How does Meet & Greet parking work?

Meet & Greet is often called valet parking, but the name alone does not tell you where you will leave your car. The meeting point may be in a designated car park rather than directly outside departures. Check the walking route to your terminal, particularly if you have heavy luggage or need step-free access.

Confirm who operates the parking service, where the car will be stored, the service hours and whether any airport access or car park charges are included or payable separately. Read the cancellation, delay and vehicle acceptance terms. If you have questions about insurance or responsibility while the car is in the operator's care, ask before booking rather than assuming a particular level of cover.

Save your booking confirmation and the operator's contact details somewhere you can access without mobile data.

Follow the directions in your confirmation, including any instruction to call before arriving. A terminal postcode alone may lead you to the wrong entrance or level. Do not assume a general passenger drop-off zone is also the Meet & Greet handover point.

Allow time for finding the meeting point, completing the vehicle handover and walking to check-in. Your parking arrival time is not your airline's check-in deadline. Use your airline's guidance to plan backwards from departure; Heathrow passengers can also read our [guide to check-in and security timing](/guides/heathrow-departure-arrival-check-in-security-guide).

If you cannot find the meeting point, contact the operator. Do not stop in a restricted area or hand the car to someone who cannot verify your booking.

Check that the person receiving your vehicle represents the operator named in your confirmation. Confirm your booking reference, return flight and collection terminal before leaving.

Walk around the car and review any condition report provided. Dated photographs of the bodywork, wheels and existing marks can help document its condition. Note the mileage and fuel level or battery charge, and ask how to obtain a copy of the handover record.

Remove your luggage, travel documents, medicines, valuables and anything you will need during the trip. Make sure every passenger is safely out of the vehicle before the driver moves it. Keep any receipt or collection reference until you have checked the car on your return.

You normally leave your car key with the operator because staff need to drive the vehicle to the parking location and bring it back. Remove house keys, office keys and unrelated fobs from the keyring first.

Explain any unusual starting procedure, alarm, immobiliser or parking-brake controls. For a keyless car, make sure the driver has the physical fob required to operate it. If the vehicle relies on an app or another unusual access method, agree the arrangements in advance.

Leave enough fuel or battery charge for the planned vehicle movements; ask the operator if you need guidance. Do not assume charging is included. If you want to understand where keys are kept or who may drive the car, request the operator's policy.

Your confirmation should explain when to contact the operator on your return. Some arrangements require a call after baggage reclaim; others use a different process. Follow those instructions rather than assuming the car will be waiting when your flight lands.

Confirm the collection point and keep your booking reference and any requested identification available. Departure and return meeting points may differ, even at the same airport. If your Heathrow flights use different terminals, see our [guide to returning to a different Heathrow terminal](/guides/heathrow-different-departure-arrival-terminals).

Before driving away, check the vehicle's condition and your belongings. Raise any concern with the operator promptly, record it with photographs where relevant, and follow the reporting procedure in your booking terms.

Tell the operator promptly if your flight, return date or terminal changes. Do not assume flight monitoring replaces the need to make contact. Check what happens if you arrive outside the booked service hours, including any revised collection arrangements or additional charges under the terms.

If travelling with children, decide what you need to unload before handing over the keys. Keep pushchairs and any child seat travelling with you accessible, and check carriage arrangements with your airline. Our [guide to flying from Luton with children](/guides/luton-airport-travelling-with-children) covers airport-specific preparation.

If you need assistance, confirm the walking distance, lifts and step-free route from the handover point. Arrange airport assistance through the appropriate airline or airport process; the parking handover does not replace that service.