I meet the flights in from Mumbai, here's what I'd tell you
It's about nine and a half hours from Mumbai, and many of you take the overnight and land for a London morning. British Airways comes into Terminal 5, Air India into Terminal 2, Virgin Atlantic into Terminal 3. Whichever it is, I'll have followed the flight the whole way and I'm at the barrier when you clear customs, so the arrival is the easy part.
The flights, plainly
Small things worth knowing
- London is four and a half hours behind Mumbai in summer, so the overnight lands you here in the morning.
- Fares are fixed and I'll quote them in rupees or pounds. Cards only, no cash to sort out.
- Indian 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, Air India at Terminal 2, Virgin at Terminal 3, and I'm at the barrier there as you come out of baggage reclaim, your name on a board. I carry the cases from there, and after an overnight I make sure the car finds you rather than the other way round.
How the fare works
The fare is fixed before you fly and it stays fixed: not for a late flight, not for traffic, not for the time I wait at the barrier. I'll quote it in rupees or pounds once you tell me the flight and where you're staying. Card or account, nothing to settle in the car.
What Mumbai clients actually book me for
A mix of business and family. The business is the overnight in and meetings kept to time with the car on; the family side is longer, weddings and gatherings, relatives to visit across the city, and the shopping runs with the boot filling up (it always does). There's medical work too, kept private. Tell me the shape of the trip and I'll build the car around it.
Before you book
I land early and cannot check in yet, can you help?
Yes. I'll hold the bags, and we can go straight to breakfast, an early meeting, or a first stop while the hotel readies your room. Plenty of Mumbai arrivals do exactly this, and it's all inside the one fixed fare.
Which terminal will I come into?
British Airways lands at Terminal 5, Air India at Terminal 2, Virgin Atlantic at Terminal 3. Give me the flight and I'll be at the right barrier, name board up.
What if the flight is delayed?
I track it the whole way. However the flight moves, I'm at the rail when you clear customs, and the fixed fare covers the wait, so a delay costs you nothing extra.
What car will I get, and how much luggage fits?
A Mercedes S-Class takes three and their cases; the V-Class takes up to seven with room for the bags. For a wedding party that's usually the V-Class or a pair of cars. Tell me the numbers and I'll send the right one.