Meet & Greet and Park & Ride are the two ways most people park for a holiday, and they solve the same problem in opposite ways. With Meet & Greet you hand the car over at the terminal and walk in. With Park & Ride you park it yourself a short drive away and take a shuttle bus. One saves time and carrying; the other usually saves money. This guide sets out how each works, what the difference really costs at the big UK airports, and who each one suits, so you can choose for the trip you are actually taking.
How each one works
- Meet & Greet. You drive to a handover point at or near the terminal at your booked time. A driver takes the keys and the car, parks it in the operator's secure car park, and brings it back to the same spot when you land. You never ride a shuttle and you never see the car park.
- Park & Ride. You drive to a car park near the airport, park the car yourself and keep the keys. A shuttle bus takes you to the terminal, and when you land you call the operator and the shuttle collects you.
- On-airport parking is the third option: the airport's own car parks, a short walk from the terminal. It suits short trips best, and is worth comparing alongside the other two.
The time difference
Meet & Greet is quicker on the way out and much quicker on the way home.
- Meet & Greet: be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time. From there you walk straight into departures.
- Park & Ride: allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in. That covers parking, waiting for the shuttle and the ride to the terminal.
The return is where the difference shows. With Meet & Greet, you call when you have your bags and the car is brought back to the drop-off point. With Park & Ride, you call, wait at the shuttle stop, ride back, then find the car and load it yourself. After a long flight with tired children, that wait is the part people remember.
The price difference
Park & Ride is usually cheaper, but often by less than people expect. When we compared the cheapest of each type on our site for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead, this is what Meet & Greet cost on top of Park & Ride:
- Bristol: about £10 more
- Gatwick: about £12 more
- Manchester and Birmingham: about £17 more
- Luton: about £24 more
- Heathrow and Stansted: about £33 to £35 more
- Edinburgh: about the same, with Meet & Greet slightly cheaper
Prices move with the dates, the season and how far ahead you book, so treat these as a guide to the gap, not a quote. The only way to know for your trip is to compare every car park at your airport for your real dates, with Meet & Greet and Park & Ride side by side.
Choose Meet & Greet if
- You are travelling with young children. No car seats on and off a bus, no buggy on the shuttle, and the car is waiting when you come out.
- You have heavy or awkward luggage. The bags go from the boot to a trolley at the terminal, and the driver will help if you need it.
- Walking or waiting is hard. It avoids the shuttle transfer, and you can tell the operator when you book if you need to be met at a particular point or need more time at handover. See the Blue Badge FAQs.
- You land late at night or have an early start, and the shuttle wait is the last thing you want.
- The gap is small at your airport. At some airports it costs little more than Park & Ride, so check before ruling it out.
At the handover, photograph the car's four corners and the mileage, take your house keys off the ring, and keep the operator's number to hand. If you are running late, call them: they can usually wait, but they may charge a small late fee if it takes the driver beyond their grace window.
Choose Park & Ride if
- The saving matters most, especially at airports where the gap is £25 or more for a week away.
- You would rather keep your keys and park the car yourself.
- You are driving a hire car. Some hire agreements do not allow anyone but the named driver to drive the car, even for a moment, which rules out Meet & Greet unless the hire company agrees. Park & Ride avoids the question. See the vehicle FAQs.
- You have time in hand and do not mind a short bus ride either way.
Shuttles run until the last flight, so a late landing is fine. On the way out, the 25 to 35 minutes includes waiting for the bus, so do not cut it fine at busy times.
The small print, whichever you choose
- Large vehicles. Most operators take MPVs and SUVs at the standard rate, but some add a small surcharge for vans, big 4x4s and tall vehicles. It is shown on each car park's listing before you book. Trailers, caravans and motorhomes are usually not accepted.
- Insurance. Your own motor insurance still covers the car while it is parked, as it would at home. Operators carry their own liability insurance for damage caused by their staff, which matters most with Meet & Greet. The security FAQs explain what to do if something goes wrong.
- Security. Each listing shows the car park's security features. Look for Safer Parking (formerly Park Mark), the police-backed standard for secure parking, along with CCTV and barriers.
- Flexible rates. Whichever type you pick, a flexible booking can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund. See the cancellation FAQs.
For everything else to sort before the trip, from the day you book to the gate, see the Before You Fly checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meet & Greet safe?
The car is driven by the operator's staff to their own secure car park, and operators carry liability insurance for damage their staff cause. Check the security features on the listing, look for Safer Parking (formerly Park Mark), and photograph the car at handover so any question about its condition on return is easy to settle.
Does Park & Ride run at night?
Yes. Shuttles run until the last flight, so a late arrival is collected as normal. Call the operator's number from your confirmation once you have your bags.
Can I change from Park & Ride to Meet & Greet after booking?
They are different car parks, so changing means a new booking. On a flexible rate you can cancel the original up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund and book the other type. On a non-refundable rate, contact us first.
Which is better for a 6am flight?
Usually Meet & Greet. You only need to be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time, against 25 to 35 minutes for Park & Ride, and that extra time is worth the most at the start of an early morning.
Sorted before you fly.
