A real Plus Chauffeurs BMW i7 drop-off at Heathrow Terminal 5. We look at how the departures forecourt works, the £7 drop-off charge and why careful planning matters when travelling to Heathrow from Southampton, Winchester and the New Forest.
There's nothing particularly glamorous about the departures forecourt at Heathrow Terminal 5.
Cars arriving, suitcases coming out of boots, people checking their passports for the third time and passengers heading towards the terminal.
It's all part of a normal day at one of Britain's busiest airports.
And that's where we photographed our black BMW i7 during a recent Plus Chauffeurs airport drop-off.
It's a fairly ordinary photograph of a working day. But it illustrates something important about a good airport transfer.
Getting to Heathrow is only half the job. It's the details before you arrive that can make all the difference.
Terminal 5 has its own approach road, separate from Heathrow's other terminals.
Following Wayfarer Road brings vehicles up to the departures forecourt, where two drop-off lanes provide access to the terminal entrance.
For passengers, it's straightforward. You're dropped outside departures, your luggage comes out and you're ready to head inside.
For chauffeurs, there's a little more planning involved.
The departures forecourt is strictly for dropping off passengers. Waiting and passenger collections aren't permitted, and vehicles must not be left unattended.
A little preparation before reaching the terminal helps everything run smoothly.
Since January 2026, Heathrow has charged £7 each time a vehicle enters one of its terminal drop-off zones.
That includes electric vehicles, so our BMW i7 pays the same charge as any other car.
There are no payment barriers or machines at the forecourt. Heathrow records vehicle movements using number-plate recognition cameras, with payments handled electronically.
At Plus Chauffeurs, we have established payment accounts covering all Heathrow terminals, allowing us to manage these charges directly rather than leaving our passengers to deal with them.
We'll make clear how the applicable airport charges are treated when providing your quotation.
One useful detail worth knowing: eligible Blue Badge holders can apply for a 100% discount on the Heathrow drop-off charge, even when travelling as passengers. Advance account registration is required, so it's worth checking the arrangements before your journey.
For passengers travelling from Southampton, Winchester or the New Forest, the motorway journey is often the part that needs the most thought.
The M3 and M25 can be unpredictable, particularly during busy travel periods.
When arranging an airport transfer, we consider the flight departure, collection location, passenger numbers and luggage requirements before recommending a suitable collection time.
It's something we explore further in our Southampton to Heathrow Airport Chauffeur Service guide.
The vehicle matters too.
Our BMW i7 provides a quiet, comfortable journey for passengers who prefer a luxury saloon. For larger groups or those travelling with additional luggage, one of our Mercedes V-Class vehicles may be more practical.
It's about matching the journey to the passenger, rather than simply sending whichever vehicle happens to be available.
You can find out more about the different journeys we cover on our Airport Transfers page.
The photograph of our BMW i7 at Terminal 5 won't win any awards for dramatic scenery.
But that's rather the point.
It's a real car, at a real airport, doing a job we know well.
And when you're catching a flight, knowing that somebody has thought about the route, the timing, the luggage and the correct terminal is worth a great deal.
We'll help you choose the right vehicle, plan a sensible collection time and provide a quotation based on your journey requirements.
Contact Plus Chauffeurs for a quotation:
Telephone: +44 (0)3333 444 018
WhatsApp: Chat with us on WhatsApp
Email: enquiries@pluschauffeurs.co.uk
Online: Contact Plus Chauffeurs
Tell us your collection location, travel date, flight details, number of passengers and luggage requirements.
We'll be pleased to help you arrange your next Heathrow journey.
© 2026 Plus Chauffeurs Ltd
