When you book a Heathrow pick-up with Esskay Cars, your driver meets you inside the arrivals hall of your terminal, holding a sign with your name. They park in that terminal’s short-stay car park, which is a short walk from arrivals. You do not need to look for a taxi rank or a pick-up bay. This guide explains where that meeting happens at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, how to find the driver if your phone is off, and where you will be dropped when you fly out.
Quick answers
- Where do I meet my driver? In the arrivals hall of your terminal, by the main exit from customs.
- Is it the same at every terminal? Yes. The driver always comes into the hall to meet you.
- Where are departures drop-offs? On the departures forecourt of your terminal.
- Wrong terminal? Tell us your flight number and we check it for you.
- Can I call the driver? Yes. You get the driver’s details before you land.
Where exactly will my driver be waiting at Heathrow?
Just outside the customs exit in the arrivals hall, where the public waits to greet passengers.
Every Heathrow terminal has one main arrivals hall that all passengers walk through after passport control, baggage reclaim and customs. Your driver stands among the greeters there, holding a sign with your name or the name you asked for. If you cannot see them straight away, stay in the hall and call or WhatsApp the number on your booking. Do not go out to the taxi rank or the bus stops, because pre-booked drivers are not allowed to wait there.
Which airlines use which Heathrow terminal?
Terminal 5 is mainly British Airways. Terminal 3 handles Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and American Airlines. Terminal 2 serves Star Alliance carriers such as Lufthansa, United and Air Canada, plus Aer Lingus. Terminal 4 hosts Qatar Airways, Etihad and several SkyTeam airlines.
| Terminal | Typical airlines | Arrivals area |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal) | Star Alliance members, Aer Lingus | Single arrivals hall, ground level |
| Terminal 3 | Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, American, Delta | Arrivals hall, ground level |
| Terminal 4 | Qatar Airways, Etihad, SkyTeam carriers | Arrivals hall, ground level |
| Terminal 5 | British Airways, Iberia | Arrivals hall, ground level |
Airlines do move between terminals, so treat this as a guide and check your booking confirmation. If you give us your flight number, we confirm the terminal for you, so the driver goes to the right building.
Are Terminals 2 and 3 close together?
Yes. Terminals 2 and 3 share the central terminal area and are a few minutes’ walk apart. Terminals 4 and 5 are separate and further away.
If you land at the wrong terminal by mistake, or your flight is moved, travel between terminals is free on the Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth line within the airport. A free shuttle also runs to Terminal 4. Let us know straight away, and the driver will move to the right arrivals hall.
How does the driver know when I have landed?
They track your flight number in real time and arrive in the hall shortly after you land.
Long-haul passengers often take 45 minutes to an hour to clear passport control and collect their bags. The driver allows for this. If there is a long queue at the border, message the driver so they know you are on your way. You will not be charged for a delayed flight.
What happens if I cannot find my driver?
Stay in the arrivals hall and call the driver or our office on 0207 8400 344.
Most mix-ups happen when passengers leave the hall too early or go to the taxi rank outside. If your phone has no signal or roaming is off, use the free airport Wi-Fi to send a WhatsApp message to 020 3355 8186. Or ask at the information desk in the hall, and they can help you call us.
Where will I be dropped for departures?
On the departures forecourt of your terminal, right outside check-in.
Each terminal has a drop-off zone at departures level. Heathrow charges every vehicle that uses these zones, and that drop-off charge is already in our fare, so you pay nothing extra. The driver unloads your bags at the kerb. If you need a trolley, they are available inside the terminal doors.
How much is a taxi to or from Heathrow?
Fares are the same for every terminal. A saloon from central London costs from £73, from Windsor £45 and from Reading £69.
| Heathrow | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central London (Victoria) | £73 | £81 | £93 | £117 | £312 |
| Kensington | £64 | £70 | £80 | £108 | £305 |
| Richmond | £57 | £64 | £73 | £100 | £299 |
| Windsor | £45 | £51 | £60 | £83 | £282 |
| Reading | £69 | £79 | £93 | £109 | £333 |
| Woking | £57 | £65 | £76 | £95 | £297 |
| Watford | £77 | £91 | £97 | £125 | £319 |
Prices are from our booking system, checked in October 2026, per vehicle, one way.
Can I be picked up from a Heathrow hotel instead?
Yes. We collect from hotels around the airport, such as those on Bath Road and at the terminals, at a time you choose.
Give us the hotel name and we meet you in the hotel lobby or at the main entrance. This is useful for an early flight after a night near the airport, or if you arrive late and stay at a hotel before travelling on.
Do I pay for the driver’s parking?
No. The short-stay parking while the driver waits for you is included in the fixed price.
Our quote for a Heathrow pick-up already allows for the time spent in the terminal car park. You will not be asked for money for parking, and there is no extra charge because your bags took a while to come through.
Why does the driver meet me inside rather than outside?
Pre-booked cars are not allowed to stop on the arrivals roads at Heathrow, so meeting inside is the only reliable way.
The roads outside arrivals are kept for black cabs, buses and coaches. A pre-booked car that stops there can be moved on or fined. Meeting in the hall means the driver can help with your bags from the start and walk you straight to the car in the short-stay car park.
I need assistance at the airport. Can the driver meet me there?
Yes. Tell us when you book, and the driver will meet you where Heathrow’s assistance team hands you over.
Heathrow offers free assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, which you arrange through your airline. If you use it, the assistance team brings you through the airport. Let us know the details, and we will arrange for the driver to meet you at the agreed point. Please tell us if you use a wheelchair, so we send a vehicle with enough room for it.
Is the meeting point different for domestic flights?
No. Passengers on UK and Irish flights come out into the same arrivals hall, often a lot faster than international passengers.
Domestic passengers usually skip the long passport queues, so the driver plans to be in the hall sooner. Make sure your booking shows the right flight number, so the driver knows it is a domestic arrival.
Can I change my pick-up time after booking?
Yes. Call or WhatsApp us with the new flight details as soon as you know them.
If your flight moves to a different day or terminal, we update the booking and confirm the new details with you.
How do I book a Heathrow pick-up?
Put Heathrow and your terminal as the pick-up in the booking form at the top of this page, add your flight number and confirm.
You will see the fixed price before you book, and you pay the driver on the day. To book by phone, call 0207 8400 344. See also Heathrow airport taxi and Heathrow taxi prices.
Heathrow pick-up points: common questions
Where do pre-booked taxis pick up at Heathrow?
Inside the arrivals hall of your terminal, by the customs exit.
Which terminal is British Airways at Heathrow?
Mostly Terminal 5.
Which terminal is Virgin Atlantic at Heathrow?
Terminal 3.
Is the Heathrow drop-off charge included?
Yes, it is included in our fixed fare.
Is it free to travel between Heathrow terminals?
Yes, on the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line within the airport.
What if my flight is late?
The driver tracks it and waits at no extra cost.
