Booking a pickup for someone arriving is one problem — the flight tells you when to be there. Dropping someone off for a departure is the opposite problem: the deadline that matters isn't the take-off time on the board, it's the moment their bag-drop queue or gate closes, and that moment happens well before wheels-up.
Get that sequence wrong and the outcome isn't a late arrival, it's a missed flight. Here's how to book the drop-off side properly.
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Work out the deadline that actually matters, not the flight time
The flight's departure time is the least useful number for planning a drop-off. What matters is:
- The airline's check-in or bag-drop cut-off, which is typically 40–90 minutes before departure depending on the airline and airport, and is often tighter than the airport's own general guidance.
- The security queue at the time of day you're travelling — early morning departure banks at Heathrow and Gatwick are the busiest part of the day.
- The walk from drop-off to the gate, which is longer than it looks at a large terminal, especially with hold luggage or a passenger who needs more time.
How early to arrive at the airport works through the airports' own published timings and how to turn them into a pickup time from home — read that first if you haven't already, then use this guide for the drop-off itself.
Confirm the terminal before you set off
Airlines move between terminals, and a rebooked or codeshare flight can depart from a different one than the original booking. Check it again the morning you travel, not just when you booked the flight — which Heathrow terminal do I need? and the Gatwick equivalent both cover how and why this changes.
If you're booking a car for the drop-off, put the terminal on the booking, not just the airport name. "Heathrow" isn't specific enough when there are two separate terminal sites.
Curbside goodbye, or come inside?
Most terminal drop-off zones are built for a brief stop — enough time to unload bags and say goodbye, not to park up. Two things follow from that:
- Decide in advance whether you're stopping curbside or parking. A quick stop at the drop-off zone is the fastest option and the one that avoids the terminal drop-off charge in most cases (see below), but it means goodbyes happen at the kerb, not inside.
- If someone needs help getting into the terminal — an older relative, someone travelling with young children, a first-time flyer, or someone who needs mobility assistance — plan for that before you arrive rather than working it out at the kerb with a queue building behind you. Airports offer assistance booked in advance through the airline; a car dropping someone off can wait slightly longer for this, but check the time limit for your airport.
The drop-off charge, and how to avoid finding out about it at the barrier
Since January 2026, every major London airport charges for a terminal drop-off, collected automatically by number-plate cameras rather than a barrier or ticket. Our full drop-off charges guide has the current figure for each airport and how the billing works — worth reading before you drive yourself, because the charge is easy to miss until a penalty notice arrives.
If you book a transfer with us instead of driving yourself, the driver handles the approach to the terminal and any applicable charge is factored into your estimated fare rather than billed to you separately afterwards.
Luggage, group size and the right vehicle
A drop-off with two people and hand luggage is a different booking from a family of four with hold cases and a pushchair. Get the vehicle size right when you book:
- Taxi luggage guide covers realistic per-vehicle capacity if you're not sure what fits.
- Family transfers and child seats if a child seat is needed for the outbound leg — availability is by request, so ask when you book, not on the day.
- Wheelchair-accessible minicabs if the passenger needs a WAV — again, request this in advance.
If the flight changes before you set off
A delay usually doesn't change your drop-off plan much — you're still taking them to the same terminal, just possibly with more time in hand. A cancellation, a rebooking onto a different flight, or a terminal change is a different matter — what happens when a flight is delayed or cancelled sets out what to check before you leave the house.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What time should I leave to drop someone at the airport? A: Work backwards from the airline's check-in or bag-drop deadline, not the flight's departure time — that deadline is usually 40–90 minutes before take-off and is the one that actually ends your trip if you miss it.
Q: Can I book a car just for the drop-off, not the return? A: Yes, a one-way transfer to the airport is a normal booking. Tell us it's outbound-only when you book.
Q: Will I be charged for stopping at the terminal to drop someone off? A: Every major London airport now charges for a terminal drop-off via number-plate cameras. If you book a transfer with us, this is built into your estimated fare rather than billed separately — see our drop-off charges guide for the current figures if you're driving yourself.
Q: How much time do I have to say goodbye at the drop-off zone? A: Drop-off zones are built for a brief stop, not parking — check the specific time allowed for your airport in our drop-off charges guide. If someone needs longer, ask about assistance options in advance rather than at the kerb.
Q: What if the terminal changes after I've already planned the drop-off? A: Check the terminal again the morning of travel — rebooked and codeshare flights can move terminals. Update the booking with the new terminal as soon as you know.
Working out a departure drop-off? Get a fare estimate for the journey, or see fixed airport transfer prices for your area.