Meet & Greet asks you to do something that feels odd the first time: hand your car keys to a stranger at the airport and walk away for a week. It is the quickest way to park, and it helps to know exactly what happens to the car between the handover and your return. This guide walks through it step by step, with what to check at each stage and what to do if something is not right.
Before the day
- Read your confirmation. It gives the operator's name and phone number, the exact handover point and any final instructions. Each operator has its own drop-off zone, usually in the airport's short-stay car park or just outside the terminal. At airports with several terminals, some services cover only certain terminals, so check yours matches your flight.
- Check the car registration on the booking is the car you are taking. If it has changed, email us your booking reference and the new registration before you travel.
- Driving a hire car? Check with the hire company first. Some hire agreements do not allow anyone other than the named driver to drive the car, even briefly.
- Separate your keys. Take house keys and anything else off the ring, because the driver keeps the car key while you are away.
The handover
Arrive at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time. A uniformed driver meets you, checks your booking and takes the keys.
- Photograph the car before you walk away: all four corners, the wheels and the mileage. It takes a minute and settles any question about damage later.
- Take everything you need from the car, including chargers, sunglasses and anything valuable.
- Hand over only at the agreed point, to someone who can show ID. Under the British Parking Association's approved Meet & Greet scheme, keys should only change hands in the airport's signposted Meet & Greet zone, and the car should be returned there too.
Then walk into the terminal. There is no shuttle and no searching for a space. If you are running late on the way, call the operator: they can usually wait, but may charge a small late fee if it takes the driver beyond their grace window.
Where your car goes
The driver takes the car to the operator's secure car park, often a compound near the airport, and parks it there for the length of your trip. Each car park's security features, such as CCTV, barriers, staff and accreditation, are listed against every operator in our comparison table, so you can see them before you book.
Under the approved scheme's standards, the car should be kept in an accredited car park and not driven further than your booking says. Every Meet & Greet operator we sell is insured to drive and store your car, and your own motor insurance continues to cover it while it is parked, as it would at home.
At Heathrow, which is inside London's Ultra Low Emission Zone, the daily charge for a non-compliant car can apply when the operator moves it between its car park and the terminal, not only on your own journeys. Ask the operator if your car does not meet the standard. Our clean air zones guide has the details.
Coming home
- Call when you have your bags. Once you are through passport control and baggage reclaim, call the operator's number from your confirmation. They bring the car back to the same drop-off area.
- If your flight is delayed, let the operator know your new arrival time as soon as you can, because a driver is arranged for your landing.
- Check the car before you drive away. Walk round it, compare it with your photos, and check the mileage.
If something is wrong
Report any damage to the operator before you leave, with photos, and ask for a written incident report. Raise the claim with the operator first. If you booked through Before You Fly, contact us and we can help. The operator's own liability insurance covers damage caused by its staff. The security FAQs explain the process.
Is Meet & Greet worth it?
For families, heavy luggage, early flights and late returns, usually yes. It often costs less extra than people expect: when we compared prices for an eight-day trip, it was about £10 to £17 more than Park & Ride at several big airports, and the cheapest option at Edinburgh, East Midlands and Cardiff. Our Meet & Greet or Park & Ride guide compares them, and our guide to legitimate parking companies explains how to check an operator. When you are ready, compare Meet & Greet at your airport.
Frequently asked questions
Where does my car go with Meet & Greet?
To the operator's secure car park, usually a compound near the airport, where it stays until you return. The security features of each operator's car park are listed in our comparison table.
Is my car insured with Meet & Greet?
Yes. Every Meet & Greet operator we sell is insured to drive and store your car, and your own motor insurance continues to cover it while it is parked.
Do I get my car back at the terminal?
Yes. Call the operator once you have your bags, and the car is brought back to the same drop-off area where you handed it over.
What if I am late for the handover?
Call the operator as soon as you know. They can usually wait, but may charge a small late fee if it takes the driver beyond their grace window.
Can I use Meet & Greet with a hire car?
Check with the hire company first, because some agreements do not allow anyone other than the named driver to drive the car.
Sorted before you fly.
