Meet and Greet at the Airport: What It Is and How It Works
Meet-and-greet airport pickup explained: where the driver waits, what the name board looks like, what it costs and when it is worth paying for.
"Meet and greet" is one of those phrases that means slightly different things in different contexts. For an airport pickup, here is exactly what it is.
The standard meet-and-greet pickup
- Your driver tracks your flight and parks in the airport car park before you land.
- They walk into the arrivals hall and wait past the customs exit — the point where arriving passengers come through into the public area.
- They hold a name board with your name (or the lead passenger's name, or a company name) on it.
- When you come through, they take your heaviest bags and walk you to the car.
You do not have to find a car park, read parking-bay texts, or navigate a pickup zone with a luggage trolley.
How it differs from a "kerbside" or "car park" pickup
- Car park pickup (often the default): the driver waits in the car park and sends you a text with the zone and level. You make your own way there. Cheaper, perfectly fine if you travel light and know the airport.
- Kerbside pickup: not generally possible for pre-booked private hire at major UK airports — the kerb is for black cabs, buses and very brief stops only.
What does meet-and-greet cost?
It is usually a modest add-on — a fixed supplement on top of the transfer price, covering the driver's parking and the extra time spent inside the terminal. It is shown clearly at booking.
When is it worth it?
- Arriving on a long-haul flight, tired, possibly with jet lag.
- Travelling with children, elderly relatives, or anyone who would struggle with a walk to a car park.
- Lots of luggage or a cruise connection.
- First time at that airport, or arriving very late at night.
- A VIP or client pickup where a name board and a smooth handover matter.
If you are a frequent flyer with hand luggage only, the standard car-park pickup is usually all you need. For everyone else, meet-and-greet removes the most annoying part of arriving. Add it when you book your airport transfer.
Book with XlineCars. Fixed prices, vetted drivers and flight tracking on every UK airport, seaport and long-distance journey. Get a quote or see the fleet.