i'm sure you can go to passenger drop off and meet them there - you get a few minutes waiting time
Er, no.
Plenty of places down the north perimeter road that you can pull into (Hotels etc)
Yes and no... many of the hotels have barriers on their carparks.
Word of caution Nige

It is illegal to pick up from outside the Terminals at the drop off area. Has been for the last two years. Both the McDonalds on the Bath Rd (A4) have a strictly enforced 60 minute waiting limit.
Also if the Airport is busy, which T3 will be by then, it could take you half an hour to get anywhere near the terminal.
My advice would be to time your arrival 30 minutes after landing, park in the T3 short stay carpark. Go straight upto level 4/5, parking in the opposite corner from the ramp where you enter the floor. Then lift down to level 1 and it's a two minute walk into arrivals. Arrange to meet them by M+S in the Arrivals hall. It is the first place the pass on the left as they enter the Arrivals Hall. Timed right, you only pay for 30mins, is alot less stressfull than aimlessly driving round trying to find someone, and you both know where you will meet.

Drop off has 5 lanes, only 3 of which are for public use. I have used 10 litres of fuel driving round and round in circles because the person I was trying to find didn't know where they were

Also, a word of warning to anyone going to Gatwick, all Pick Up traffic must use the carparks. Police will move you on once, but if you are seen waiting anywhere near the Drop Off points, you will be ticketed under the Airport Byelaws and ordered off the site. The traffic marshalls at Gatwick have proven ineffective, so Sussex Police have taken over their resposibilities.
Pm sent btw
