Yes it is a full check. So liquids, out, PCs and tablets out, wires out if you have a lot of them or they are untidy, duty frees out. Belts off, shoes off if likely to have a lot of metal in them.

If you get bus'd off the GLA flight then you'll end up landside anyway. If you get an airbridge then just watch for the left turn for Flight Connections since very few use that channel and you don't want to follow the flock. After you lose sight of the external windows and turn into the centre of the building, that's where the left turn is, with an overhead sign, so keep looking upwards.