Heathrow - pick up and drop off - cheapest way to do it?Next

[AJI]

Just after a bit of help if any of you guys know......
In a couple of weeks I'm to pick up some family members from Heathrow international arrivals (Terminal 3? - if coming from the far east?).

Picking up I guess can be a quick process whereby they can give us a ring when they are near the exit of the terminal and then we can whip round, they jump in and then we drive off? .... simple as that, or would we need to park in the T3 car park and go and meet them at the door?



Second part of this thread question is the drop off.
A few weeks later I am to drop them off at the airport a minimum of 3 hours before their international take off time. So I'm guessing we will spend some time with them (2+ hours maybe) before they go in to the departures lounge.
What is the cheapest way we could do this?

Cheers.

[GTIR]

I spend a lot of time doing this. Is my job!

If they ring you when they have their luggage and tell them to head out to the drop off departures area, right out of arrivals and follow signs.
Tell them to head towards the purple valet parking building nearest the car park.

You can pick people up without getting harnessed or a ticket.

You can park up at the Esso garage at Shepiston Lane next to
M4.

There's no cheap way of waiting in the departures. You'll have to pay parking or get a taxi in.

[philthy]

GTIR hit the nail on the head.

In short, if you expect to stop going round in circles, or waiting any length of time, you will need to pay (heavily).

[AJI]

Cheers, for the replies.


For international departures....
I'm guessing that parking up in a nearby tube station car park (Hatton Cross for example) at £5 per day and then getting a tube train in to the Airport T3 would not work out much cheaper?

Or even tube car park at £5 and then bus in to Airport T3?

Just thinking that I'd need two return tickets and then also two single-way tickets for getting from Airport back to car park.

(Or would taxi be cheaper in that respect?)

[Magic919]

Just pay the £10-12 quid for the car park for the drop off. If you think that's bad, wait until you try to eat and drink.

[ViperDave]

AJI said:

Second part of this thread question is the drop off.
A few weeks later I am to drop them off at the airport a minimum of 3 hours before their international take off time. So I'm guessing we will spend some time with them (2+ hours maybe) before they go in to the departures lounge.
What is the cheapest way we could do this?

Cheers.

Not a good idea. They ask you to be there 3 hours before departure so that you can be at the gate on time having gone through all the processes.

If its long haul then they will likely start boarding 45 mins before departure, if you sit outside with them for 2 hours you will be giving them 15 mins to clear security and get to the gate (which can be a 20 min walk) . As for security LHR T3 can be a nightmare with even fast track taking 20 mins or so and the regular line being MUCH longer (ok so it feeds more machines) Don't be deceived by the apparently 'short' queue for security in the outside area, that is just the tip of it, once behind the wall and screens after the passport check there are many many zig zag ropes to go through before they get to the screening belt.

Best thing is kick them out at the curb, hugs and kisses and tell them to get on with it, don't dillydally before security, there are plenty more shops after security, you can hardly move in T3 departures for shops, and go to the gate about 1 hour before the flight at the latest. That way you wont be going back to pick them up for an extra nights stay.

Edited by ViperDave on Thursday 27th June 14:53

[Puggit]

AJI said:

For international departures....

I'd like to see you find a domestic departure from T3

[Nickyboy]

America has it right, cell phone parking areas at pretty much every airport. Park up for free and wait your call from relatives being probed in customs

[AJI]

GTIR said:

Tell them to head towards the purple valet parking building nearest the car park.

You can pick people up without getting harnessed or a ticket.

Is the 'valet parking' areas of Terminal 3 this one shown on the street view below?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=heathrow&hl=en...

And I can simply wait for phone call, turn up and park in that area (or one of the rows behind it) , quickly pick up persons and leave without fear of being captured by ANPR or other CCTV fining methods?

[AJI]

ah...just stumbled across this.....
...maybe not a good idea to chance the valet area parking zones?

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/...

[Magic919]

I'm sure GTIR knows what he is talking about. I only pick up family and friends at Heathrow and I've never so much as had a gun pointed at me. I head for departures bit and collect them there as a rule. If they ring after they have their bags, I can time it. The new Starbucks drive-in is just down the road and easier pace to stop than most.

[ViperDave]

For collecting them why not just park in the short stay and meet them in the terminal. Ok so its not cheap but you don't need a mortgage either. 30 mins will cost you £2.90 and an hour £4.90. Have a cup of coffee at home before you leave saving the price of a costalotabucks and you break even anyway.