On this page (7 sections)
Scheduled arrival 07:30, London time, into Terminal 2.
See how AI161 is running today on the Heathrow arrivals board, or follow the aircraft on Flightradar24.
Which terminal this flight arrives at
Arrives at Terminal 2, the Queen’s Terminal, in the Central Terminal Area and the Star Alliance base. Immigration and baggage reclaim are on the arrivals level; the terminal has a main building (T2A) and the airside T2B satellite. The shared Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 station sits under the central area on the Elizabeth Line, the Piccadilly Line and Heathrow Express, a short covered walk from arrivals. See the Terminal 2 guide, and T2 parking if you are collecting someone.
Arriving from India: entry and eGates
Arriving from India. Before you travel, check whether your nationality needs a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (an ETA, £20) or a visa, and whether you can use the automated eGates at Heathrow. The gov.uk eligibility checker at gov.uk/eta settles it in a minute. India is outside the EU, so the non-EU UK customs allowances apply to anything you carry in.
A morning arrival and the queues
Lands in the 06:00 to 09:00 long-haul bank, the busiest border window of the day. Border Force targets clearing 95% of eGate-eligible passengers within 25 minutes and others within 45, so allow the upper end. Every onward option is running: the Elizabeth Line, Piccadilly Line, Heathrow Express and the coaches.
Meeting someone off AI161
The Terminal 2 meeting point is in the arrivals hall, marked by the four-arrows ceiling sign. Wait there rather than at the exit doors, which get congested. The common mistake is to arrive when the board shows Landed: for a long-haul flight like AI161, the passenger still has passport control and baggage ahead of them.
How long after landing until arrivals
A realistic window to actually see someone is about 45 to 70 minutes after AI161 shows Landed. The aircraft taxis to the stand, the passenger walks to UK Border and queues, then waits at baggage reclaim, where first bags reach the belt 35 to 50 minutes after a long-haul arrival, and finally clears customs into the hall.
Getting to and from Heathrow
If you are collecting someone, the cheapest wait is Terminal 2 parking, using the Park & Ride free 29-minute window or short-stay at the door. Forecourt pick-up is not allowed and the £7 charge applies to drop-off. For onward travel into London, compare the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth Line, black cabs and private transfers.