About Terminal 5
Terminal 5 opened in 2008 on the western side of the airport. It is primarily used by British Airways, along with a small number of partner airlines. The terminal is made up of the main building (5A) and two satellite buildings (5B and 5C) connected by an underground transit train; all arriving passengers come through the main building’s arrivals hall.
T5 has its own direct road access from the M25, which is helpful for journeys to and from the west, the M3 corridor and the M40.
Arriving at Terminal 5
If your flight parks at a satellite, you will take the transit train to the main building before passport control. That can add a little time, which our waiting allowance takes into account.
- Passport control (UK Border), including e-gates for eligible passports
- Baggage reclaim — check the screens for your belt number
- Customs: green channel if you have nothing to declare, red if you do
- Into the arrivals hall, where your driver is waiting if you booked meet and greet
Meet and greet at Terminal 5
Your driver waits in the Terminal 5 arrivals hall holding a board with your name. Your booking includes a free waiting period after landing, confirmed in your quote. Full meeting details and your driver’s mobile number are sent before your journey.
Departing from Terminal 5
We drop you on the T5 departures forecourt, where the Terminal Drop-Off Charge applies. British Airways publishes bag-drop deadlines that differ for short-haul and long-haul flights — we set your pickup time around those deadlines with a traffic margin.
Connecting from T5 to other airports
If you have arrived at Terminal 5 and are flying out of Gatwick, Stansted or Luton on a separate ticket, a direct car avoids multiple train changes with luggage. See our Heathrow to Gatwick page for planning advice on airport-to-airport transfers.
Which vehicle is right for you?
Typical capacities are shown as a guide. Luggage space varies by model, so tell us exactly what you are carrying and we will confirm the best fit. See all options on our vehicles page.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Large cases | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | up to 3 | up to 2 | Solo travellers and couples |
| Estate | up to 3 | up to 3 | Extra luggage |
| Executive Mercedes E-Class | up to 3 | up to 2 | Executives and VIP guests |
| Mercedes V-Class | up to 7 | up to 6 | Executive groups and families |
| MPV | up to 5 | up to 4 | Families with luggage |
| 8-Seater | up to 8 | up to 8 | Large families and teams |