Airport Pickup: When booking an airport transfer, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right meeting time with your driver. Should your driver meet you immediately after your plane lands? Would 30 minutes be enough? Or should you allow an hour or more?
A practical guide from Tony Cars for passengers arriving at London airports
Choosing the right airport pickup meeting time can help you avoid rushing through the terminal, unnecessary waiting and possible additional charges. At Tony Cars, we provide pre-booked transfers from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City airports.
Landed vs Arrived: What’s the Difference?
Landed means the aircraft has touched down on the runway. Passengers are still on board, and the aircraft must taxi to its allocated parking stand.
Arrived generally means the aircraft has reached its gate or parking stand, depending on the flight tracking provider. It may take 5, 10, 15 minutes or longer to get there after touchdown.
Important: Tony Cars calculates your meeting time from the actual aircraft landing time (“Landed”), NOT from the “Arrived” status.
How to Choose Your Meeting Time When Booking with Tony Cars
Our booking system asks you for three essential details:
1. Scheduled landing time: Enter the time shown on your airline itinerary or flight booking. Do not enter the time you expect to leave the terminal.
2. Flight number: Enter the correct number (for example, BA123 or EZY4567), so we can monitor your flight.
3. Meeting time after landing: Select any interval from **0 to 120 minutes, in 5-minute increments. You choose the time you expect to need to disembark, pass passport control, collect luggage and reach the meeting point.
What Happens If Your Flight Is Delayed or Early?
Your correct flight number helps us monitor your actual touchdown time. For example:
| Flight information | Time |
| Scheduled landing | 14:00 |
| Actual touchdown (Landed) | 14:40 |
| Selected meeting interval | 60 minutes |
| Calculated meeting time | 15:40 |
Your meeting time is calculated from the **actual Landed time plus the interval you selected**. The same principle applies if the aircraft lands earlier than scheduled.
Why Not Choose a Meeting Time Immediately After Landing?
Touchdown does not mean you are ready to leave the airport. You may still have to wait for the aircraft to taxi to its stand, disembark, walk through the terminal, pass passport control, collect checked baggage and reach your meeting point. This can take around 20 minutes to more than an hour, depending on the circumstances.
Choosing 0 or 10 minutes after landing could mean your driver is scheduled to meet you while you are still on board.
How Long After Landing Should You Choose?
These practical recommendations are guidelines, not guarantees:
| Circumstances | Suggested time after landing |
| Hand luggage only, quick exit | 15–30 minutes |
| Checked luggage | 40–60 minutes |
| Longer passport control or immigration queues | 50–75 minutes |
| Young children or additional assistance required | 60–90 minutes |
Allow extra time if you expect queues or need additional assistance.
Example: Arriving at Heathrow Airport
Imagine your flight is scheduled to land at 14:00 and you selected a meeting time 60 minutes after landing. It arrives on time:
– 14:00 – Landed: The aircraft touches the runway.
– 14:15 – Arrived: The aircraft reaches its stand.
– 14:25 – Disembarkation: You leave the aircraft.
– 14:45 – Passport control: You complete the checks.
– 14:55 – Baggage: You collect your suitcase.
– 15:00 – Meeting time: Your selected pickup time.
These times are illustrative. Actual processing times vary. If you had chosen just 20 minutes, the scheduled meeting would have been 14:20, potentially before you left the aircraft.
When Does Free Driver Waiting Time Begin?
Your aircraft touchdown time and your driver meeting time are different. If the aircraft lands at 14:00 and you have selected 60 minutes, your meeting time is 15:00.
The complimentary waiting period starts at 15:00, not at 14:00.
| Airport | Complimentary waiting time |
| Heathrow | 30 minutes |
| Gatwick | 30 minutes |
| Stansted | 30 minutes |
| London City | 20 minutes |
| Luton | 15 minutes |
Once the complimentary period has expired, additional waiting and applicable parking charges may apply according to our Terms and Conditions.
What If Passport Control or Baggage Collection Takes Longer?
Although we monitor flight landing times, we cannot know how long each passenger will spend at passport control or baggage reclaim. If you think you will miss your chosen meeting time, please contact Tony Cars as soon as possible. We can inform your driver and coordinate your pickup where possible. Contacting us does not automatically waive applicable waiting or parking charges.
Five Tips for Booking Your Airport Pickup
1. Enter the correct scheduled landing time from your itinerary.
2. Provide your correct flight number.
3. Choose a realistic interval between 0 and 120 minutes after landing.
4. Remember: the calculation begins at **Landed**, not **Arrived**.
5. Let us know promptly if you are delayed inside the terminal.
Airport Pickup – Frequently Asked Questions
Does my driver meet me as soon as the plane lands?
Not necessarily. Your meeting time depends on the interval you select. If you choose 60 minutes, your meeting is calculated as 60 minutes after actual touchdown.
Does Tony Cars track flights?
Yes. The correct flight number helps us monitor the actual landing time and coordinate your pickup.
What if the flight lands early?
The selected interval is calculated from the actual Landed time, including earlier touchdown.
Is Arrived the same as Landed?
No. Landed indicates runway touchdown; Arrived usually indicates arrival at a stand or gate. Providers may use slightly different terminology.
Should I choose 30 or 60 minutes?
It depends on your baggage, passport control, terminal and personal circumstances. Checked luggage or longer queues generally call for more time.
When does complimentary waiting start?
At your calculated driver meeting time. The complimentary period varies by airport.
Travel with Confidence with Tony Cars
Whether you land at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or London City Airport, Tony Cars provides reliable, pre-booked airport transfers to Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames and surrounding areas.
Remember: ‘Landed’ does not mean you are already outside the terminal. Choose enough time to reach your driver comfortably.
Tony Cars – Always on Time, Every Time.
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Telephone: 020 8399 9473
Email: info@tony-cars.co.uk