Where to wait Heathrow arrivals?

If you are meeting someone from an arriving flight, you must use the Short Stay Car Park. If you are bringing someone to the airport, follow the signs for 'Departures' to drop them off.



At London Heathrow (LHR), the best place to wait for arrivals depends on the terminal, but all terminals have dedicated public arrival halls located on the ground floor immediately after passengers exit the customs area. In Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal) and Terminal 5, these halls are spacious and feature clearly marked meeting points near the Costa Coffee or WHSmith. If you are picking someone up by car, you cannot wait at the terminal forecourt; you must use the Short Stay car park or wait in the Long Stay car park (which often offers 30–60 minutes of free parking) until your passenger calls to say they have cleared customs. For those wanting a more comfortable wait, there are several "Arrivals Lounges" available for a fee, though these are mostly used by the arriving passengers themselves. In 2026, digital "flight status" boards are ubiquitous, but the most efficient way to meet is to use the terminal's free Wi-Fi to coordinate via messaging once they land, as the walk from the gate to the arrivals hall can take 15–30 minutes.

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Passenger pick-up is available from all Heathrow's Short and Long Stay car parks, but not on the terminal forecourts.

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If you're coming from an international flight, it is recommended to schedule your pick up an hour or 1.5 hours after landing to give enough time for getting through customs. It's also recommended to call your assigned driver once you've landed to inform them that you've arrived so they know to expect you soon.

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Time your arrival to be about half an hour after they're set to land so you don't have to wait around for them. Tip: International flights may require your party to go through customs and can take longer for them to get their luggage. Plan on arriving 45 minutes to an hour after their flight is scheduled to land.

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If you'd prefer not to pay the drop-off charge, Heathrow offers a free drop-off option at the Long Stay car parks. Once you've dropped your passengers off, they will just need to take the free transfer bus to the terminal.

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Drivers picking up at Heathrow airport must use the short stay car park at each terminal as passengers are directed there through the app. We will take care of the cost of parking for up to 30 minutes (£4.50). Please make sure your passenger arrives within that time before entering the car park.

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There are several strategies for picking someone up at the airport.
  • Cell phone waiting lot. ...
  • Pick them up at departures rather than arrivals, since that's often less crowded. ...
  • Park and go inside the terminal this is more expensive (parking cost) and more time-consuming, but it's a more intimate gesture.


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You can pay on arrival or pre-book Heathrow Short Stay Parking Terminal 2 in advance for durations over one hour up to two hours before you arrive, subject to availability. We advise using the 'Get a parking quote' widget at the top of the page to pre-book and save money.

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Exemptions. You don't have to pay the Terminal Drop-Off Charge if you are driving a Heathrow permitted operational vehicle or a vehicle recorded at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in either of these categories: Emergency service vehicles, such as police, ambulances and fire engines. Military vehicles.

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For cheap Heathrow parking, we'd recommend a Park and Ride service such as Purple Parking and NCP Flightpath. Both offer fuss-free procedures and easy transfers. For speed and convenience, the best place to park would be at a Meet and Greet car park such as Maple Parking or Purple Parking.

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Drivers picking up at Heathrow airport must use the short stay car park at each terminal as passengers are directed there through the app. We will take care of the cost of parking for up to 30 minutes (£4.50). Please make sure your passenger arrives within that time before entering the car park.

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Motorists driving a non-compliant vehicle will now be forced to pay the £12.50 charge to enter the airport after Tuesday's ULEZ expansion, which now incorporates every London borough. ULEZ charges only apply to older diesel and petrol cars which do not meet emissions standards.

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Asking is not rude, as long as you are able to compensate the person in some way. You could offer to pay for gas, buy the person a meal, or something that would let that person know that you appreciate what they are doing for you.

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You really don't need to give a gift at the airport but when you get to their house, you can give them flowers, a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine. Or a basket filled with wine, cheese and crackers and chocolate.

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