Airport Meet & Greet Service Explained: Is It Worth the Extra Charge?

Every airport transfer booking offers two pickup styles: standard curbside pickup at no extra charge, and meet & greet for an additional fee. The option sounds self-explanatory, but most travelers have never actually used it and aren't sure what they're paying for versus just walking outside to a waiting car.

What Meet & Greet Actually Includes

With meet & greet, your chauffeur waits for you inside the terminal, past security, holding a printed name sign, and walks with you to baggage claim — then handles your bags from there to the vehicle. With standard curbside pickup, your chauffeur is staged at the arrivals curb and you walk out to meet the vehicle yourself once you've collected your luggage.

Who Meet & Greet Is Genuinely Worth It For

First-time visitors unfamiliar with an unfamiliar airport's layout, international arrivals navigating customs and immigration before reaching a public area, elderly travelers or those traveling alone who would rather not navigate a crowded terminal solo, and business travelers meeting a client or colleague at the airport for the first time where a visible, named welcome matters all get genuine value from the extra charge. A personalized sign also removes any ambiguity about which black car in a row of similar vehicles is actually yours.

Who Can Comfortably Skip It

Frequent travelers who know their home airport well, anyone traveling light who prefers a quick, no-frills curb exit, and groups where someone already knows exactly where to find the pickup zone typically do fine with standard curbside pickup at no added cost. There's no quality difference in the vehicle or chauffeur either way — the difference is purely where and how you first connect.

Booking It Correctly

Request meet & greet when you book, not after you land — this lets your chauffeur know to clear security access and plan to be inside rather than at the curb. International arrivals automatically receive 60 minutes of complimentary wait time rather than 45, since customs and immigration timing is less predictable than a domestic arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is meet & greet available at every airport you serve?

Yes, at BWI, DCA, IAD and PHL — subject to each terminal's specific access rules, which your reservation specialist can confirm when you book.

Does meet & greet cost extra?

Yes, there's an additional charge disclosed before you confirm your reservation. Standard curbside pickup is always included at no extra cost.

Is meet & greet worth it for a short domestic flight?

It can still be worth it for first-time visitors, solo elderly travelers, or anyone who'd rather not navigate an unfamiliar terminal alone — but it isn't necessary for a frequent flyer who knows the airport.

How does my chauffeur find me inside the terminal?

Your chauffeur waits near baggage claim with a printed sign bearing your name, the same way a professional meet & greet service works at any airport.

Does international wait time differ from domestic?

Yes — international arrivals include 60 minutes of complimentary wait time, versus 45 minutes for domestic, since customs and immigration timing varies more.