Heathrow: different departure and arrival terminals

Look up the Heathrow terminal for your outbound departure and your inbound flight home. Do not assume that a return ticket, the same airline or the same booking reference means you will use the same terminal.

Check your airline’s booking details and Heathrow’s flight information. For a codeshare flight, identify the airline actually operating the service, not just the airline whose flight number appears on your ticket. If the terminal information conflicts, ask the operating airline to clarify.

Record both flight numbers, both Heathrow terminals and the local departure and arrival dates. An overnight return flight may reach Heathrow on a different date from the one on which it leaves your holiday destination.

Meet & Greet parking generally involves handing your car to a driver at an agreed location, then collecting it through an agreed return arrangement. The departure handover point and return collection point do not necessarily have to be the same, but this depends on the product and provider.

Before booking, ask: ‘I depart from Heathrow Terminal [departure terminal] and return to Terminal [arrival terminal]. Can you collect and return my car at those respective terminals?’ Get the arrangement confirmed in writing.

Also check whether a different return terminal changes the price, whether any terminal access or parking charges are included, and how later amendments are handled. Do not treat a general reference to Heathrow coverage as confirmation that every terminal combination is supported. Use the [Heathrow Meet & Greet parking information](/parking/heathrow/heathrow-meet-and-greet-parking) as a starting point, then check the selected product’s terms.

Give the provider your outbound and inbound flight numbers, departure and return terminals, vehicle registration and a mobile number you can use while travelling. Check that the confirmation shows the correct return date as well as the correct terminal.

Your car handover time is not your flight departure time. Allow for the handover, reaching check-in or bag drop, security and the journey to your gate. Follow your airline’s advice on when to arrive and its check-in and baggage deadlines.

Heathrow Meet & Greet services listed by Compare Airport Parking Extras operate from 04:00 to 23:00 daily. Check that both planned handovers fit those hours. For a late return, allow for passport control and baggage reclaim rather than relying on the scheduled landing time alone. Ask what happens if a delay pushes collection outside operating hours; do not assume an out-of-hours handover will be possible.

A terminal’s passenger drop-off zone is not automatically the correct Meet & Greet handover location. Follow the provider’s current instructions for the approach road, entrance, level, row or meeting area. Check whether you must telephone before arriving and keep those instructions accessible to a passenger or available before you set off.

For your return, save the collection instructions for the terminal where you will land. A familiar departure meeting point may be irrelevant if you return elsewhere.

If you are travelling with children, bulky luggage or someone who needs assistance, ask how far the meeting point is from the terminal and whether lifts or other access arrangements are needed. Confirm when to remove or retrieve child seats, pushchairs and essential belongings.

Recheck both terminals before your trip, and check your inbound Heathrow terminal again before travelling home. Airlines can change terminal assignments after you have booked parking.

If either terminal changes, contact the parking provider using the amendment method in your confirmation. Supply your booking reference, flight number, revised terminal and any changed arrival date or time. Ask for acknowledgement and updated meeting instructions.

Do not assume the provider has received an airline notification or that flight monitoring automatically changes your booked collection location. Ask about any amendment charge or restriction. If you are still choosing a product, use the [Meet & Greet comparison results](/results) to review the available product information, and confirm any unclear terminal-change terms before paying.

Follow the provider’s instructions about when to call after landing. Some arrangements may require you to contact the team only after collecting your bags; use your own booking instructions rather than assuming a standard process.

If passport control, missing baggage or another issue delays you, update the provider so that the return can be coordinated. Keep your phone available and have your booking reference to hand.

If you land at an unexpected terminal, contact the provider before heading to another terminal or meeting area. Establish whether the car can be returned where you are and whether revised arrangements or charges apply. If you do need to move between terminals, check Heathrow’s current inter-terminal travel guidance and accessibility information rather than assuming the route is walkable.