Collecting someone from Heathrow is more complicated than it should be. Here is the whole picture in one place.
Rule one: no waiting on the forecourt
The areas outside each terminal are drop-off zones, not pick-up zones. There is a ten-minute limit, a charge per entry, and camera enforcement. Waiting there for someone to emerge is not permitted at any Heathrow terminal.
Rule two: allow far more time than the landing slot
A flight landing is not the same as a passenger appearing. Immigration, baggage reclaim and customs can add anywhere from twenty minutes to well over an hour, and long-haul arrivals at busy times are the worst for it. If you are paying for parking by the half hour, this is where costs escalate.
Your actual options
- Short stay car park — closest to arrivals, charged by duration. Convenient, but the meter runs while you wait for delayed baggage.
- Long Stay Park and Ride — free for a short initial window, with a shuttle bus. Cheapest option, but your passenger has to make their way out to you.
- Pre-booked private hire — the driver tracks the flight, handles the parking, and meets the passenger inside arrivals with a name board.
Give the flight number
Whatever you arrange, the flight number is the single most useful detail. It is what allows an operator to adjust for a delay rather than turning up on the original schedule.
Meet and greet
We offer meet and greet at Heathrow and Gatwick, where the driver waits inside the terminal with a name board rather than the passenger looking for a car. Mention it when booking so it can be arranged.
See our Heathrow transfers page for coverage and pricing.