Originally Posted by
jinglebear
"...check with your airline if you are not sure"
I did scour the UK gov site, and the above phrase is what raised concern. Contacted KLM who informed me to contact VS; VS told me "it depends" and the phone agent sounded clueless. Thus my query to the FT hivemind
The prudent part of me says to get the ETA because who knows whether I might need it for potential UK travel within the next 2 years and it is likely to increase in price; the honorary Scotsman part of me says why waste $ for something I might not need.
Who knew the UK ETA would trigger such fundamental existential musings?!?!? I need sleep...
The "...check with your airline if you are not sure" refers to whether you'll go landside or not. Airlines are usually the best to advise on that based on your ticket, etc.
On as single ticket, hand luggage or with luggage checked through, you can transfer airside.
On separate tickets, with boarding passes for both flights, without checked luggage, you can transfer airside.
Should you need to collect your luggage at Heathrow and re-check it with VS, you need to go landside and thus clear immigration - that would require ETA.
Should you want to smoke, you will have to go landside, which again, requires clearing immigration - that would require ETA.