Meet & Greet — most convenient, most expensive
You drive to the terminal drop-off, a driver takes the keys from you right there, and your car is brought back to the same spot when you land. No shuttle bus, no walking with luggage, no time spent between the car park and check-in. This is the option that costs the most, because you're paying entirely for saved time and effort.
It suits tight connections, heavy luggage, mobility considerations, or trips where every extra 20–30 minutes at each end of the journey genuinely matters.
Park & Ride — the middle ground
You drive to an off-airport car park, usually a few minutes from the terminal by road, and take a shuttle bus the rest of the way. It's cheaper than Meet & Greet because the car park doesn't need to sit on prime terminal-adjacent land, but it adds a bus journey — and the wait for one — at both ends of your trip.
This is usually the best value pick for longer trips, where the extra 15–20 minutes for the shuttle matters less relative to the total time away.
On-Airport — official car parks, no shuttle
What it actually is
On-Airport parking is run directly by the airport itself, in a car park that's a genuine walk — not a bus ride — from the terminal. It usually lands in price between Meet & Greet and off-airport Park & Ride: you're not paying for someone to handle your car for you, but you're also not losing time to a shuttle transfer.
At smaller regional airports like Belfast City and Humberside, on-airport parking is often the only option available — neither Meet & Greet nor an off-airport Park & Ride operator currently serves every UK airport, so check what's actually on offer for your specific departure point on the parking comparison page before assuming a choice exists.
When it's the right call
- You want to walk straight to check-in without waiting for a shuttle
- Meet & Greet isn't available at your airport, or feels like overkill for the price difference
- You're happy with a genuine walk (rather than a drive-up drop-off) from car to terminal
Frequently asked
Which is cheapest overall?
Park & Ride is usually the cheapest of the three where it's available, followed by On-Airport, with Meet & Greet the most expensive. This isn't universal — check live prices for your specific airport and dates on the parking directory, since the gap between types varies a lot by location.
Is Meet & Greet available at every UK airport?
No — it's concentrated at the busier airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and similar). Several smaller airports on our directory only have On-Airport parking, with no Meet & Greet or Park & Ride operator currently serving them.
Does booking type affect how far in advance I should book?
Not really — the advance-booking discount applies across all three types. See our guide to booking parking in advance for the specifics.
Other lounges worth a look
A few we've verified a current advance price for. Prices move with demand and time of day — always check the live price for your own dates.
Essence by Escape Lounges
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