Meet & Assist — Meet & Assist Airport Service

Overview

Meet & Assist is a commercial airport service, typically booked in advance and provided by the airport operator, a ground-handling company, or a third-party VIP concierge provider, in which a dedicated agent meets the passenger at a specified point — the aircraft door, immigration, baggage claim, or the terminal entrance — and personally escorts them through the rest of their airport journey. It is offered for departures, arrivals, and transit/connections.

What the Service Typically Includes

Who Uses It

Meet & Assist is marketed toward business travelers, VIPs, families with young children, elderly travelers, first-time flyers unfamiliar with a large or unfamiliar airport, and passengers with tight connection times who want a guided, expedited path through the terminal. Many major hub airports (e.g., Heathrow, Dubai, Istanbul) sell branded in-house Meet & Assist / fast-track packages directly, alongside independent third-party providers.

Distinction from PRM/Wheelchair Assistance

Meet & Assist is a paid, optional concierge product available to any passenger regardless of mobility, purchased for convenience, speed, and comfort. It is distinct from PRM (Passenger with Reduced Mobility) / wheelchair assistance, which is a free, regulated accessibility service airlines and airports must provide under law (e.g., EU Regulation 1107/2006, US Air Carrier Access Act) to passengers who declare a disability or mobility need. A passenger with reduced mobility may use both services together — the free PRM assistance for accessibility needs, plus a paid Meet & Assist upgrade for additional fast-track or porter services — but they serve different purposes and are booked through different channels.

Booking

Meet & Assist is usually booked directly through the airport's website, a specialist concierge company, or bundled into a premium airline fare or corporate travel policy, and generally must be arranged before travel, though some airports allow booking on arrival where capacity permits.