Collecting from Heathrow

[boyse7en]

I need to collect my sister from Heathrow Terminal 3 when she lands. Not been to T3 before so looking for any tips about how and where to park/wait without it costing a fortune. Heard to many scare stories about being charged £15 for driving through the wrong place

As a secondary, how long should it take from landing time to getting through the Airport? She's landing at 8pm in case that makes a difference.

[m3cs]

Depends on a number of factors, I’ve got out as quick as 20 mins before, but taken as long as 50mins with my kids and needing to collect luggage (which you can wait a while for). Add more time if there are bad passport control queues.

[m3cs]

I’d wait somewhere locally. Arrange for your sis to call you once they clear passport control and head to the pickup place then (assuming no luggage to collect).

This vid shows you the route, helpfully: https://youtu.be/EXiPymvqePg

[CarCrazyDad]

Agree with m3cs

By locally, try one junction away on the motorway, anywhere in that area is littered with Do not wait signs etc, even local petrol stations fine you if you're more than 10 minutes filling up

[Bannock]

I lurk about in a layby on an A road just outside the perimiter (like this one just on the inside of this beautifully positioned bus https://goo.gl/maps/FLajyeQPztDH6x4L9), and use the Flightradar app on my phone to see the precise moment when the plane lands. Then I wait 10 further minutes to allow it to get to the terminal and start disgorging pasengers, and only then head into the terminal short stay car park. It usually works out that I get to the Arrivals area just in time to see my pick-up emerge from customs, and get back to the car whilst only incurring the minimum 30 minute stay charge - which is only pennies more than the outrageous £5 drive though drop off/pick up outside.

[esuuv]

There's a £5 charge just for driving through the drop off / pick up area - there are a lot of signs, you have until midnight the next day to pay it.

You may as well park in the short stay and go in to meet them - as it's £5.30 to park for up to half an hour.

[GCH]

8pm is pretty quiet in T3. Aim for about 8:30, or rather 30 mins past projected touchdown time according to flight tracking when en route. She should be waiting for you by then.

Unfortunately, as of last year, there is no pickup place outside T3 anymore.
You MUST use and pay for the short stay carpark to pick up anyone there...and it's absolute chaos as a result.

Drop offs outside the terminals have to pay a £5 charge, but you cannot use this are for pickups any more (and there are heathrow wombles checking this), and you will get an £90 ANPR ticket issued if you do, so don't try it....