I meet the flights in from Riyadh, here's what I'd tell you
You'll be on Saudia or British Airways into Heathrow, about seven hours from Riyadh, with British Airways into Terminal 5. Many of you take the overnight and land for a London morning. I'll be past customs at the rail, board up, and I'll have followed the flight since it left the Gulf. If it's late, I'm late with it. You don't pay for that.
The flights, plainly
Small things worth knowing
- London is two hours behind Riyadh in summer, so the overnight flight lands you here for the morning.
- Fares are fixed and I'll quote them in riyals or pounds. No cash needed, ever.
- Saudi passport? You'll need a UK ETA now, £20 on the official app, usually approved in a day. Do it before the airport.
How you'll find me
British Airways comes into Heathrow Terminal 5, Saudia into Heathrow beside it, and I'll be at the barrier in the right hall the moment you clear the green channel, your name on a board, and I take the cases from there. I'll have your flight on my phone from the time it leaves the Gulf, so I'm there when you land.
How the fare works
The fare is fixed before you fly and it stays fixed: not for a late flight, not for the drive into town, not for the time I spend waiting airside. I'll quote it in riyals or pounds once you tell me the flight and where you're staying. Card or account, no cash, nothing to sort out in the car.
What Riyadh clients actually book me for
A good deal of it is family and a good deal is quiet: families over for the summer who want the same car for weeks, medical trips to Harley Street and the clinics that stay between us, government and embassy work kept discreet, and the Knightsbridge run with the boot filling up. Tell me which and I'll shape it around you.
Before you book
Can you keep it discreet?
Yes, and Riyadh clients often ask for it. A quiet meeting point if you'd rather no board, a driver who keeps the day and the conversation to himself, and a car that draws no attention. It's no trouble.
Can I keep the same driver for the whole stay?
Yes, and families over for the summer often do. One driver who learns the clinic times, the school run and the way you like the day to go. Say so when you book and I'll hold it.
What if the flight lands early or late?
I watch it from the time it leaves the Gulf. Early or late, I'm at the rail when you clear customs, and the fixed fare covers any wait, so the timing costs you nothing.
What car will I get, and how much luggage fits?
A Mercedes S-Class carries three and their cases; the V-Class takes up to seven with room for the bags. For a family over for the summer that's usually the V-Class or a pair of cars. Tell me the numbers and I'll get it right.