Guide · 7 min read · Updated 30 August 2026
Arriving at Heathrow: a practical terminal guide
Heathrow is the busiest airport we operate at, and most arrival problems there come from the same two things: not knowing which terminal you land in until late, and underestimating how long the inside of the airport takes. This guide covers both, from the point of view of someone meeting you.
The terminals, briefly
| Terminal | Mainly | What it means on arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Star Alliance carriers | Single arrivals hall; straightforward meeting point |
| Terminal 3 | Mixed long-haul | More than one arrivals exit — the meeting point is confirmed on the day |
| Terminal 4 | SkyTeam and long-haul | Furthest from the central terminal area; allow more transfer time |
| Terminal 5 | British Airways | A, B and C satellites with internal transit before immigration |
Terminals are occasionally reassigned. Because we set the meeting point from your flight number rather than the terminal you typed into a form, a change is handled before you land rather than discovered afterwards.
How long the inside of the airport takes
We deliberately do not publish an average. Immigration at Heathrow varies enormously by hour, terminal and passport type, and a number on a website is worth nothing at 6am when four widebodies land together. What we do instead is time the pickup from tracked landing and run the waiting allowance from that point, so the variability sits with us rather than with your bill.
What reliably adds time
- Arriving into a satellite at Terminal 5, which adds an internal transit before immigration
- Early-morning long-haul banks, when several arrivals reach immigration together
- Checked luggage, particularly on full widebody flights
- Non-UK, non-EU passports at peak hours
Where you can be met
- Inside arrivals, at the exit your flight uses, with a name board — the standard meet and greet position
- Airside, on request and only with airport approval, typically for connections or mobility assistance
- At the pre-booked pickup area, if you have booked the chauffeur without meet and greet
Kerbside waiting is not permitted at Heathrow, so a pre-booked car waits in the designated pickup area rather than outside the door. That is normal and applies to every operator; anyone promising a car at the kerb is describing something that is not allowed.
Planning the transfer into London
The journey time from Heathrow into central London depends on the hour and on which part of London you are heading to, and the honest answer is that it is not predictable to the minute. What is predictable is the price: a fixed-price transfer is quoted from your pickup and drop-off, inclusive of the Congestion Charge and ULEZ where they apply, and does not move with traffic.
Routes we run most from Heathrow
- Heathrow to Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Belgravia
- Heathrow to the City and Canary Wharf
- Heathrow to Windsor, Ascot and Virginia Water
- Heathrow to Oxford and Cambridge
- Heathrow to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted
Connections through Heathrow
If you are connecting, send both flight numbers when you book. Terminal transfers at Heathrow take real time, particularly to and from Terminal 4, and we would rather tell you a connection is not workable than take the booking and let you find out at the transfer bus.
Departing from Heathrow
For departures the pressure point is check-in and security rather than arrival. Departure meet and greet means being met at the drop-off, helped with luggage, and accompanied to the security entrance. It is the version most often booked for families and for travellers who do not want to manage bags across a large terminal.
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Questions
How long does it take to get through Heathrow arrivals?
It varies too much by terminal, hour and passport type for an average to be useful. We time pickups from tracked landing and run the waiting allowance from that point, so a slow immigration hall does not cost you the booking.
Can a car wait at the kerb at Heathrow?
No. Pre-booked cars wait in the designated pickup area for the terminal. If you would rather be met inside the building, book meet and greet alongside the transfer.
Which Heathrow terminal will my flight arrive at?
It depends on the airline and can change. We set the meeting point from your flight number on the day rather than from the terminal entered at booking.
Is a fixed price available from Heathrow into London?
Yes, where the route can be priced from your pickup and drop-off. The quote includes the Congestion Charge and ULEZ where they apply, and does not change with traffic.