Heathrow pick up

Lychee

I am picking someone up from Heathrow airport in a couple of weeks, and I was thinking of asking this person to take a free local Heathrow bus to an airport hotel that is within the free perimeter (like Premier Inn - or please suggest which is best) and I'll pick him up from the hotel.

Not tried before, could anyone let me know if this would work please? Not sure if I can hang around waiting in the hotel car park?

Thanks.

Alan_Bowen

It could work if they arrive into terminals 1 or 3 as the buses to the Bath Road, (not necessarily to the hotels as those buses are £4.50 on the Hotel Hoppa) go from the Central Bus Station. Much more difficult if they arrive in Terminals 4 or 5 but either way if they have luggage its not necessarily easy. Why not tell them to call you when they have arrived and got through immigration and then pay for half an hours parking at the terminal car park (£2.90)

George_Michael

If they are arriving at terminal 5, you will find it much easier picking them up there than at one of the local hotels.

All they have to do is to exit customs, go up to the top floor (departures) and wait outside at the drop off point. If they exit the terminal, turn right and wait at the top of the ramp, you can't miss them when you arrive.
This is extremely easy to get to from the M25 as it's only a couple of minutes drive from the motorway and is very well marked and laid out.

mgdavid

you don't say where you are coming from to do the pickup, but arrival times can be checked online and your journey adjusted to suit. If they're arriving at T3 tell them to call you when in the baggage hall and then go and have a coffee in the caff just next to the main doors. Outside there is a handy layby used as a bus stop for staff buses, you can pick them up from there, just call them back when you are through the tunnel.

w211

Yes, it should work. Depends what terminal though. Local bus routes within the Heathrow area are free, and getting off at one of the Bath Road hotels is not a problem. Most of them will give you half-hour to an hours free parking anyway. The Premier Inn is not bad, and you can wait in there have a coffee. Alternatively, you can ask your passenger can meet in the McDonalds, also in the Bath Road, where there is a car park.

This document shows which the free bus services around Heathrow.

Alternatively as suggested, ask your passenger to call when they've got their bags and cleared customs and security, and pick them up at the departure drop off point. Don't wait at the drop off point though, as police/wardens may move you on. Strictly speaking the drop off point is for dropping off though, and they usually turn a blind eye to picking passengers up if you don't hang about there too long. Best to wait for your passenger to be at the kerbside, so they can jump in your car as you pull up.

Ideal spots to wait for your passenger to call, depends on the Terminal -
Terminal 1 and 3 - Bath Road, McDonalds, or park in Mondial Way.
Terminal 4 - BP on the A30 Great South West Road by Hatton Cross.
Terminal 5 - Esso on the Southern Perimeter Road.

These locations are less than 5 minutes from their respective terminals.

opinions4u

Tired travellers may prefer to be picked up without having negotiate a further trip, loading luggage on to / off a bus.

What's inconvenient about terminal pick up?

duchy

opinions4u wrote: »

Tired travellers may prefer to be picked up without having negotiate a further trip, loading luggage on to / off a bus.

What's inconvenient about terminal pick up?

Cost possibly ......but with real time arrivals available on most phones nowadays it seems an odd thing to ask of someone if they've just had a long flight and have luggage.
All sounds a bit selfish tbh

getmore4less

T3 i use valet parking layby its between drop off an short stay easy access from arivals exit for pax and has a covered shelter.

headpin

Check arrival time or get person to cll when ready for pick up. You can wait reasonably close to the airport - try Sipson. There are free pick up and drop off areas at all terminals that you can then meet them at.

Lychee

Thank you for the suggestions. I am travelling from West Wales. and if you don't know the full story, keep your opinions to yourself.

opinions4u

Lychee wrote: »

if you don't know the full story, keep your opinions to yourself.

Seriously, wow.

I was only looking at it from the point of view of the people you were picking up and asked a simple question to try and understand the reasons (which may be perfectly reasonable) for your preference not to head for the terminal.

A straight answer would have got a helpful response to the situation you described.

I'm sorry to have somehow offended you. But really, take a look at yourself for that response. Not needed.