HOME
Programs: HH Dia;SPG Plat;Marriott Plat;GHA Black
Posts: 335
Thanks, I've been lurking for a while 
Is it during surge? I remember one afternoon from Changi to Bishan and was jam everywhere it took almost one hour. In the end it cost around $24
alternatively you can take Grab and get a fixed price during booking
alternatively you can take Grab and get a fixed price during booking
May 16, 2016, 5:03 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
No surge, it just time costs more with Uber than distance.
Jul 11, 2017, 12:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 17
I took an Uber to the Fairmont from the airport back in March. It took about 20 minutes and cost 18SGD (~$13.50). I wrote about it on my review of the hotel, if you care to check it out.
Jul 11, 2017, 7:19 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,439
Jul 17, 2017, 11:40 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: NEXUS, Aeroplan, SkyMiles, WestJet, IHG Platinum, IC Ambassador
Posts: 93
So thanks @DirigoB for posting the update.
Jul 20, 2017, 3:58 am
#15
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Taxi cost is the same, went to Swissotel from Changi and that was SGD 21 including the credit card fee. Only after midnight is Uber cheaper and during surge or traffic delay it can be much more expensive.