Edinburgh Airport Meet & Greet Explained

"Meet and greet" means different things at different airports and with different companies. At Edinburgh Airport it can mean anything from a driver waiting outside in the pick-up zone to someone standing in arrivals with your name on a board. This guide explains what Cabslink's meet and greet actually includes, how pick-up works at Edinburgh Airport, and what to do if your flight is late.

What meet and greet includes with Cabslink

When you choose meet and greet for an Edinburgh Airport pick-up:

• Your driver tracks your flight, so they know if it lands early or late.
• They park and wait inside the arrivals hall with a name board.
• They help with your luggage and walk you to the car.
• You get 60 minutes of free waiting from the time your flight actually lands, not from the time it was scheduled.

That last point matters. If your flight is an hour late, the waiting clock doesn't start until you're on the ground. And 60 minutes covers most passport queues and baggage reclaim, even on a busy summer morning.

How pick-up works at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport has one passenger terminal, so there's no guessing which building you'll arrive in. After baggage reclaim and customs you walk out into the arrivals hall. With meet and greet, your driver is waiting there with your name on a board.

Private hire cars and taxis can't wait at the terminal doors, so drivers park in the airport car parks and walk in to meet you. That's why meet and greet is worth having: you don't have to find a car in a car park you've never seen, in the rain, with a trolley.

If you haven't booked meet and greet, you'll be told where to meet your driver in your booking confirmation.

Is meet and greet free at Edinburgh Airport?

Airport pick-ups with Cabslink include flight tracking and 60 minutes of free waiting as standard. Whether meet and greet is included or added as an option depends on your booking, and it's shown clearly before you pay. There are no surprise extras added afterwards.

If you're comparing companies, check three things: whether waiting time starts from landing or from the scheduled time, how long the free wait is, and what the charge is after that. Those details make a much bigger difference to the final price than the headline fare.

Meet and greet is included in every Cabslink airport fare. A saloon from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre is around £40 and an MPV around £50, with the name board, help with bags and 60 minutes of free waiting already in the price.

What if my flight is delayed?

You don't need to do anything. We track the flight number you gave us and adjust the pick-up time automatically. If your flight is cancelled or heavily delayed and you can't travel, let us know as soon as you can and there's no charge for the cancellation.

If you've been waiting in arrivals and can't see your driver, call or WhatsApp us straight away on +44 333 888 2991. Keep your phone switched on after landing, because that's how the driver will contact you if anything changes.

What happens after the free waiting time?

If you're held up for longer than 60 minutes after landing, the driver will still wait, and extra waiting time is charged by the minute. Our booking policy lists the exact rates for each vehicle class.

If we can't find you and can't reach you by phone after the free waiting period, the booking is treated as a no-show. That almost never happens when the phone number on the booking is right, so double-check it.

Meet and greet vs the taxi rank

The taxi rank outside Edinburgh Airport is fine if you have light luggage, you're travelling alone and you don't mind a queue. It gets long when several flights land together, especially in the evenings and during the Edinburgh Festival in August.

A pre-booked car with meet and greet makes more sense when:

• you're travelling with children, older relatives or lots of luggage
• you're arriving late at night or very early in the morning
• you need a larger vehicle, a child seat or a wheelchair-accessible car (available on request)
• you want a fixed price agreed before you fly
• someone else is paying and needs a receipt that makes sense

Tips for a smooth pick-up

1. Give us your flight number, not just the arrival time.
2. Add a mobile number that works in the UK.
3. Tell us about child seats, golf bags, skis or a wheelchair when you book.
4. Switch your phone on as soon as you land.
5. If you're a group on different flights, tell us, so we can plan one pick-up or two.

More on arriving in Edinburgh: our Edinburgh Airport transfer guide and the Edinburgh Airport page. Or book your pick-up now.