Airport pick-ups for London PHV drivers

Airport work can look like easy money: long journeys, lots of passengers. The rules are tighter than on the street, though. Airports are private property and set their own rules for taxis and private hire. This guide pulls together what the handbook says so that your first airport booking does not become a PCN or a complaint.

Why airports are different

The handbook starts with the principle. Airports are private property, so they can make their own rules, called byelaws. In effect the airport can add requirements on top of the licensing rules you already follow. A booking that would be simple on a normal street may involve a designated waiting area, a particular pick-up point or a charge.

Heathrow in particular

The handbook names Heathrow and says it has its own set of byelaws, which you should know in case you get a booking to or from the airport. It gives two further rules.

• You cannot enter Heathrow Airport to pick up passengers unless you have a booking from your operator, or you are parking in an official car park or the PHV Authorised Vehicle Area to wait for a booking.
• When picking up passengers you must always use an official car park.

The glossary describes the PHV Authorised Vehicle Area as the special place at airports where PHV drivers can wait to receive bookings from their operator. The handbook does not describe where the area is, how it is accessed or what it costs. Ask your operator and check the airport's own information before your first job.

Where not to wait

Section 3 says you should not wait in local car parks or residential streets. The idea is to keep the neighbourhood and the airport approach clear, and to keep you within places the airport has approved. If you are early, wait in the authorised area, not on a nearby side road.

Taxi ranks are not for PHVs

The handbook states that the taxi ranks at Heathrow Airport and London City Airport are for licensed taxis (black cabs) only. You must not stop, wait, pick up or drop off passengers at the airport taxi ranks. The glossary adds that at airports, ranks are known as authorised standings. Our guide on PHV vs taxi rules explains why the booking is the dividing line between the two trades.

The booking comes first

The same rule applies at an airport as anywhere else. You may pick up only passengers who booked through a licensed London operator. A passenger who walks up to you in arrivals is not a booking. Do not give any sign that you are available, and send them to your operator. The handbook says you may hand out a business card with your operator's number, or give another contact detail such as a website. Read more in our guide to plying for hire and touting.

Journeys that start or end outside London

Many airport bookings involve a pick-up or drop-off outside Greater London. The handbook allows this where a licensed London operator accepted the booking, and tells you to ask your operator if you are in doubt. See our short guide on journeys outside Greater London.

A pre-airport checklist

1. Confirm with your operator exactly where the pick-up happens.
2. Find the airport's own byelaws and PHV information.
3. Know where the PHV Authorised Vehicle Area or official car park is before you arrive.
4. Check the passenger's name against the booking.
5. Tell your operator at once if the destination or passenger numbers change.
6. Check the vehicle for lost property before you leave.

What this guide cannot tell you

The handbook mentions only Heathrow and London City. It does not cover other airports, drop-off charges, terminals or how long you may wait. Where it is silent we do not guess. Check each airport directly. For costs of getting licensed, see our fees overview.

Where this comes from

Handbook section 3 (Airports; Journeys outside Greater London) and the glossary. Checked on 2 October 2026.