On this page (7 sections)
Scheduled arrival 18:40, London time, into Terminal 4.
See how MU551 is running today on the Heathrow arrivals board, or follow the aircraft on Flightradar24.
Which terminal this flight arrives at
Arrives at Terminal 4, on its own to the south of the airport, the SkyTeam base alongside Qatar Airways and Etihad. Immigration and baggage reclaim are on the arrivals level. Terminal 4 has its own dedicated station directly under the building on the Elizabeth Line and the Piccadilly Line; note that Heathrow Express does not stop at Terminal 4. See the Terminal 4 guide, and T4 parking if you are collecting someone.
Arriving from China: entry and eGates
Arriving from China. 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. China is outside the EU, so the non-EU UK customs allowances apply to anything you carry in.
An evening arrival
Lands in the evening bank. The Elizabeth Line, Piccadilly Line and Heathrow Express all run late into the evening but thin out towards midnight, so check the last departures if you land after 22:00. Black cabs and private transfers run around the clock.
Meeting someone off MU551
The Terminal 4 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 MU551, 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 MU551 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 4 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.