'MeetMe' Eases Waiting Time and Arrivals at Heathrow Airport
December 11 2007
In response to the growing numbers of people travelling through Heathrow airport, a brand new system is being installed to ease the difficulty and reduce waiting time of those either arriving or those waiting to meet passengers at the airport.
An independent survey recently revealed that 75% of Meeters polled were professional drivers and did not know the person they were meeting. Of this number, 39% of drivers admitted actually missing their passenger at one time or another. In light of these problems, 'MeetMe', the pioneering system is being launched from the middle of January enabling people picking up friends, relatives, business colleagues or strangers to keep fully up to date with their passengers arrival time and flight details.
Kiosks will be installed at Terminals 1-4 within Heathrow and Meeters will then use these kiosks to input their passenger's flight details. Meeters will then be given a handheld PAC (a handheld device similar to that which restaurants hand out to alert you when your table is ready) which will enable them to roam anywhere within a three minute range from arrivals. As soon as the passenger arrives they will then enter their details on the touch screen at the kiosk and the Meeter will be sent a message to 'pick up' their passenger within three minutes. This means that there is no room for error with late arrivals, wrong terminals or mis-spelt names - which all add unnecessary stress to people's journeys.
Not only should the new system mean that people can avoid missing their pick up, but also sets to alleviate congestion in arrivals by allowing Meeters the freedom to look around the shops and restaurants while they wait. The system will also have a supported website with a MeetMe taxi booking engine, 24 hour help desk and messaging service.
Says Duncan Garrood Commercial Director of BAA, "We are delighted to be the first airport authority in the world to invest in MeetMe, and the pioneering technology that it offers in order to ease the picking up of passengers at the airport. Not only will the system deliver freedom, security and confidence but in doing so, will guarantee that passengers coming into Heathrow will be connected safely, securely and quickly".
Says Graeme Finch, Chief Executive Officer of MeetMe, "The concept of MeetMe comes as a result of hours of wasted time waiting to pick up passengers at the airport. Not only does the new technology enable people to utilise their waiting time more effectively but also has added benefits such as no lost fares for taxi/chauffeur companies and providing a system that allows drivers the freedom to move away from the arrivals area and still guarantee meeting their passenger."
Issued by: Anna Haynes, Zeta Marketing for MeetMe (annamhaynes@btinternet.com)