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Gatwick is the airport where Maple Parking started. The company says it has been running meet and greet there for over 32 years and describes itself as the largest independent meet and greet provider in the UK. If you have never used meet and greet before, the idea is simple: you drive to the terminal, hand your keys to a driver, and walk straight to check-in. Your car is parked off site and brought back when you land.
This guide focuses on how the service works at Gatwick specifically, the difference between the North and South terminals, and the rules worth knowing before you book with Maple Parking. All details come from the company’s own website, read on 2 November 2026.
In this guide
How Drop-Off and Pick-Up Work
According to Maple Parking, the process at Gatwick runs like this:
- Drive to the meeting point at your terminal. You get detailed directions after booking.
- A uniformed member of staff meets you, checks your car, takes photos and confirms your return details.
- You walk into the terminal while a driver parks your car in a secure car park near the airport.
- When you land, you call through and a driver brings your car to the meeting point at arrivals so you can drive straight home.
The company says it operates meet and greet at Gatwick 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and that it is part of Gatwick’s Approved Operator Scheme. It also highlights a Buy With Confidence award from West Sussex Trading Standards.
North Terminal: The No Wait Guarantee
At Gatwick North, Maple Parking now offers what it calls a No Wait Guarantee as standard. A flight tracking system monitors your return flight so your car is dispatched once you land. The company states that if you wait more than 10 minutes you get 25% back, more than 20 minutes 50% back, and more than 40 minutes a full refund.
There are conditions. The guarantee depends on you giving an accurate return flight number and landing time, your flight not landing more than 15 minutes early without notice, and no road closures, airport security issues, vehicle problems or other events outside the company’s control. Importantly, Maple Parking says the guarantee does not apply at Gatwick South.
The North Terminal meeting area is in a dedicated space in the Sofitel Hotel car park, which the company describes as easy to find and as close as the old short stay option.
South Terminal and Park and Ride
At Gatwick South, the same meet and greet process applies, with staff who are uniformed, insured and DBS checked, and car parks that the company says have been inspected by a specially trained police officer. If you would rather drive yourself, Maple Parking also runs a Gatwick Park and Ride with free shuttle transfers every few minutes to both the North and South terminals.
North vs South at a Glance
| Feature | Gatwick North | Gatwick South |
|---|---|---|
| Meet and greet hours | 24/7, 365 days | 24/7, 365 days |
| No Wait Guarantee | Yes, as standard (conditions apply) | No |
| Meeting point | Dedicated area in the Sofitel Hotel car park | Given after booking |
| Car clean add-on | Yes, subject to availability | Valeting at selected airports |
| Park and Ride | Free shuttle to both terminals | Free shuttle to both terminals |
How Your Car Is Kept Safe
Handing over your keys requires trust, so Maple Parking sets out its security measures in detail. It says all its car parks are private property with perimeter fencing, security lighting and gated entrances, and are either manned, patrolled or covered by CCTV around the clock. The car parks hold the Park Mark award, which is renewed every year. Vehicles are photographed on arrival and the images are stored on your account.
Drivers are DBS checked, trained and insured to drive customer cars. The company is also a member of the British Parking Association and the Independent Airport Parking Association.
Valeting While You Are Away
If your car needs a clean, you can add a valet to your booking. Maple Parking lists valets from 19.99 pounds at Gatwick, from an outside wash to a full inside and outside clean. The company says the car is usually valeted within 24 hours of your return. At Gatwick North, a car clean can also be booked at check-in on the day, subject to availability.
The Small Print: Delays, Early Returns and Cancellations
These rules from the Maple Parking FAQ and cancellation pages are worth knowing before you travel:
- Delayed return: keep the team informed. Extra days are charged at 20 pounds per day and must be paid before the car is released.
- Early return: give as much notice as possible, as cars are parked in return date order. No refunds are given for unused days.
- Cancellations: must be made at least 24 hours before drop-off, or full charges apply. A 10 pound admin fee may apply.
- Vehicle changes: free, by email or phone with your booking reference.
- Payment: Visa credit and debit, Mastercard, American Express and PayPal are accepted for Maple-branded products.
Prices and Loyalty Discounts
Maple Parking lists meet and greet from 26.95 pounds including VAT, although the real price depends on your airport, dates and length of stay, so use the quote box to check. The company also offers a price match promise and recommends booking directly for its best prices. Its homepage shows loyalty tiers of 15% off every booking for 1-4 direct bookings, 20% for 5 or more and 25% for 20 or more. Bookings through agents do not count.
If you fly from Gatwick often, joining the loyalty scheme on your first direct booking is the easiest way to save. To compare dates and see a live price, start a quote on the Maple Parking website or read more about how meet and greet works.
Information was taken from mapleparking.co.uk on 2 November 2026. Prices, guarantees and conditions are set by Maple Parking and can change. Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
