A Perth Airport pick up should be the easy part of someone’s trip. Usually it goes something like this instead: you get there right on landing time, pay for parking, then stand in arrivals for 50 minutes while their bags take forever. Or you circle the pick-up lane three times because you’re not allowed to wait.
We collect people from Perth Airport every day. Here’s what actually makes a pick-up go smoothly.
1. Check the terminal. Then check it again.
This is the mistake we see most. Perth Airport has two separate terminal areas: Terminals 1 and 2 on one side, and Terminals 3 and 4 on the other. They’re on opposite sides of the airfield. Going to the wrong one isn’t a quick walk across; you have to drive right around.
The terminal depends on the airline, and sometimes on the specific flight. Ask the person you’re collecting for their flight number, then check it on the Perth Airport website or the airline’s app on the day.
2. Don’t leave home at landing time
“Landed” on the arrivals board means the wheels touched the runway. It doesn’t mean your passenger is anywhere near the door. Roughly:
- Domestic, carry-on only: often out within 15 to 20 minutes
- Domestic with checked bags: allow 30 minutes or so
- International: passport control, bags, then biosecurity and customs. It’s commonly 45 minutes to over an hour, and longer when a few big flights land together.
Track the flight live before you leave. Early arrivals happen more often than people expect, and so do delays.
3. Pick your waiting spot
- Short-term parking. Best if you want to go inside, hold up a sign or help with the luggage. You pay by the hour, so a late flight costs you.
- The pick-up zone. Fine for a quick grab, but it’s not a waiting area, and you can’t sit there. Only pull in once they’ve got their bags and they’re standing outside.
- Waiting somewhere nearby. Some people park up away from the terminal and head in when they get the “I’m out” text. It works, as long as both phones do.
Signs, fees and time limits around the terminals change as the airport keeps building, so follow what’s posted on the day.
4. Agree where you’ll meet, before they fly
“I’ll see you in arrivals” sounds clear until you’re both standing in a crowd near different exits. Pick something specific, like a particular door or a café. And if they’re flying in from overseas, check their phone will work when they land. Plenty of travellers don’t switch roaming on until they’re already through customs.
5. Think about seats and luggage
A family of four with suitcases can fill a normal car on its own. Collecting a bigger group, like relatives in for a wedding, a sports team or a work crew, usually means two cars. Two cars means two lots of parking and twice the coordinating.
Kids need the right car seat for their age and size, so have it fitted before you head out, not in the car park.
Or let us do the pick-up
If you’d rather skip the timing, the parking and the circling, book a transfer and we’ll take care of it:
- We track the flight. Early or delayed, we adjust, so nobody’s left standing around.
- Everyone travels together. Up to 13 people plus bags in one maxi cab.
- Car seats available. Just tell us the kids’ ages when you book. See our baby seat taxi service.
- Wheelchair-accessible vans, with ramp access. See wheelchair taxis.
- Any hour. Late-night and early-morning arrivals are normal for us.
- A fixed fare agreed upfront. See airport transfer prices.
It’s also a nice thing to do for visiting family. If their flight lands while you’re at work, book them a pick-up and they’re taken straight to your door.
Your pick-up checklist
- Terminal confirmed: T1/T2 or T3/T4
- Flight number saved and tracked on the day
- Arrival time adjusted for bags and customs
- Waiting plan sorted
- Meeting spot agreed, and their phone will work
- Car seats fitted if there are kids
- Enough seats and boot space for everyone
Quick answers
Where do you pick someone up at Perth Airport?
It depends on the terminal. Each terminal area has short-term parking and a pick-up zone. Check the airport’s signs on the day, because layouts change with ongoing works.
How long after landing do international passengers come out at Perth Airport?
Usually 45 minutes to over an hour, after passport control, bags and customs. It can take longer when several flights arrive close together.
Can you book a Perth Airport pick up for someone else?
Yes. Give us their name, flight number and where they’re going, and we’ll meet them. A lot of our bookings are people collecting parents or guests.
Need a hand? Book an airport pick-up or call +61 433 530 152. We’re on 24/7.