Name-board pickup is the simplest part of a pre-booked cab. The driver knows your flight, knows your name, and is standing in the arrivals area when you walk out. You do not need to make a call, find a pickup zone, or argue about surge pricing. This is how international travellers have always been picked up at airports — and it is the standard at Orbitmiles.
For first-time international arrivals into India, or anyone landing late at night, the difference between this and app-based pickup is significant. This guide covers exactly what to expect.
What Name-Board Pickup Actually Means
Name-board pickup is a pre-arranged service. Once you book, the operator does three things: dispatches a vehicle and driver, monitors your flight in real time, and prints a name board with your booking name. The driver arrives at the airport ahead of your flight and stands in the meet-and-greet zone with the board visible.
When you exit customs (international) or baggage claim (domestic), you scan the meet-and-greet area for your name. The driver acknowledges you, helps with luggage, and walks you to the parked vehicle. No queue, no walk to a distant pickup zone, no coordination over a phone with patchy signal.
Where to Look When You Walk Out of Arrivals
Each airport has a designated meet-and-greet area immediately outside the arrivals exit. Drivers cluster there with name boards. Here is where to look at the major airports we serve.
Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 (international): Walk out of the customs exit on the ground floor. The meet-and-greet area is immediately to your right as you exit, before the kerb. Pillar numbers (P1, P2, P3) help locate specific drivers — your confirmation will mention which pillar.
Mumbai Airport Terminal 1 (domestic): Walk out of the baggage claim exit on the ground floor. The meet-and-greet area is in front of the exit, between the building and the kerb. Less crowded than T2 but the same setup.
Pune Airport (PNQ): Single terminal, much simpler. Walk out of arrivals, and the meet-and-greet area is right there — about 10 metres from the exit gate. Drivers wait in this zone and walk you to the parking pickup point a short distance away.
For terminal-specific Mumbai Airport detail, see our Mumbai Airport to Pune cab guide.
How the Driver Identifies You
The driver does not know what you look like. The driver knows your booking name. The board carries that name in clear letters. When you make eye contact and confirm, the driver helps with luggage and escorts you to the vehicle.
For verification, you can ask the driver for your booking reference, vehicle number, or your own name (which they have on file). This protects against the rare case of someone trying to impersonate a driver. Orbitmiles drivers wear branded ID and you receive their photograph in advance.
What Happens If Your Flight Is Delayed or Early
Flight schedule changes are the most common airport-pickup question. Here is the Orbitmiles process.
Delays: We monitor your flight number from the moment of booking. If your flight is delayed by 30, 60, or 120 minutes, the driver's pickup time shifts accordingly. No extra waiting charges for delays under 60 minutes.
Early arrivals: Drivers typically arrive 20 to 30 minutes before scheduled landing. If your flight lands 15 to 20 minutes early, the driver is already there. For larger early arrivals, we coordinate via WhatsApp.
Cancellations and reschedules: If your flight is cancelled or rescheduled by hours, share the new flight number on WhatsApp. We adjust the booking without penalty.
Why This Matters for First-Time International Arrivals
If you have just landed in India for the first time — perhaps from Singapore, Dubai, London, or San Francisco — the airport experience is overwhelming. Customs takes time. Baggage claim is busy. SIM card kiosks are crowded. The last thing you want to do at midnight is open a ride-hailing app on a foreign network and walk to a pickup zone you cannot find.
Name-board pickup removes all of that friction. You walk out, see your name, get in a car, and head to your destination. The fare is fixed. The driver is verified. You are not negotiating at 1 AM in a foreign country.
For Mumbai-Pune travellers specifically, pre-booked airport pickup is also the only way to ensure an EV pickup with toll-free expressway travel — see our EV taxi airport tips.
Name-Board Pickup vs App-Based Cab at the Airport
The two options are different in almost every way that matters at an airport. Here is the side-by-side.
| Aspect | Name-Board (Pre-Booked) | App-Based Cab |
|---|---|---|
| Where you meet driver | Inside arrivals (kerb-side) | Designated pickup zone (5–10 min walk) |
| Vehicle dispatch | Already at airport | Dispatched after you book |
| Flight monitoring | Yes — included | No — driver assumes scheduled time |
| Fare model | Fixed at booking | Surge during late-night / weekend arrivals |
| Late-night arrivals | Same fare | 1.5x–2.5x surge possible |
| If you cannot find driver | Driver waits in zone, WhatsApp number shared | App pings driver — may cancel after 5 min |
| Luggage assistance | Driver helps to vehicle | Variable — driver may not leave car |
For a deeper comparison, including pricing scenarios, read our pre-booked vs app cab airport guide.
Late-Night Arrivals: When Name-Board Pickup Is Essential
Most international flights into Mumbai land between 11 PM and 5 AM. This is exactly the window when app-based cabs apply the steepest surge, and when prepaid taxi queues stretch longest. It is also when first-time arrivals are most disoriented.
A name-board pickup at 1 AM looks identical to a name-board pickup at 1 PM. Same fare. Same driver wait time. Same vehicle. This is what makes pre-booking worth it for any flight outside business hours.
For full late-night travel detail, see safe late-night travel between Pune and Mumbai.
How to Book a Name-Board Pickup
Booking is a 60-second WhatsApp message. Share these details:
1. Flight number and arrival date.
2. Drop address (with landmark or building name).
3. Number of passengers and luggage volume.
4. Vehicle preference (EC3, MG ZS EV, Kia Clavis, or Innova Hycross).
5. Any special needs (child seat, pet-friendly, wheelchair access).
You will receive a confirmation with the driver's name, photo, vehicle registration, and contact number — typically within 30 minutes. The board is printed with your booking name. You walk out, you find the board, you get in the car.
WhatsApp Orbitmiles at +91 84848 76369 or call +91 90676 76369.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is airport name-board pickup?
Airport name-board pickup is when a pre-booked driver waits in the arrivals reception area holding a sign with your name on it. You walk out of the customs/baggage exit, look for the board, and your driver escorts you to the parked vehicle. No calls, no GPS hunting, no surge pricing.
Where do I look for my driver at Mumbai Airport (T1 and T2)?
At Mumbai Airport T2, drivers wait in the international arrivals meet-and-greet area immediately outside the customs exit. At T1 (domestic), drivers wait at the arrivals reception just outside the baggage claim exit. Look for a name board with your booking name.
How does the driver know my flight is delayed?
We monitor your flight number after booking. The driver receives real-time updates and adjusts arrival time. For delays under 60 minutes, no extra charge applies. For longer delays, we coordinate via WhatsApp.
What if I cannot find the driver at arrivals?
Walk out of the customs/baggage exit and scan the meet-and-greet area for your name. If you do not see the board within 5 minutes, WhatsApp the driver directly — their number is shared with you 2 hours before pickup. The driver waits in the arrivals zone and will not leave until you are found.
How is name-board pickup different from app-based cabs?
Name-board pickup means the driver is already at arrivals when you land. App-based cabs require you to walk to a designated pickup zone (often in long-stay parking, a 5–10 minute walk) and the driver is dispatched only after you book. Name-board pickup also includes flight monitoring and fixed fares.
Do I need to print my booking confirmation?
No. Your booking is confirmed via WhatsApp and the driver knows to look for you. The name board carries your booking name. You only need to walk out and look for it.
What if my flight lands earlier than scheduled?
Drivers typically arrive 15–20 minutes before scheduled landing time. For early arrivals over 30 minutes, the driver receives a real-time alert. In rare cases of large schedule changes, we coordinate via WhatsApp.