I meet the long flights in from Los Angeles, here's what I'd tell you
It's the long one, about ten and a half hours nonstop from LAX, and you'll usually land in the afternoon or early evening. British Airways comes into Terminal 5, Virgin and American into Terminal 3, United into Terminal 2. I'll have followed the flight the whole way and I'm at the barrier when you clear customs, so after a flight that long the car is the one thing you don't have to think about.
The flights, plainly
Small things worth knowing
- London is eight hours ahead of Los Angeles, so an evening flight out lands you here the following afternoon.
- Fares are fixed and I'll quote them in dollars or pounds. Cards only, nothing to settle in cash.
- US passport? You'll need a UK ETA now, £20 on the official app, usually approved in a day. Do it before you fly.
How you'll find me
I'll know your terminal from the flight, British Airways at Terminal 5, Virgin and American at Terminal 3, United at Terminal 2, and I'm at the barrier there as you come through, your name on a board, or held back if you'd rather it wasn't shown. I carry the cases and we go. A flight that long is enough for one day, the arrival should be the easy part.
How the fare works
The fare is fixed before you fly and it stays fixed: not for a late flight, not for traffic on the way in, not for the time I wait at the barrier. I'll quote it in dollars or pounds once you tell me the flight and where you're staying. Card or account, nothing to settle in the car.
What Los Angeles clients actually book me for
Longer trips, mostly, and a fair bit of it discreet: film and media people who'd rather arrive without a fuss, the same car and driver for a stretch of days, dinners and meetings kept to time, and days out when the work lets up, Windsor, the Cotswolds, sometimes further. After a flight that long, people want an easy arrival and a driver who reads the room. Tell me the trip and I'll keep it smooth and quiet.
Before you book
Can you keep it discreet?
Yes. No name board if you'd rather, a quiet meeting point arranged before you land, and a driver who doesn't make conversation into an event. A lot of Los Angeles clients ask for exactly that, and it's no trouble.
Which terminal will I come into?
British Airways lands at Terminal 5, Virgin and American at Terminal 3, United at Terminal 2. Tell me the flight and I'll be at the right barrier when you clear customs.
What if the flight lands late?
I track it the whole way. However it moves, I'm at the rail when you come through, and the fixed fare covers the wait, so a late landing after a long flight costs you nothing extra.
Can I keep the same driver for the whole trip?
Yes, and for a longer Los Angeles stay it's the easy way to do it, one driver who knows the plan for the week. Say so when you book and I'll hold the same car and face for the run of days.