Can anyone talk me through how I collect a person from Heathrow? Help!

[Roundles]

I'm collecting someone from Heathrow (terminal 2) in two weeks. About a year ago I also had to do this, and all seemed well as I followed signs to arrivals/pickup. In the last few minutes I ended up routed into the short stay carpark, which wasn't what I was expecting. Is that what's supposed to happen? In my mind, I was expecting the long row of cars you see outside arrivals, where you wait at the pavement for the person to come outside. Was i supposed to go to short stay? Can anyone talk me through what's supposed to happen when you pick someone up? (Assuming with covid you stay in your car etc). Sorry for the strange question but I'm oddly anxious about this!

I would just park up in the short stay car park and go in and wait inside for them. The long row of cars you see are taxis, not people waiting in cars for specific people.

I've been to a lot of airports and not once have I seen anyone being picked up outside. Only in films or by taxis.

Can you imagine how many people go through that one terminal in an hour? Also getting through immigration and baggage can be twenty minutes or two hours depending on so many different factors.

At East Midlands airport, which is TINY a woman was fined for a passenger getting in her car when she was filling it up with petrol at the BP garage.

I parked in a short stay when I collected. Keep an eye on the flight landing too so you don't have to wait too long in the parking as it tends to be expensive. When I went I.looked up the various options and costs for the terminal on the website before I went.

Thinking about it. I wonder how long it will be getting through arrivals now...is there any sort of covid system to pass first?

Short stay it is! Do you think I'll be allowed into arrivals? Is there a a meeting point outside that's describable? I vaguely remember a big queen elizabeth walkway or bridge from last time? Do I ask the person to wait somewhere or do I go inside?

Kezzie - Person is tested before flight and then quarantines for 10 days on arrival so I don't think there's any extra covid stuff that occurs at the airports.

Have you looked on the Heathrow website? Different airports have different arrangements and there's sometimes a free short stay car park a short distance away that your passenger can get an airport bus or walk to.

Many other car parks or closer pick up options cost quite a bit, so it's always worth waiting at a supermarket or whatever a few minutes drive away and then asking them to call you when they're through customs and got their luggage, because all that could take a while.

Thanks for asking this as I also too get panicked about airport drop offs & pick ups!!