A Heathrow meet and greet is a pre-booked service in which a dedicated greeter meets you at London Heathrow, guides you through the airport and helps with formalities, baggage and onward transport, in any of the four passenger terminals (2, 3, 4 and 5). Heathrow also sells its own Fast Track lanes for departure security and arrivals passport control, which save queuing time but do not include a personal escort. This guide explains both, terminal by terminal, so you can decide what you actually need.
Your terminal is set by the airline that operates the flight, not the one that sold the ticket, so codeshare passengers should always check their boarding pass or the airline’s app. Broadly, terminals are grouped by alliance. The table below shows major carriers at the time of writing; allocations do change, so confirm with your airline a few days before travel.
| Terminal | Main airlines (examples) | Typical traveller profile |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal) | Star Alliance carriers such as Lufthansa, United, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir and Middle East Airlines | Mix of European short-haul and long-haul |
| Terminal 3 | Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Emirates, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines, some British Airways flights | Mainly long-haul |
| Terminal 4 | SkyTeam carriers such as Air France and KLM, plus Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Saudia, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, Royal Air Maroc and Malaysia Airlines | Strong Middle East, Asia and Africa network |
| Terminal 5 | British Airways (most flights) and Iberia | BA hub, very busy at peak times |
Terminal 4’s multi-storey car park closed on 23 June 2026 for redevelopment. Parking has moved to the Terminal 4 Park & Ride, the departures drop-off continues with a forecourt charge, and pick-ups at arrivals level now use a paid Priority Pick-Up zone. If someone is collecting you from T4, agree in advance where to meet. Airlines have not moved because of these works. Reports of a wider terminal reshuffle remain unconfirmed.
Heathrow Fast Track is the airport’s own product. It gives you access to dedicated lanes, but you still move through the airport on your own.
This gives you a priority lane through departure security in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. You choose a one-hour window and can book in advance or on the day through heathrow.com. It is included for many premium cabin passengers and eligible frequent flyers (rules vary by airline), and for Heathrow Express Business First (PREMIER+) ticket holders.
Heathrow also sells Fast Track Arrivals, which gives you dedicated lanes at UK passport control. It can be booked up to six months ahead and until one hour before your scheduled arrival, again with a one-hour window. It is especially useful if you cannot use the eGates, for example if your nationality is not eligible.
| Option | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow Fast Track | Priority lane at security (departures) or passport control (arrivals); no escort | Confident solo travellers with light bags |
| Meet and greet (meet and assist) | A greeter who meets you with a name board, escorts you through the airport, helps with bags and hands you to your driver or gate | First-time visitors, families, older travellers, tight connections, business arrivals |
| Private terminal (The Windsor by Heathrow) | Heathrow’s official private terminal experience, separate from the main terminals | Travellers who want full privacy and are prepared for a premium cost |
The services can be combined. A greeter will often use the fast track lanes where they are available, so you get both speed and help.
If you do not need a visa for short stays and do not already hold UK immigration status, you will normally need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before you travel. At the time of writing it costs £20, covers visitors of all ages including babies, and allows multiple stays of up to six months over two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. Apply through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK. Many people get a decision within minutes, but the Home Office advises applying at least three working days before travel. British and Irish citizens do not need one.
For connections: if you transit at Heathrow without going through UK passport control, you do not currently need an ETA. If your connection requires you to pass through passport control, for example to collect bags on separate tickets, you do.
Holders of biometric passports from the UK, EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the USA can usually use the eGates. Travellers from some other countries can use them after joining the Registered Traveller Service. From July 2026, children aged 8 and 9 can use the gates with an adult if they are at least 120cm tall; travellers aged 10 and over follow the standard rules. Everyone else queues at the staffed desks, where a meet and greet or Fast Track Arrivals helps most.
If you have a through ticket, follow the purple Flight Connections signs. Dedicated connection buses run airside between terminals, so you stay in the transfer system and avoid passport control in most cases. British Airways advises that you must reach your onward gate at least 20 minutes before departure.
If you are on separate tickets, you will usually need to pass through passport control, collect your bags and check in again. British Airways recommends at least four hours between flights in that case. Landside, you can move between terminals for free:
A transit meet and greet is worth considering for separate-ticket connections, travellers with reduced mobility, or anyone changing between T4 and T5, which are the furthest apart.
The fastest rail link: around 15 minutes from Terminals 2 & 3 to London Paddington, with trains about every 15 minutes. It also stops at Terminal 5. From Terminal 4, take the free transfer train to Terminals 2 & 3 first.
The Elizabeth line runs from all Heathrow terminals directly through central London, serving stations such as Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road and Liverpool Street without a change. It is slower than Heathrow Express but often more convenient.
The Piccadilly line also serves all terminals and is the lowest-cost rail option, though slower and busier.
With heavy luggage, children or a late-night arrival, a pre-booked airport transfer is usually the least stressful choice. Your driver tracks the flight, and if you have a greeter, they hand you over directly.
A meet and greet is most useful when:
If you travel light, hold an eGate-eligible passport and know the airport, Heathrow Fast Track alone may be enough.
We arrange Heathrow meet and greet for arrivals, departures and connections in every terminal, through vetted local partners. Your greeter meets you with a name board, guides you through the airport, uses fast track lanes where available and can hand you over to a chauffeur. We confirm every booking in writing, and our operations desk is available 24/7, including on WhatsApp at +971 54 515 7619.
If your trip also involves Gatwick, we can arrange Gatwick meet and assist too, and travel agents can book through our B2B partner programme. For other cities, see our full list of airport meet and assist services.
Yes. Heathrow sells Fast Track Departures for security and Fast Track Arrivals for passport control on heathrow.com, valid across Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. You book a one-hour window. Many premium cabin passengers and eligible frequent flyers already have Fast Track Departures included, so check with your airline before paying.
Yes. Fast Track Arrivals gives access to dedicated lanes at UK passport control in all terminals. At the time of writing, Heathrow lists it as available between 06:00 and 21:00, bookable up to six months ahead and until one hour before your scheduled arrival. Outside those hours, or if you want personal help, a meet and greet service is the alternative.
At the time of writing, Emirates operates from Terminal 3, alongside Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Saudia operate from Terminal 4, while British Airways uses mainly Terminal 5. Terminal allocations can change, so always confirm on your booking or the airline’s app before you travel.
If you stay airside and do not pass through UK passport control, you do not currently need an ETA when transiting Heathrow. If your journey requires you to enter the UK, for example to collect bags and check in again on a separate ticket, you will need one unless you hold a visa or are otherwise exempt. Check GOV.UK before travelling.
It depends on the terminals and whether you are airside or landside. Airside Flight Connections buses run frequently between terminals, and British Airways asks connecting passengers to reach their gate at least 20 minutes before departure. On separate tickets, BA recommends at least four hours, because you will usually clear passport control, reclaim bags and check in again.
Heathrow Express is the fastest rail option, taking around 15 minutes from Terminals 2 & 3 to Paddington. The Elizabeth line takes longer but goes straight to central stations such as Bond Street and Liverpool Street. For door-to-door travel with luggage, a pre-booked chauffeur is usually simplest, although road journey times depend on traffic.
This depends on the terminal, the airline and the service you book. For arrivals, the greeter may meet you as you leave the aircraft or in a designated area before or after passport control; for departures, usually at the terminal entrance or check-in. Your written confirmation states the exact meeting point and the greeter’s contact details.
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