Group travel by coach

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Group travel by coach

If you are dropping off or collecting a group from Heathrow Airport, this step-by-step guide will help you and your customers travel smoothly through the airport.


Drivers collecting a group	Drivers dropping off a group
Escorted groups	Unescorted groups
Useful contact details	Downloadable maps

Drivers collecting a group

Step 1

Report to the Control Office at the West Ramp Coach Park (WRCP), which is off the A4 at the Airport West Entrance. It is open every day from 06:00 – 22:00 (except Christmas Day) and has refreshment facilities and toilets.

Step 2

Provide the controller at the Control Office with the following:

Vehicle registration number.
Operating company name. If working on behalf of another operator, please give the name of that company.
Flight Number you are meeting.
Payment: £24.80 inclusive of VAT – effective from 1 April 2008 until the 31 March 2009.

Available payment methods

Payment by credit card.
Cash on arrival at WRCP.
Pre-paid vouchers that can be purchased in advance from the WRCP.

Step 3

Terminals 1 – 4: Upon payment you will be given a permit and the expected time of arrival of your flight. Please wait in the driver’s rest room until you are called forward to the designated terminal. If you need to return to your vehicle it is your responsibility to be at the the Control Office in time to be released to the terminal.

Terminal 5: Once registered, coaches will be dispatched immediately to the Terminal 5 Forward Coach Park. The Forward Coach Park can be found by following the road signs.

Step 4

Terminals 1 – 4: When called forward, proceed to the relevant terminal forecourt. At peak times a Coach Marshal will assist in calling coaches forward. The coach marshal is in radio contact with the WRCP controller. If you cannot locate the Coach Marshal please call +44 (0)7814 246 995.

Terminal 5: Coaches enter the Forward Coach Park via a barriered entrance controlled from the West Ramp Coach Park. Communication between the West Ramp Coach Park and the driver here is by intercom.

The coach then waits at the Forward Coach Park until advised to move on to the forecourt (via public address system).

When called, coaches depart the Forward Coach Park via automatic barriers at the exit and proceed to Stops 17 and 18 on the Terminal 5 Arrivals forecourt (outer lane) by following the road signs.

The Terminal 5 Forward Coach Park is staffed by members of the Charter Coach team at peak times.

Step 5

Display your permit clearly in your vehicle windscreen. This does not contravene the “no waiting” regulations.

The terminal forecourt areas are patrolled regularly by the Metropolitan Police and traffic flow controllers, and you must move your vehicle if requested at any time.
You must remain with your vehicle at all times whilst it is within the terminal area.

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Drivers dropping off a group

If you are just setting down departing passengers you may do so at the inner lanes of the departure forecourts at each terminal.

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Escorted groups Passengers

If you are travelling as a group and are expecting a tour representative, make your way through Customs and meet them at the 'meeting point' in Arrivals.

Tour representatives

Step 1

Escort your group to the designated 'Group Travel' areas on the relevant forecourts. Please do not request your coach if your passengers are not ready. If your coach arrives at the Terminal and your passengers are not ready to depart, it will be sent back to the West Ramp Coach Park.

Downloadable terminal and West Ramp Coach Park maps

Step 2

Provide the Coach Marshal with the following information:

The name of the coach company or tour operator.
The Flight Number.
Your UK destination.

If you are collecting passengers from more than one terminal (multi pick-up), please make sure that you have both the driver's and West Ramp Coach Park’s contact telephone numbers. Depending on the arrival times and the arrangements made, the pick up process can be agreed.

Step 3

Wait here for your transport to arrive. If you cannot locate the Coach Marshal please call +44 (0)7814 246 995.

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Unescorted Groups

Step 1

If you are travelling as a group but not expecting a tour operator, make your way to the designated Group Travel areas on the relevant forecourts.

Step 2

Provide the Coach Marshal with the following information: