Meeting at the airport
 

Just asking opinions on this do you feel its important to be met at the airport by a family member especially if this is your first time in there town? Or it doesn't matter to you. You will find your way. To me its like a greeting to there city to be there to welcome you. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

It all depends on the situation. Will I be having a rental car? How far away to they live? How will I get to my destination? Will coming to the airport inconvenience them?

Getting picked up is nice, but not necessary.

No.
I don't like to be met at the airport. I always take a car/taxi.

My children take taxis or hire cars...they learned this at a young age lol.

Hi pgh, I don't feel it is necessary anymore due to traffic conditions, finding a parking space at the airport etc. It use to be fun to be greeted but so often it is such a workout for the resident. Now having said that if there is not sufficient and safe public transportation that is another matter of course. I think that all airports, or almost all, do have SuperShuttle that will take you to whereever you are staying.
And of course if the person arriving at the airport is elderly, disabled or has babies or small children with them it would be wonderful if at all possible to greet them.

I have actually taken a shuttle bus to SFO to greet visitors from Italy. Much easier and less expensive than driving and than we have come back to my house on the shuttle bus.

Like LoveItaly, I don't need to be greeted at the airport (although it was fun the one time a friend did it for me in Wilmington, NC--but it's so small it was very easy!). That said, I do like those airports that have cell phone lots--makes it very convenient to park, rather than drive around and around. I do park and go inside when the arriving party is elderly or with small children. I volunteer with Girl Scouts at national events and one of my tasks is to be the airport greet and goodbye girl--so I get enough of that so I prefer to just grab my stuff and go!

Okay, I'll be the high maintenance one! I definitely like to be met at the airport. I think it demonstrates mutual effort and interest. I don't think it is that big a deal to drive down and pick me up as I would for them. The person who has flown has invested MUCH more money and discomfort and time. I think it is the last the visitee can do is make this small effort. Of course, it is somewhat situational. If the person was elderly or physically challenged, etc., I certainly would not have the same expectations.

Oh also, it depends on if you are coming just to visit them. If you are there to tour the area and are renting a car and the primary reason is not to visit them, then I do not have that expectation. In fact, if I am visiting because of wanting to explore that city and they are putting me up, I will insist on finding my own way to their abode AND take them out to dinner to repay their hospitality.

Thanks. It depends on the situation. I am in a situation where I am meeting my father for the first time since age 3. And he isnt meeting me at the airport. It is only 20 minutes away from him. So I think that is a situation were you should be met.

Depends on the situation, and the city, for me. Usually I am self sufficient, but there are times that it is really nice to be met. Those cell phone lots are the best things since sliced bread!

<i>I am in a situation where I am meeting my father for the first time since age 3. And he isnt meeting me at the airport. It is only 20 minutes away from him. So I think that is a situation were you should be met.</i>

I <b>so</b> agree with you!
It would be a major right step for him in this situation to pick you up at the airport!

My children are independent and actually like (daughter) hiring cars/taxis (son) doesn't care how he gets home if he can get a good airfare..so he knows if it is in the middle of the night or at dawn, he is taking a taxi.

Living here in Argentina..I still want people to take a taxi, we don't have a car anymore :D

Isn't that how it always used to be? It is nice, especially if it is in Hawaii getting greeted with a lei. But if it was Tokyo where it sometimes takes 3.5 hours by car to the airport, then I'd feel bad.

pgh, it sounds like maybe you are reading more into it than you should. Maybe he's worried he won't recognize you in a crowd. Maybe he's worried about having an emotional outburst in public. Maybe he doesn't go to airports often enough to feel comfortable. I don't think there is an Emily Post rule for this situation.

pgh--what about meeting on &quot;neutral ground&quot;--say you take a shuttle from the airport to a nearby hotel where he meets you?

I like to meet and be met. I don't live very far from the airport though.

Your situation has much more dynamics than just about meeting at the airport. No I don't generally feel the need to be met and would prefer to make my own way.

But if you're thinking his not meeting you reflects a lack of interest on his part that's a whole bigger fish to fry imo.

I don't like being met either. If the plane is late or there are delays in getting off, I get all tense thinking about the person waiting for me, parking costs, etc.

I do meet people at the airport, though, unless they ask me not to.

After flying for so many years for work, I can't even remember what it is like being met by someone at the airport.

In your situation, it is entirely appropriate.

I'm reminded of a time my husband and I were meeting in San Diego. I had flown in from SFO, and he decided to surprise me by driving in from LA. He was waiting at the curb and I went straight to a cab and went to the hotel. This was before either of us had cell phones.

pgh, I didn't see your second post before. I think I would like to be met at the airport too if I were in your shoes. If it is a large airport then it could be the logistics that get in the way. If not, then maybe he is just nervous over seeing you after so many years and is worried over how he should act. He might think that the initial meeting should be at a place where it isn't so busy and rushed.