Airport Meet & Greet explained

What is Meet and Greet parking?

You drive directly to the airport terminal, where a uniformed driver meets you and takes your car to a secure parking compound while you walk into the terminal to check in. Depending on the airport, the meeting point is either the terminal forecourt itself or a designated area a short distance away - your booking confirmation tells you exactly where to go and which number to call when you arrive.

You do not have to find a parking space, and you do not park any distance from the terminal. For most travellers, the time between stopping the car and walking into departures is a matter of minutes.

When you return, you call your Meet and Greet provider once you have landed and collected your baggage, and your car is brought back to the terminal ready for you to drive away.

Does Meet & Greet include the airport drop-off charge?

This is the question we are asked most often, and the answer depends on the airport.

Almost every major UK airport now charges drivers to enter the terminal forecourt to drop off or collect passengers. Because Meet and Greet works by driving to the terminal, that charge is relevant to this product in a way it is not for Park & Ride - and at some airports it can apply on both the outbound and return legs.

At some of the airports we sell, the forecourt charge is built into the price you pay when you book, so there is nothing further to pay at the barrier. At others it is payable on the day, directly to the airport. Which applies is set out on each product in the offers below and in the terms attached to your booking, so check it before you book rather than assuming - it is the single most common cause of an unexpected cost on the day.

If the meeting point for your booking is a designated area away from the terminal forecourt rather than the forecourt itself, the forecourt charge will not normally apply at all.

Who Meet & Greet suits

We recommend Meet and Greet airport parking to travellers:

short on time, or on an early morning departure

travelling with young children, pushchairs or car seats

carrying bulky or heavy luggage, or sports and mobility equipment

requiring mobility assistance, or travelling with someone who does

looking for the most convenient parking option available

It is fair to say it will not be the right choice for everyone. If you are travelling light, are not pressed for time, and do not mind a short transfer bus ride, Park & Ride will normally get you to the terminal for noticeably less money. Meet and Greet earns its premium when time, luggage or mobility make the walk and the transfer the hard part of the journey - not simply because it is the most expensive option on the page.

Meet & Greet, Park & Ride or on-airport parking?

These three options solve the same problem in different ways, and the right one depends on what you are optimising for.

Meet & Greet

You drive to the terminal and hand the car over; a driver parks it for you. No transfer bus, no walk, and the shortest possible time from car to check-in. Your car is driven by someone else - a short distance, by an insured driver - which some people are perfectly relaxed about, and others would rather avoid. It is the most expensive of the three. Best for time pressure, heavy luggage, young children and mobility needs.

Park & Ride

You park the car yourself in a secure compound and take a transfer bus to the terminal. You should allow extra time for the transfer and for waiting at the bus stop, and you will handle your own luggage at both ends. It is usually the best value of the three, and it is what most travellers choose. Best if you have time in hand and are travelling reasonably light.

On-airport short stay

You park yourself in the airport's own car park within walking distance of the terminal. No transfer and no one else drives your car, but short stay rates climb steeply over a week or more, so it tends to suit short trips rather than holidays. Best for a night or two away.

If you are weighing Meet and Greet against Park & Ride for the same dates, compare the two prices in the offers below alongside the honest question of how much the transfer bus and the walk actually matter on this particular trip.

What happens when you hand over your car

Meet and Greet involves handing your keys to someone else, so it is worth knowing exactly what that looks like before the day.

You call ahead. Your confirmation gives you a number to call when you are close to the airport, so a driver is waiting when you arrive rather than the other way round.

You meet the driver at the designated point. The driver will be uniformed and expecting you by name and registration.

The vehicle's condition is recorded. The driver walks around the car with you and notes any existing marks or damage before taking the keys, so there is an agreed record of how the car arrived. Check it and keep your copy.

You hand over the keys and go. Take everything you need from the car first - including anything from the boot - because you will not have access to it again until you return.

The car is driven to the compound and secured for the duration of your trip, and the keys are held securely rather than left in the vehicle.

The car is driven only between the meeting point and the parking compound. Mileage is recorded at handover and again on return, so the distance covered while you are away is documented on both sides.

Getting your car back

Call your provider on the number in your confirmation once you have landed - most ask you to call while you are walking through to baggage reclaim rather than after you have collected your bags, so your car is on its way while you are waiting at the carousel. Your car is then brought to the designated collection point at the terminal.

If your flight is delayed or lands early, tell the provider as soon as you can. Flight delays are an ordinary part of the job and are not normally charged for, but the return is arranged around your actual landing time rather than your booked one, so the earlier they know, the better. Check the terms on your specific booking for the position on significant overruns.

Meet & Greet frequently asked questions

How does Meet & Greet parking work?

Drive straight to the airport terminal and park in the designated Meet & Greet zone, where a uniformed driver will meet you. The driver takes your car to the parking compound while you head into the terminal to check in. On your return, your car is brought back to the terminal for you to drive away.

Is Meet & Greet parking safe?

Every Meet and Greet service we sell is operated by a company approved by the airport it serves, and the drivers who move your car are insured to drive it. Your own insurance is not normally affected while the car is in the operator's care, but the cover that applies is set out in the terms of your specific booking and is worth reading before you travel.

Will my car be driven, and how far?

Yes - that is how the product works. Your car is driven from the meeting point to the parking compound and back again, and nowhere else. The distance varies by airport but is short in every case, and mileage is recorded at both handover and return so it is documented.

Can I leave belongings in my car?

We would advise against it. Take valuables, documents and anything you will need on your trip with you, and remember to check the boot as well as the cabin before you hand the keys over. Items left in the vehicle are left at your own risk, and the terms of your booking set out what is and is not covered.

What if I have an electric vehicle, a roof box or a large vehicle?

Most Meet and Greet operators accept standard cars without difficulty, but oversized vehicles, vans, roof boxes and towbars can affect whether a space will fit and occasionally attract a surcharge. Electric vehicles are widely accepted, though charging while you are away is not something you should assume is available. Check the details on the individual product before booking, and contact us if you are not sure.

Can I amend or cancel my booking?

Amendment and cancellation terms vary by operator and by the rate you book, so check the terms shown on the product before you pay. If your plans change, contact us as early as you can - options are usually better the further ahead of travel you are.

How far in advance should I book?

Meet and Greet capacity at the terminal is more limited than Park & Ride capacity, and it is the first product to sell out at busy periods - particularly school holidays and the run-up to Christmas. Booking early usually secures both a better price and the meeting point closest to your terminal.