Meet and Greet Airport Pickup: What It Is and How It Works

Booking a private airport taxi for the first time raises questions most people only think about once they land. Where will the driver be? How will I know it is them? What happens if my flight is two hours late? A meet and greet airport pickup is designed to answer all three before you set off, but the term is used loosely across the industry, so it pays to know exactly what you are booking.

This guide explains what meet and greet means at The Royal Britain Airport Transfer, how the pickup works from booking to the car door, and what to check at each of the nine UK airports we cover.

What does 'meet and greet' actually means?

A meet-and-greet taxi is a pre-booked private hire car whose driver comes into the terminal to collect you, rather than waiting outside for you to find them. With us, your driver waits in the arrivals hall holding a name board, helps with your luggage and walks you to the vehicle. From there it is a direct, private journey to your address at the fixed fare agreed when you booked.

The name board is the detail that matters most. Anyone walking into a busy arrivals hall after a long-haul flight, whether a first-time visitor to the UK or an elderly parent travelling alone, has one simple thing to look for: their own name.

Meet & greet vs kerbside pickup

With a kerbside or standard pickup, you collect your bags, make your own way to an agreed pickup area outside the terminal, and phone or message the driver. It suits confident travellers with light luggage. Private hire firms do not all work the same way, so always read the pickup instructions in your confirmation rather than assuming.

What happens step by step?

1. Book with full flight details: Enter the passenger's name, destination, date, flight number and arrival terminal. The flight number is how your arrival is tracked.

2. Keep your confirmation handy: You receive your fixed price and booking reference. Save it, along with our phone and WhatsApp numbers, on your phone before you fly.

3. Clear arrivals: After landing, go through passport control, collect your bags from baggage reclaim and pass through customs.

4. Look for your name: As you enter the arrivals hall, look for a driver holding a board with your name on it.

5. Call if you cannot see them: Ring +44 203 925 0757 or message +44 7757 175663 on WhatsApp. Stay inside the terminal and do not accept a lift from anyone else.

6. Walk to the car: Your driver takes your luggage and leads you to the vehicle.

7. Travel direct: The car is reserved for your party only, with no shared stops.

PAs booking for an executive should enter the traveller's name exactly as it should appear on the board, add the traveller's mobile number, and note any preference such as a company name instead of a personal one. For elderly passengers or first-time visitors, mention mobility needs and add a second contact number, such as a family member's, so the driver can coordinate if the passenger's phone is switched off.

Where we meet you, by airport

Meeting points inside arrivals halls can move with building works and terminal changes, so your booking confirmation and your driver's contact details are the final word. At every airport, check that your confirmation shows the correct airport and terminal, and if you cannot find your driver, stay in arrivals and call or WhatsApp us straight away.

Heathrow (LHR), Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. Meet and greet at Heathrow arrivals covers all four operating terminals (Terminal 1 closed in 2015). They are further apart than many visitors expect: Terminals 2 and 3 sit in the central area, Terminal 4 is on the southern side of the airport, and Terminal 5 is British Airways' main base. Make sure the terminal in your booking matches your ticket, because a driver waiting at T5 cannot reach T4 in a couple of minutes.

Gatwick (LGW), North and South Terminals. Gatwick's two terminals are separate buildings linked by a free shuttle. Your airline decides which one you arrive at, so confirm North or South when you book and check again before you fly.

Luton (LTN), Luton has a single terminal, so your driver waits in the main arrivals hall. Check the meeting arrangement in your confirmation and keep your phone on as you leave baggage reclaim.

Stansted (STN), Stansted also operates from one terminal. Many flights arrive at satellite gates connected to the main building by a transit train, so allow a few extra minutes before you reach arrivals.

London City (LCY), A compact single terminal where the walk from aircraft to arrivals is short. If you are travelling with hand luggage only, say so when booking so the pickup is timed accordingly.

Birmingham (BHX), One passenger terminal with a single arrivals hall. Your driver meets you there with a name board.

Manchester (MAN), Terminal 1 has now closed. Most airlines use the enlarged Terminal 2, while Terminal 3 is dedicated to Ryanair. Check your arrival terminal on your airline booking and confirm it with us. Manchester bookings can also be switched to kerbside collection if you prefer.

Bristol (BRS), A single terminal, so there is no terminal choice to make. Your driver waits for arrivals with your name board.

Cardiff (CWL), Also a single terminal. With limited public transport links to the airport, a confirmed pickup is especially useful for late arrivals.

Flight tracking and waiting time

We track your flight number, so your driver plans around your actual landing time rather than the time printed on your ticket. If you land early, the driver knows. If your flight is delayed, the pickup moves with it and your fare does not change. Free waiting time after landing is included to cover passport queues and baggage reclaim, and the allowance for your journey is set out in your booking terms.

Flight tracking cannot see what happens after touchdown. If you are stuck in a long passport queue, waiting on a delayed bag or have missed a connection, message us so your driver knows to wait. If your flight is cancelled or rebooked, tell the office directly, since a new flight number changes the booking. Keep your phone switched on after landing: if we cannot contact you, finding each other takes longer.

Is meet and greet included?

Yes. Meet and greet is included in every airport pickup we run, rather than sold as an extra. Some operators charge a supplement for the driver to come inside the terminal, so check this when comparing quotes. Your fare is fixed when you book, and you can get a quote online, by phone or on WhatsApp before committing. Charges outside the fare can still apply in specific situations set out in our terms, such as waiting well beyond the free allowance or a change of route you request during the journey.

Meet-and-greet PICKUP vs meet-and-greet PARKING: not the same thing

Search for meet and greet at Gatwick or Manchester and many results are about parking. Meet-and-greet parking is for people driving their own car to the airport: you hand your keys to a valet at the terminal, they park it in a secure car park, and they bring it back when you return. You are paying for parking, not a journey.

A meet-and-greet pickup is a private transfer. A driver meets you in arrivals and drives you to your destination in their vehicle. If you are not taking your own car to the airport, the pickup is what you need.

Book your meet and greet airport pickup

Whether you are arranging your own arrival or booking for someone else, browse our airport pickups with meet and greet or our full range of airport, city and cruise port transfer services. Every airport pickup includes meet and greet as standard. Get your fixed quote.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Where exactly do I meet the driver? 

In the arrivals hall of your terminal, after customs. Any specific meeting instructions for your airport appear in your booking confirmation.

How will I recognise them? 

Your driver holds a name board showing the name on the booking.

What if I cannot find them? 

Stay inside arrivals and call +44 203 925 0757 or WhatsApp +44 7757 175663. Do not leave with another driver.

Is meet and greet extra? 

No, It is included as standard in every airport pickup.

What is a meet-and-greet taxi? 

A pre-booked private hire car whose driver meets you inside the terminal rather than at a car park or taxi rank.

Does meet and greet include luggage assistance? 

Yes, your driver helps with your bags from arrivals to the car.

What happens if my flight is delayed? 

We track your flight and adjust the pickup to your actual landing time, with no change to your fixed fare.

Is meet and greet available at Heathrow T2, T3, T4 and T5? 

Yes, at all four terminals. Just make sure your booking shows the right one.

Can I book it for an elderly passenger or an executive? 

Yes, add the passenger's name and mobile number, plus any assistance needs or a second contact, in the booking notes.

Is meet-and-greet pickup the same as meet-and-greet parking? 

No, pickup is a driver collecting you; parking is a valet taking your own car.