What is airport meet-and-greet service?
With a standard curbside pickup, you land, collect your bags, and walk out to the arrivals curb, where you call or text the chauffeur to find the car. With meet-and-greet, the chauffeur parks, comes inside, and is waiting where you exit with a name sign.
From there, the chauffeur helps with your bags and walks you directly to the vehicle. You never have to read a curb map, find a pillar number, or stand outside hunting for a license plate after a 12-hour flight.
How much does meet-and-greet cost?
Pricing varies by company. Some operators fold meet-and-greet into every sedan and SUV airport fare; others charge a flat add-on; and premium “meet and assist” services that escort you through immigration or security can run several hundred dollars.
At 1st Choice, standard meet-and-greet is an optional $30 add-on to an airport pickup. The online instant quote shows it before you book, so the exact fare is clear up front.
Where does the chauffeur meet you at LAX?
LAX has 9 terminals in a one-way horseshoe, and the meeting point depends on how you arrive.
- Domestic flights: the chauffeur typically waits at your airline’s baggage claim on the lower (arrivals) level, near the carousel listed for your flight.
- International flights: passengers at Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) exit customs into a public greeting area on the arrivals level, and that is where the chauffeur waits.
- Connecting through another terminal: tell dispatch which terminal you actually land at, since the airline’s usual terminal isn’t always the one you arrive in.
Without meet-and-greet, the walk out matters more. Rideshare and taxi pickups at LAX run through the LAX-it lot east of Terminal 1, while pre-arranged commercial vehicles load at designated arrivals-level curbs. LAX has been shifting loading areas during construction, so the exact curb can change; check flylax.com for current maps.
When is meet-and-greet worth it?
Answer-first: it is worth it whenever finding the car would cost you more than $30 of stress or time. That usually means one of these:
| Situation | Worth it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit to LAX or LA | Yes | 9 terminals and changing curbs are confusing on arrival. |
| International arrival | Yes | After customs, a familiar face beats a curb search. |
| Family with kids, 4+ bags | Yes | An extra set of hands from carousel to car. |
| Picking up a client or executive | Yes | The greeting is part of the impression. |
| Older or mobility-limited traveler | Yes | Shorter walk and someone to help with bags. |
| Frequent flyer, 1 carry-on | Usually no | Curbside with a text is fast enough. |
| Burbank, short domestic hop | Often no | Smaller airport; the curb is easy to find. |
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Flights are tracked, so the chauffeur adjusts to your actual landing time instead of the scheduled one. You don’t need to call in a delay.
The grace period covers the time it takes to get off the plane and through the airport. At 1st Choice, LAX international arrivals get 1.5 hours, which allows for taxiing, immigration, customs, and bags at TBIT. Private aviation pickups get 1 hour.
Meet-and-greet at private jet terminals
At Van Nuys Airport and other private aviation airports, meet-and-greet is the norm rather than an upgrade. The chauffeur meets you at the FBO (the private terminal operator), often planeside or in the lobby depending on that FBO’s rules, and handles the bags while you clear the building.
For that reason, 1st Choice requires meet-and-greet on all private aviation pickups. Van Nuys Airport is only a few miles west of our Sun Valley base.
Southern California airports at a glance
Each airport in the region works a little differently, and the case for meet-and-greet changes with it.
- LAX: the strongest case for meet-and-greet, given the size and the construction-related curb changes.
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR): compact, with a short walk to the curb; curbside works for most travelers.
- Long Beach (LGB) and John Wayne (SNA): mid-size and easy to navigate; meet-and-greet is mostly for clients, families, and first-timers.
- Van Nuys (VNY): private aviation, where meet-and-greet is standard.
How 1st Choice handles it
Add meet-and-greet when you book an LAX car service or any airport pickup, and the chauffeur meets you inside with a sign. Private jet arrivals at Van Nuys Airport include it automatically.
Pick the vehicle by passengers and luggage: the Cadillac Escalade seats 6 with room for 4 bags, and the Mercedes Sprinter carries up to 14 passengers with 6–8 bags. Compare them on the fleet page.
Meet the 1st Choice fleet
Mercedes E 350 sedan for up to 3, Cadillac Escalade for 6, Chevy Suburban for 7, and Mercedes Sprinter for up to 14. Every booking gets a reserved vehicle and a professional chauffeur, dispatched from Sun Valley.
Land, walk out, and see your name on the sign.
Our dispatch team runs 24 hours from Sun Valley, serving the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, and Orange County.
Get an instant quoteCall 747-201-2610Meet-and-Greet FAQs
What does meet-and-greet mean at the airport?
Your chauffeur parks and meets you inside the terminal, usually at baggage claim or the international arrivals exit, holding a sign with your name, then helps with bags and walks you to the car.
How much is meet-and-greet with 1st Choice?
It is an optional $30 add-on for airport pickups. It is required for private aviation pickups.
Where will my chauffeur meet me at LAX?
For domestic flights, typically at your airline’s baggage claim on the arrivals level. For international flights at Tom Bradley International Terminal, in the public greeting area after customs.
What if my flight lands late?
Flights are tracked, so the pickup follows your actual landing time. LAX international arrivals have a 1.5 hour grace period and private aviation pickups have 1 hour.
Is meet-and-greet worth it for a short domestic trip?
Often not, if you travel light and know the airport. It is most useful for first-time visitors, international arrivals, families with lots of bags, and client or VIP pickups.
Do I need meet-and-greet at Van Nuys Airport?
For private aviation pickups at Van Nuys and other FBOs, 1st Choice includes meet-and-greet on every booking, so the chauffeur meets you at the private terminal.
Related guides
Prices are typical Los Angeles market ranges as of October 2026 and vary by vehicle, date, time, and wait. An instant quote is the only firm price.