Picking up at Heathrow

[Dizzydrizzy]

I’m picking DD up after a year in Australia next week at Heathrow Terminal 4, is there an easy way to do it? I’ve not been there for years. she’s due to land at 7.30 am if that makes a difference. Thank you.

Short stay parking is about £15 for an hour. Very close to the terminals.

Agree with the above:

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/heathrow-parking/heathrow-short-stay-parking/terminal-4

You can only do short stay parking/pick up. It's £8 for 30 mins. Don't arrive too early. I get sh to call me when he's landed and assume 30mins to an hour later to get to short stay depending on whether he's domestic or international.

There’s only drop off there, not pick up unlike Gatwick. You’ll have to go into short stay car park.

how exciting though! Have you not seen her for a year or did you meet up?

Baggage takes bloody ages at Heathrow like it took 1.5 hours from our plane landing to coming out last time

I made an embarrassing banner on an old piece of wallpaper. DS was quite touched.

EASY

Park in Long stay - free for 45 minutes
get her to get the shuttle bus out to you

so, park up somewhere a mile away, get her to text as she comes through customs and you'll get to the car park stop A at the same time

Our experience recently has been that baggage has been very quick.

You have to park to pickup. You can wait in the long stay car park for half an hour for free and then drive into the short stay and pay, 30 mins is £8.

Basically you need to try and time your arrival with her getting through. How close are you? Could she wait a bit?

Smart! Using this info for future reference. Thanks!

@Blueberrymuffin8
Drop off is even easier.

Go to long stay.
Do all your hugs there
departing passengers get the bus to the terminal
you go back out on the motorway

Gatwick give you 2 hours free parking in Long stay

I recommend waiting nearby until they are through customs and about to get luggage. Stanwell Tesco is a good option of somewhere to wait, and has a cafe upstairs and is a short drive away (and free parking for three hours). Then drive to short stay car park or the long stay if your daughter is happy to take the bus to there.

That’s what we do. Just get them to call you when they get on the shuttle bus. I wait at the Starbucks ( or MCdonalds on Bath rd ??) then pootle across to the car park

Thank you all very much. I’ve not seen her for a year so literally can’t wait. The picking up bit was stressing me out though but it sounds very simple.

Not sure where you live but remember Heathrow is inside the ULEZ so will need to pay that too (if you have non compliant car!)

Park up close to the airport. Ask your DD to call you when she is clear of passport control & customs, and tell her to go to departures drop off. Drive to the drop off and pick up your daughter there. Just don't forget to pay the £7 fee on the heathrow airport website.

I know you aren't supposed to do this - but we live close to the airport. For three years I used to fly to and from Manchester on a weekly basis, and both our sons are abroad at present so we regularly pick them up too. We've done this well over 100 times.

It really is the easiest method by far, both for you as a driver and for the passenger.

I think I’d be a bit upset if my parents asked me to get a bus to a long term car park after that long a flight, customs and baggage, and a year away - all to save a few quid.

Dizzydrizzy whatever you decide to do, have an amazing reunion and enjoy the hugs 😍

Haha I kind of think the opposite - what’s an extra short bus leg to me after the enormous long journey, barely makes any difference!