With meet and greet — also sold as valet, drop and go or chauffeur parking — you drive to a meeting point at or near the terminal, hand over the keys and walk to check-in. A driver parks the car and brings it back when you land.
Official airport meet and greet
Many airports run their own service. Examples from the airports' own websites:
- Heathrow offers Meet & Greet (receptions in each terminal's Terminal Parking car park) and a separate Valet product that includes a 100% discount on the drop-off charge.
- Gatwick Valet Parking can add EV charging and a hand wash.
- Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands sell Meet & Greet; Manchester also has Drop & Go, where staff park the car for you.
- Luton's Priority Parking Drop & Go uses a secure key chute.
- Edinburgh's FastPark is valet parking right next to the terminal.
Independent meet and greet companies
Independent firms also offer meet and greet at most large airports, often for less. Some are excellent; some have caused problems for travellers. Before booking one, check:
- Where will the car be stored? A reputable company will tell you the address of its compound.
- Is it accredited? Look for the Safer Parking Meet and Greet initiative (the police-supported scheme that is replacing the Approved Meet and Greet Parking Operator scheme, AM-GO) or the International Parking Community's Accredited Airport Parking Provider scheme.
- What happens if the car is damaged? Read the terms before you pay.
Read our full checklist: Is my car park legit?
Tip: photograph your car — including the dashboard mileage and fuel gauge — when you hand it over.