Booking a transfer for someone else is simple as long as three things are right: the passenger's name on the booking, their own mobile number, and their flight number. Whether you are sending a parent to a hotel in Lausanne, 45 minutes from Geneva Airport, or a guest to a chalet in Verbier, about 2 h away, AirportsTransfers.ch lets you pay as the booker while the chauffeur meets the traveller by name.
- Lead passenger: the traveller's name, as it should appear on the sign
- Contact number: the traveller's mobile, plus yours as a backup
- Flight number: essential for tracking and timing
- Confirmation: forward it to the traveller with clear instructions
- Payment: made by the booker online, with invoices for companies
Who books and who travels
People book transfers for others for all sorts of reasons: an adult child arranging a ride for elderly parents, a host collecting wedding guests, an assistant booking for an executive, a company welcoming a visitor. In each case the booker and the traveller are different people, and the booking must reflect that. The booker pays and receives the confirmation. The traveller is the person the chauffeur looks for in arrivals and calls if anything changes.
Getting this right matters more than it might seem. A name sign with the wrong name or a booker's phone number that rings in another country while the traveller stands in arrivals are the most common sources of confusion.
It is also worth deciding who the chauffeur should contact if plans change. For a parent or older relative, the booker may prefer to be called first; for a business visitor, it is usually the traveller. Write this clearly in the booking notes so there is no hesitation on the day, especially if the flight is significantly delayed or diverted to another airport.
The details that make the difference
- Name on the sign: use the traveller's name exactly as they will recognise it, or a group name for several guests.
- Traveller's mobile: a number that works abroad and that they will have switched on after landing.
- Booker's number: as a backup if the traveller cannot be reached.
- Flight number and date: the chauffeur uses these to track the arrival.
- Number of passengers and bags: including skis, buggies or wheelchairs.
- Child seats: requested at booking if children are travelling.
- Destination: the full address, with any access notes for a chalet or private residence.
Preparing the traveller
Forward the confirmation to the traveller, and add a short personal note: a chauffeur will be waiting in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign; if you cannot see them, call this number. For older travellers or those who do not travel often, it helps to describe the arrivals hall in simple terms: after collecting luggage and passing through customs, walk out into the public area where drivers wait. Mention that the chauffeur tracks the flight, so a delay is not a problem.
If the traveller does not speak English or French well, let the team know in advance. Clear information about who is being collected, and where they are going, reduces the need for conversation on arrival.
A quick message to the traveller after landing, asking whether they have found the chauffeur, gives both of you peace of mind. Many bookers like to know when their guest has arrived safely, so ask the traveller to send a short note once they reach the hotel or chalet. For hosts organising several guests, a shared group chat with arrival times keeps everyone informed without endless individual messages.
Special situations
Elderly or less mobile travellers may need assistance at the airport, which is arranged with the airline rather than the transfer company; the chauffeur then meets them once they come through. Guests arriving on different flights can each have their own booking, or be grouped by arrival time. Minors travelling alone need a separate discussion with the transfer company before booking. For company visitors, put your company as the payer and ask for an invoice with your billing details.
Remember the return journey too. If you book the trip home at the same time, confirm the pickup time with the traveller the day before, and make sure they know where the chauffeur will meet them at the hotel or residence.
Booking on someone's behalf with AirportsTransfers.ch
Enter the traveller's details, choose the vehicle and see a fixed price before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The chauffeur meets your guest with a name sign, follows the flight and waits if it lands late. Child seats are fitted on request and skis declared at booking. Companies can receive invoices. If you would like to check details by phone, the team is reachable on +41 78 346 56 77, by phone or WhatsApp, day and night.
