The Virtual Rank is a new system that makes picking up passengers at Heathrow Airport fairer for everyone. It's a digital waiting list that gives jobs to drivers on a first-in, first-out basis.

Note: The virtual rank doesn't apply to advance bookings.

It's a digital queuing system that lets you join a waiting list for jobs as soon as you enter a specific rank area at Heathrow Airport. The first driver to enter and join the rank gets the first job offer, and so on.

There are separate virtual ranks for different terminals, and you will only get job offers from the terminal whose rank you have joined.

  • Terminals 2 & 3 Rank

  • Terminal 4 Rank

  • Terminal 5 Rank

To get job offers, you must be in the physical area designated for the rank you want to join. You will see an airport icon on your Freenow driver map, which helps you locate each terminal's virtual rank zone.

Note: Hillingdon Council has approved measures to restrict taxis from waiting in residential streets near Heathrow with officers authorised to issue £100 fixed penalty notices for non-compliance. We urge all drivers waiting to pick up passengers at Heathrow Airport to avoid parking in nearby residential zones.

Joining the Rank

When you enter a Virtual Rank area at Heathrow, a banner will pop up in your app. It will let you know you've entered the zone and must join to get job offers from that terminal. You'll then get a message asking you to join the rank. Before you accept, you can see how many drivers are ahead of you in that particular rank.

You can also close the pop-up, but if you do, you won't get any job offers from that terminal. To get jobs, make sure you hit: ‘Join wait list’.

Waiting in the Rank

The Virtual Rank area is located near its corresponding terminal. If you drive outside this area, you'll be automatically removed from the rank. Don't go to the passenger pick-up area until you've reached the top of the rank and have been offered a job.

Picking Up Your Passenger

When you reach the front of the rank, you'll get the next booking request. Be sure to accept the job and head to the dedicated passenger pick-up area at the terminal's Short Stay car park.

  • If you reject the job, you'll be moved to the back of the rank and must start over.

  • If the passenger cancels after you've accepted, don't worry—you'll stay at the top of the rank and get the next job offer right away.

Leaving the Rank

You can leave the Virtual Rank at any time by driving out of the designated area or by tapping the "X" on the "Position in the Rank" screen. A message will pop up asking you to confirm you want to leave.

Once you leave, you'll lose your spot in the rank and won't get any job offers from that terminal until you rejoin.