Collecting a passenger from Dublin airport

aloaloalo · 14-03-2026 01:26PM #1

Hi I haven't been in Dublin airport for about 15 years but I have to collect someone off a flight at T1 tomorrow at midnight.

When I used do it back then I was able to pull up for a few minutes outside arrivals till they came out.

I'm told this isn't possible anymore so what do people do now. If possible I'd rather not be bothered with the hassle of the short term car park. Thanks.

SVI40 · 14-03-2026 01:59PM

When I collect from the airport, I have them exit at Departures, as you can drive up there. With Arrivals, you have to use the paid parking.

aloaloalo · 14-03-2026 02:01PM

That's a good idea thanks, would it be possible to hang around for a few minutes at departures that time of night.

Flinty997 · 14-03-2026 03:30PM

Officially no, but everyone does. There's sometimes a cop there moving people on. You can just go around the loop a few times. Or pull into a garage nearby and get the person to ring when they are out.

Or just park.

Del2005 · 14-03-2026 04:16PM

I was collecting my Mother from a late flight and while I used the short term car park my cousin was sitting on the departures ramp for over an hour waiting for their Father. So when I was collecting my Sister a while later I sat on the full departures ramp at midnight.

Irish Aris · 14-03-2026 06:09PM

From past experience, there are less than 5 flights departing from T1 around midnight, the last one is around 1am maybe? so there shouldn't be much traffic outside departures.

aloaloalo · 14-03-2026 09:23PM

Thanks everyone I appreciate all your replies 👍

GHendrix · 14-03-2026 09:43PM

If collecting someone, I usually go up the old airport road and stop at the viewpoint. Call the person and make sure they’re on their way outside. Then drive around and grab them at the door. No hassle, no getting moved on etc

tnegun · 14-03-2026 10:25PM

I used to collect at departures, but short-term parking is only €3 for the first hour, and it's much more straightforward for arrivals to meet you there. You can still delay your arrival until they've cleared passport control, and you'll be well within the hour.

aloaloalo · 16-03-2026 03:01PM

I managed to park at McDonald's for 15 minutes till got the call then picked up at departures worked like a dream thanks everyone 👍

markpb · 16-03-2026 03:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317043#Comment_124317043

Getting parking at that McD is quite the achievement!

aloaloalo · 16-03-2026 03:04PM

There was a serious amount of traffic two lanes outside T2. I'm assuming these were genuine departures and not pick-ups but I know.

aloaloalo · 16-03-2026 03:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124317049#Comment_124317049

There was actually 3 or 4 spaces there at the wall bordering the filling station

SCOOP 64 · 25-03-2026 10:57PM

I was fine €120 picking up my sister, I stopped at departures ,she said she would be outside but she got lost, Airport police passed me and waved , cars were dropping people and parked next to me blocking me in I thought he was waving at them for double parking, to move on , just as my sister got in the car he stood in front of my car, I said il going now he said i waved earlierfor you to move, got the fine he post 2 weeks later.

I wish he tapped on my window I would have known then he meant me.

Lesson learned.

Vic_08 · 25-03-2026 11:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124340912#Comment_124340912

Picked people up late at night plenty of times, departures area is always full of cars waiting around to collect with no sign of airport police.

Daytime is a different matter, it is busy just with drop-offs and they absolutely will enforce no pick-up, if they allowed a free for all it would be completely blocked with waiting cars and non-airport taxis.

Collecting a passenger from Dublin airport

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