Free planning tool · Not a taxi
What time should I leave to collect someone from Gatwick?
Live arrival time + live traffic from your postcode.
Example searches
Collecting at Gatwick
Two terminals, far apart
North and South are separate buildings with their own arrivals halls, linked by a shuttle. Turning up at the wrong one costs you that ride while someone waits — check the flight before you leave, not when you arrive.
Two hours free, if you park further out
Long Stay at either terminal is free for up to two hours and runs a free bus in. Allow for the bus. Short Stay is closest to arrivals and charges £8 for up to 30 minutes.
Prices change
We last checked these on 2026-09-21. Gatwick’s own pick-up page is the only place they are guaranteed current.
This is
A calculator for the person doing the collecting. Free, no account, no booking.
This isn’t
An airport taxi, Uber or meet-and-greet. We never take payment for a journey.
Gatwick questions
What time should I leave to collect someone from Gatwick?
It depends on the flight and on your traffic, which is what the planner above works out. As a rule, allow for the passenger to get off the aircraft, clear the border and collect bags before they reach the kerb — around 20 minutes for a domestic or Irish arrival, and longer after a long-haul flight — then add your own drive time on top.
Where do you pick someone up at Gatwick?
From a car park, not the kerb. Long Stay at either terminal is free for up to two hours and runs a free bus to the terminal, which is the cheap option if you are early. Short Stay sits closest to arrivals and costs £8 for up to 30 minutes. Gatwick's own pick-up page is the only place those prices are current.
North or South Terminal — which one do I need?
They are separate buildings with their own arrivals halls, connected by a shuttle. Going to the wrong one costs you the shuttle ride at the worst possible moment, so check the flight before you set off rather than after you park. We link to Gatwick's own page for the flight on the result.
Does FlightPickup arrange the car?
No. It is a free planning tool and nothing more. We do not operate vehicles, employ drivers or take payment for journeys — we tell you what time to set off, and you drive.