The short answer
Aim to reach the arrivals kerb at the time they will, then work back from there by your drive:
- Carry-on only, domestic: about 15 minutes after landing.
- Checked bags: about 30–35 minutes after landing. The first bags usually reach the carousel around 15 minutes after the plane is at the gate; theirs may not be first.
- International, with passport control: anything from 45 minutes to well over an hour. Queues vary by airport, time of day and passport. Ask them to message you once they’re through.
Why the landing time misleads you
A flight’s arrival time is when the wheels touch. After that the plane still has to taxi to the gate, which is usually 5–15 minutes and longer at big airports with remote stands. Then everyone ahead of them has to get off, which takes another 10–15 minutes on a full single-aisle plane. Only then does the walk to baggage claim start.
Use the estimate, not the schedule
Airlines pad their schedules, so flights often land early, and delays can push the other way by hours. Check the live estimated arrival before you set off, not the time on the booking, and check again on the way. A flight that departed late can still make up time in the air.
Price the drive for when you’ll actually drive
A 25-minute drive at 2 pm can be 50 minutes at 5:30. Look up the drive for your departure time, not for right now. Most map apps will let you set a “leave at” time.
If you’re early
Most large airports have a free cell phone lot a few minutes from arrivals. Wait there until they’re at the kerb. Most airports won’t let you wait at the arrivals kerb itself.
Or let your phone do the maths
In TripTidy, type their flight number and date into the Watching tab. You get a “leave by” time aimed at the kerb, not the runway: landing plus 15 minutes, nudged later when a baggage carousel has been assigned, with your drive priced against the traffic when you’ll set off. When the flight is delayed, the leave-by moves with it. The flight runs on your Lock Screen while you drive, with the landing time, gate and carousel. If they already use TripTidy, they can share the flight with you in two taps instead.
Immigration queues aren’t in any live feed, so for international arrivals, still ask them to message you once they’re through.