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Arrivals guide Updated 22 October 2026 · 5 min read
The last part of a flight is often the most stressful: queues, bags, and finding your way out of a busy terminal. This guide explains how a pre-booked London airport pickup works, from the moment you land to the moment you drive away, so your arrival is as smooth as possible.
Standard Pickup or Meet & Greet?
There are two ways to be collected by a pre-booked car at a London airport. The difference is where you meet your driver.
| Standard pickup | Meet & Greet | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you meet | The pickup area outside the terminal | The agreed meeting point inside arrivals |
| Walk to the car | On your own, following directions | With your driver |
| Best for | Regular travellers who know the airport | First visits, families, heavy luggage, late arrivals |
Either way, your fare is shown before you confirm. Read more about our Meet & Greet airport pickup.
What to Include When You Book
- Airport and terminal: Heathrow has four terminals and Gatwick two, so check your flight booking.
- Flight number: so your pickup can move with your actual landing time.
- A mobile number that works in the UK: so your driver can reach you.
- Passengers and large bags: to get a vehicle with room for everyone. Compare sizes in our fleet.
- Notes: child seat requests, access needs or extra luggage.
Flying out again? Choose Round Trip to book the journey back to the airport at the same time.
From Landing to Leaving the Airport
Switch your phone on
Turn it on as soon as you land, or connect to the airport Wi-Fi.
Passport control
Queues vary with the time of day and how many flights land together, especially at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Baggage reclaim and customs
Check the screens for your belt number, then go through the green or red channel.
Message or call your driver
Let them know you have your bags and are on your way out.
Go to the meeting point
Meeting points vary by airport and terminal. The exact one for your journey is in your booking instructions.
Delays, Diversions and Cancellations
With your flight number, your pickup can follow your actual landing time, whether you're early or late. If your flight is diverted or cancelled, or you're held up inside the airport, contact your transfer company or driver as soon as you can so your pickup can be rearranged.
Staying Safe: Licensed, Pre-Booked Cars Only
In London, minicabs (private hire vehicles) must be booked in advance through a TfL-licensed operator. A minicab driver who approaches you in the terminal or on the street offering a ride is acting illegally, even if the car has a licence sticker.
- Only get into a car you have booked, and check the driver and vehicle match your booking details.
- If you haven't booked, use the official black cab rank outside the terminal.
- Never accept a lift from someone offering a ride in arrivals.
All Banana Cars drivers are TfL-licensed, and your driver's contact details come with your booking.
Pickups at Each London Airport
Useful for early-morning and late-night arrivals.
One journey from the terminal, with no change at Luton Airport Parkway.
Well suited to business arrivals heading into the City.
Pre-booked pickups from London Southend Airport.
Collecting someone yourself instead? See where you can park and the 2026 drop-off charges in A Complete Overview of London Airport Transfers. For train and coach options from each airport, read Decoding the Ease of London Airport Transfers.
Book your airport pickup
Banana Cars collects passengers from all six London airports, 24/7, with flight monitoring and vehicles from saloons to 16-seat minibuses for groups.
Get Instant Fare QuoteFrequently asked questions
Airport Pickup FAQs
Go to the meeting point in your booking instructions. Meeting points vary by airport and terminal. Message or call your driver once you have your bags.
With a standard pickup, you walk out and find your driver at the pickup area. With Meet & Greet, your driver waits for you at the agreed meeting point inside arrivals and walks with you to the car.
If you added your flight number, your pickup follows your actual landing time. If your flight is diverted or cancelled, contact your transfer company as soon as you can.
No. In London, minicabs must be booked in advance through a licensed operator, and drivers who approach you offering a ride are acting illegally. If you haven't booked, use the official black cab rank.
Your airport and terminal, flight number, destination, the number of passengers and large bags, and a mobile number that works in the UK.
Yes. Choose Round Trip when you book, add your return date and time, and review both journeys before you confirm.
Arriving in London?
Get an instant quote for a pre-booked airport pickup, with flight monitoring and 24/7 booking.
See all London airport transfers.
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