Originally Posted by
sts603
I'm curious if you are e-gate eligible if this is ever really worthwhile. I am as a non-EU registered traveler. I also have the choice of FT. Last week I arrived and the e-gate queue spilled well past the line and became more of a mob backed up to the corridor.
FT was not even half full.
My American colleague and I went to FT. My British citizen colleague stayed in the e-gate queue. And low and behold she was out in 15 minutes and we waited 25.
For the e-gates I think it is unlikely to be beneficial, so I agree with you there. As you note, even massive queues go down quite quickly so long as all the gates are open, and during that 12 minute bus transfer to T2 someone will probably make good progress in that queue. There again if you were using the tube anyway you save a few minutes there over a T5 start point. Many people, however, prefer to move rather stand in a queue, so if the results are neutral then it may be a preferable outcome for some. I do it simply to get to the bus station more quickly, and only one visit in 10 is the e-gates backed up in a serious way (if that), so I haven't so far considered going to T2 purely to avoid the T5 UK Border.