Bizarre and painful new passport restrictions in T5 for hand-baggage travellers
#46
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I can see missed flights and queues and all sorts of problems. Why not just go back to ordinary desk check in whilst we are about it?
I would not wish to be in a hurry at T5 if you have to go through this nonsense.
I would not wish to be in a hurry at T5 if you have to go through this nonsense.
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#48
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
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This all does seem a bit bonkers, but for once things seem to work better for those of us not originating in London We'll board on our domestic ticket at the outstation and then be airside in T5 when we land so no chance to go to a machine and get a flimsy. I must say though that on my last flight (EDI-LHR-MAD), the EDI lounge ladies quickly checked my passport upon lounge entry (as they could see the linked sector) so pretty painless.
#49
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Phuket Thailand
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Posts: 1,038
I still don't see what is the issue. If you are UK or EEA passport holder it makes no differance from now. If you are not clearly you need visa which in most cases you get if you have 3 months on your passport as my wife does, Russian, let's say you get your visa and its valid for 6 months on the actual day you travel you could have less then 3 months on the passport and is is what they are cracking down on, that's all. So what if you have to have passport checked, I need to when I travel to Russia. All part of the start of European borders going up and the end of schengen!
#50
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA GC
Posts: 38
Is it stated anywhere that this applies to all passengers, or just those that need a visa to enter EU countries? (can't find the original article anywhere)
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
#51
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Posts: 728
Just so I've got this straight, correct me if I'm wrong:
EU passport holders, travelling within the EU, with no bags, must go to a physical desk (or machine) in order to check passport validity already provided via APIS, due to new visa regulations that do not apply to them. Furthermore as such, mobile boarding passes are now utterly pointless, and serve no useful purpose.
If so, this is one of the most utterly stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid rules I've ever witnessed.
EU passport holders, travelling within the EU, with no bags, must go to a physical desk (or machine) in order to check passport validity already provided via APIS, due to new visa regulations that do not apply to them. Furthermore as such, mobile boarding passes are now utterly pointless, and serve no useful purpose.
If so, this is one of the most utterly stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid rules I've ever witnessed.
#52
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
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I am not sure why BA is implementing this but it's definitely not to do away with passport checks at the gate. KBP flights have always required a visa check (I don't know why - E.U./U.S. citizens don't need one), however, passports are always checked at the gate.
#53
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Phuket Thailand
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, IHG Gold, Oman Gold
Posts: 1,038
Is it stated anywhere that this applies to all passengers, or just those that need a visa to enter EU countries? (can't find the original article anywher
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
#54
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
Is it stated anywhere that this applies to all passengers, or just those that need a visa to enter EU countries? (can't find the original article anywhere)
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
#55
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Phuket Thailand
Programs: HH Diamond, BA Gold, IHG Gold, Oman Gold
Posts: 1,038
Just so I've got this straight, correct me if I'm wrong:
EU passport holders, travelling within the EU, with no bags, must go to a physical desk (or machine) in order to check passport validity already provided via APIS, due to new visa regulations that do not apply to them. Furthermore as such, mobile boarding passes are now utterly pointless, and serve no useful purpose.
If so, this is one of the most utterly stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid rules I've ever witnessed.
EU passport holders, travelling within the EU, with no bags, must go to a physical desk (or machine) in order to check passport validity already provided via APIS, due to new visa regulations that do not apply to them. Furthermore as such, mobile boarding passes are now utterly pointless, and serve no useful purpose.
If so, this is one of the most utterly stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid rules I've ever witnessed.
#56
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#57
Join Date: Dec 2009
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#58
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Phuket Thailand
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Posts: 1,038
The Small Print
From BA site:
British and Swiss passport holders, plus other EEA nationals, may continue to enter these countries with passports that are valid on arrival.
Does not affect UK, Swiss or EEA. Simply anyone who needs visa, must have 3 months clear. This is an ongoing change to EEA reguulations. It should not affect UK at all, can we honestly think that BA would check every single EEA, Swiss and UK passport?
Right case closed off to meet the wife, ohhh I am T5, maybe should go ask BA and clarify it
British and Swiss passport holders, plus other EEA nationals, may continue to enter these countries with passports that are valid on arrival.
Does not affect UK, Swiss or EEA. Simply anyone who needs visa, must have 3 months clear. This is an ongoing change to EEA reguulations. It should not affect UK at all, can we honestly think that BA would check every single EEA, Swiss and UK passport?
Right case closed off to meet the wife, ohhh I am T5, maybe should go ask BA and clarify it
#59
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
From BA site:
British and Swiss passport holders, plus other EEA nationals, may continue to enter these countries with passports that are valid on arrival.
Does not affect UK, Swiss or EEA. Simply anyone who needs visa, must have 3 months clear.
Right case closed off to meet the wife, ohhh I am T5, maybe should go ask BA and clarify it
British and Swiss passport holders, plus other EEA nationals, may continue to enter these countries with passports that are valid on arrival.
Does not affect UK, Swiss or EEA. Simply anyone who needs visa, must have 3 months clear.
Right case closed off to meet the wife, ohhh I am T5, maybe should go ask BA and clarify it
#60
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
Is it stated anywhere that this applies to all passengers, or just those that need a visa to enter EU countries? (can't find the original article anywhere)
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.
This is part of a BA plan to reduce the number of people who get through security but then get rejected at the gate due to passport reasons (currently if you are on a non EU passport with handluggage only then the only chance BA get to validate your visa status is when they swipe your passport at the gate). Having passengers rejected at the gate slows down the boarding process, and also makes it harder for any plans to automate the boarding process.