Collection from Heathrow Terminal 5

[Janek]

What is the best way to collect someone from Heathrow Terminal 5? I wouldn't normally dream of it, but DP and our DDs will be arriving from Japan at 20:00 in July, and I thought it would be a kind thing to do!

The Heathrow website says collect from the relevant long stay car park - is this the way seasoned collectors do it?

We always take the bus to and from T5, but if I had to pick someone up because of luggage, I would use the short term car park. I haven't done this since they added the £5 terminal fee.

The short stay is very close by and easy. Just the cost!

And possibly the ulez charge if T5 is in the charging zone (I know it's pretty close) & you have a non compliant vehicle.

Short stay is very easy and convenient for arrivals.

@CherryRipe1 ULEZ doesn't apply for T5. Exit off J14 of the M25 and it's fine

Are you sure? It looked like I was going to have to pay. I think I was looking at the long stay car park, which is possibly a bit further off the M25.

I picked up from T5 recently. I parked in short stay opposite and it cost about £6.50 for a very quick visit. No ULEZ charge.
I have parked at the T5 long stay car park (for a holiday) and the shuttle bus took ages. I'd choose the short stay option for pick ups,

Try and estimate how long after the plane has landed that it will take before your people come out as it will make a massive difference to the amount you have to pay, if parking in Short Stay.

My partner comes in from the US (admittedly with only a cabin bag) and I would usually expect to see him about 20 mins after the plane has landed so I don't enter the carpark until at least 20 mins after the plane is scheduled to land then go over to Arrivals.

That's really helpful, they'll just have cabin bags too. Do you think it'll only take them about twenty mins, too? Do you have any tips on where to wait until you enter the car park? I'm going from the north (the Midlands, actually, but travelling south on the M25...).

@Pusspot I'm delighted by the lack of ULEZ, I hope it's still the case in the summer!!!

After landing they will have to go through Security - should be quick as they will just be scanning their passports at the self-scan machine. I usually get a coffee from Costa in T5 Arrivals and just wait about where the Arrivals door is. Sometimes I haven't been bothered to stand so close to where they are all coming out and have just waited further down i.e near WHSmiths or M&S. My DH will just walk about until he finds me. We don't even bother phoning each other now unless something different is happening.

Sorry not sure where you could wait until actually going into the carpark. I can usually estimate approx time needed straight from home but have only got to go from M3 to M25.

If you have AirTags or a way to automatically share locations it can make things easier. If they have AirTags in their luggage and they share the location with you can 'see' exactly what's happening.

It can take a lot longer than 20 mins. I regularly use T5 and it can be as short as 15 or up to an hour. Check flight arrival times and take it from there. I think it's easier to accept the high price of parking and go and have a coffee while you wait. Trying to minimise the parking can be annoying.

heathrow T5 is very much within ULEZ

https://www.heathrow.com/transport-and-directions/ulez#:~:text=Do%20all%20terminals%20fall%20under,to%20pay%20the%20daily%20charge.

@Janek I didn't pay a ULEZ charge, but thinking abouit, that's because my car is compliant. Sorry for any confusion.
Thanks @FinallyHere for that link.

I definitely paid ULEZ last time I was at T5. Short stay is expensive but pretty easy. Just don't get there too early!

OP I did this journey from the Midlands last week. Easy! Just follow the signs for short stay car park as you enter T5. Go up over the flyover and it takes you directly into the car park. Get the lift to the arrivals level and walk across. The arrival barrier is easy to spot. My passengers were ultimately 2 hours late coming out and it cost £22. I think an hour or two was £15? If I did it again I’d stop at Beaconsfield services and wait for the plane to land, then go to the car park.

The short term car park is great. We always park on floor 2.

@Janek No idea about ulez as we are compliant.

You cannot park up anywhere in the vicinity! It’s just off the M25. You will presumably get on the M25 from the M1 or M40. M40 is closer to T5. Plus the M25 can be slow in that section and the junction for T5 is horrible! It’s just past an entry slip road and there are 7 lanes at one point. You need the furthest left!

As I pick up quite a lot, I would just get there! You have no parking up options on the M25 (or any motorway nearby) and you should get to the short stay (not long stay!) and park. Then go to the terminal via the lifts and get a coffee at arrivals. There are outlets and seats. Depending on A,B,C gates. they should not be very long getting to you. I always arrive early and pay up. You don’t want to get stuck on the M25! It’s just not worth the angst and give yourself plenty of time because the traffic is busy in the evenings.

Every word on this thread is so, so helpful (particularly the people telling me not to worry about how much the car park costs!). I am very much not ULEZ compliant, but I've even got time to come to terms with that before I go!

Thank you one and all!