Book the perfect parking space at Heathrow Airport
With 4 terminals playing host to almost 100 million passengers a year, it’s easy to see why Heathrow Airport is the busiest travel hub in Europe. The high volume of passengers means that the parking can be difficult, if not impossible, to navigate. However, if you’re planning a visit to Heathrow, Looking4 have a few tips to turn the maze of 11 on-site carparks into a straightforward cakewalk.
Heathrow does offer free drop-off points close to the entrance of each terminal, however, there are no dedicated pick-up areas. It is recommended that those looking to pick up passengers use the on-site short-stay parking areas, which are situated close to the terminal’s entrance. Alternatively, you can avoid charges by waiting to pick up friends and family in the long-stay carpark, which offers 2 hours of free parking.
Short-stay parking at Heathrow is the ideal option for picking-up or dropping-off friends and family. The short-stay carparks are near each terminal entrance and all feature regular security patrols. Those looking to leave their car for longer stays may find short-stay parking costly so it’s recommended that they consider more cost-effective long-term parking.
With frequent patrols and 24-hour CCTV coverage, Heathrow’s long-stay parking is both secure and affordable. There are several different carparks offering a variety of services, however, with regular shuttle buses between each carpark and terminal, there’s nothing to stop you from parking in any of them. Those flying from Terminal 5 can make use of the award-winning pod parking service which takes you from your car to the doors of the terminal in 4 minutes.
You can pre-book both Meet & Greet and valet parking services at Heathrow airport. Either service requires that you meet a trained valet, who will then take your car and store it in a secure carpark, however, the valet service can be upgraded to include a full car wash and wax. When you’re leaving the airport, notify the valet and they’ll deliver your car to the terminal exit.
If you are struggling to find the correct terminal for your flight you can find it by locating your airline on the lists below (note that Terminal 1 is now inactive at Heathrow):
Terminal 2:
Aegean Airlines
Aer Lingus
Air Canada
Air China
Air New Zealand
Asiana Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Avianca
Brussels Airlines
Croatia Airlines
Egyptair
Ethiopian Airways
EVA Air
Germanwings
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
SAS – Scandinavian Airlines
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Swiss International Airlines
TAP Portugal
Thai Airways
Turkish Airlines
United Airlines
Virgin Atlantic Little Red
Terminal 3:
American Airlines
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
Delta Airlines
Emirates
Finnair
Iran Air
Japan Airlines
MEA Middle East Airlines
Oman Air
Pakistan International Airlines
Qantas
Royal Jordanian
Sri Lankan Airlines
Turkmenistan Airlines
US Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Vueling
Terminal 4:
Aeroflot
Aeromexico
Air Algerie
Air Astana
Air France
Air India
Air Malta
Air Mauritius
Air Serbia
Alitalia
ANA
Arik Air
Azerbaijan Airlines
Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Bulgaria Air
China Eastern Airlines
China Southern
Delta Airlines
Etihad Airways
Gulf Air
Jet Airways
Kenya Airways
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Korean Air
Kuwait Airways
Libyan Arab Airlines
Malaysia Airlines System
Philippine Airlines
Qatar Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Brunei Airlines
Saudia
Tarom
Transaero
Tunisair
Uzbekistan Airways
Terminal 5:
British Airways
Iberia
Iberia Express
Due to the incredible number of passengers that travel through Heathrow, it can be extremely difficult to get the space you want by just looking on the day. If you want to guarantee a space at a reasonable price, it’s strongly recommended that you pre-book your parking.
Arrive early: It can be very difficult to get through security quickly at Heathrow Airport as the four terminals see a daily footfall of up to 207,000 visitors. It’s recommended that you arrive at least 2 hours 30 minutes before your flight, to ensure you make your departure.
Special Events: Check if there is anything happening at the airport on your day of travel as Heathrow often hosts special festivals and events. These festivities can be a great way to keep kids entertained and kick-start your holiday.
Check your vehicle: Be sure that your car will fit in the carpark you’re booking as some of the multi-storey carparks have low ceilings, especially Terminal 4’s multi-storey carpark which has a maximum height of 2m.