Reserve & Collect is Heathrow's free online pre-order service for duty-free and travel retail. You browse and reserve products such as drinks, fragrance, beauty and food using your flight details, then collect them at your chosen store airside, after security, when you arrive at the airport. Some items can be paid for online in advance ("Pay Now"), while others are only paid for when you collect them in store ("Pay on Collection"). It's free to use and doesn't commit you to buying anything until you actually collect. Checked 2026.
How Reserve & Collect works, step by step
- Browse - enter your departure flight details (terminal and travel date) on the Reserve & Collect site, or the retailer's own site such as World Duty Free, so you only see stock genuinely available for your flight.
- Reserve - add your chosen items to a basket and submit the reservation. You don't need to pay at this stage unless you choose a "Pay Now" item.
- Confirm - you receive confirmation that your order is reserved and will be ready for collection.
- Collect & pay - head to the designated collection point at your chosen store, airside, after you've cleared security, to collect your order and pay if you haven't already.
World Duty Free, which runs 15 stores across all four Heathrow terminals, uses the same underlying process and lets you reserve from as little as 24 hours before your flight, or up to 30 days in advance.
Who you're actually buying from
Reserve & Collect is a platform Heathrow provides, but the sale itself isn't with Heathrow Airport Limited. Your purchase contract is with the retailer operating that shop, most commonly World Duty Free, under that retailer's own terms and conditions. Heathrow's role is the booking platform and the collection point infrastructure airside, not the sale of the goods.
Pay Now vs Pay on Collection
Products listed through Reserve & Collect are flagged as either "Pay Now" or "Pay on Collection":
- Pay Now - you pay online when you reserve, then simply pick up your order at the collection point in the international departures lounge after security.
- Pay on Collection - you reserve online for free, with no card charge until you pay in person at the retailer's store when you collect.
Payment methods accepted include Mastercard, Visa, American Express, China UnionPay, Discover and Diners Club, eftpos Australia and Japan Credit Bureau (JCB) cards, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and Clearpay. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and Clearpay are only available if you choose the Pay Now option; if you're paying on collection, you'll need a card accepted in store.
What you can and can't reserve
Not every product in every Heathrow shop is available through Reserve & Collect. Only certain product ranges are listed on the service at any given time, and what's available can change, so if a specific item matters to you, check closer to your travel date rather than assuming it will still be listed. If something you want isn't available to reserve, it may still be in stock to buy on the day in store.
Is it worth using Reserve & Collect?
It's worth using whenever you already know what you want to buy, since it removes the risk of a product selling out or your preferred size or colour being unavailable when you reach the shop with a flight to catch. It also lets you compare travel-exclusive offers and bundle deals from home rather than browsing under time pressure after security. If you're not fussed about a specific product and are happy to browse in store, there's no need to use it; it adds a step without adding a discount by itself, beyond whatever Reserve & Collect-specific offers are running at the time.
Collection location
You collect your order airside, at a designated collection point inside your chosen store, after you've passed through security. If you're flying from a different terminal than the one you selected when you reserved, you'll need to rebook or contact the retailer, since collection points are terminal-specific.
If your travel plans change
Heathrow's Shopping Services team handles queries about Reserve & Collect, Home Delivery and other shopping services at the airport; contact them on 0800 678 5324 if your flight date, time or terminal changes after you've placed a reservation, since policies can vary by retailer and product.
FAQs
Is Reserve & Collect free to use?
Yes. There's no charge to browse, reserve or hold an order; you only pay for the products themselves, either online in advance ("Pay Now") or in store when you collect ("Pay on Collection").
How far in advance can I reserve duty-free for my flight?
With World Duty Free, from as little as 24 hours before your flight up to 30 days in advance. You need to enter your departure flight details before you can place an order.
Do I pay online or at the airport?
It depends on the product. Items marked "Pay Now" are paid for online when you reserve; items marked "Pay on Collection" are paid for in person when you pick them up in store.
Where do I collect my Reserve & Collect order?
At the designated collection point inside your chosen store, in the international departures lounge, after you've cleared security. You can't collect before security.
Can I use Apple Pay or Klarna to pay?
Yes, but only if you choose the Pay Now option online. If you're paying on collection in store, you'll need a card or payment method the store itself accepts.
What if my flight is cancelled or changes after I reserve?
Contact Heathrow's Shopping Services team on 0800 678 5324, since what happens to your reservation can depend on the retailer and whether you've already paid.
More: Heathrow duty-free allowance, Currency exchange at Heathrow, Heathrow food options, FAQs.