Faster UK Border Clearance for Canadians at LHR/LGW
Dec 5, 2014, 6:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan 35K
Posts: 86
Faster UK Border Clearance for Canadians at LHR/LGW
This just came out in the Canadian High Commission's (London) newsletter:
Frequent fliers can go faster
The UK has launched a new program to allow frequent business travellers from Canada to pass through Heathrow and Gatwick more quickly and efficiently. Those who enroll in the Registered Traveller scheme will be able to use ePassport gates or go through the queue normally designed for EU passport holders. The change will also mean that those registered for the scheme will not need to fill in a landing card. The 5,000 people who will be eligible to register will need to have travelled to the UK from Canada at least four times in the past year and be subject to extensive checks. If you meet the criteria, you can find out more about enrolment on the YouGov (https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller) site.
Could make life easier for those of us who are frequently in and out of the UK. Anybody received a passcode (required to register) from Air Canada?
The UK has launched a new program to allow frequent business travellers from Canada to pass through Heathrow and Gatwick more quickly and efficiently. Those who enroll in the Registered Traveller scheme will be able to use ePassport gates or go through the queue normally designed for EU passport holders. The change will also mean that those registered for the scheme will not need to fill in a landing card. The 5,000 people who will be eligible to register will need to have travelled to the UK from Canada at least four times in the past year and be subject to extensive checks. If you meet the criteria, you can find out more about enrolment on the YouGov (https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller) site.
(I have both UK and Canadian passports).
Dec 5, 2014, 7:03 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 1,379
This has actually been in effect for around a year at least IIRC. The High Commission are seemingly a bit slow - perhaps they should call it an "Oldsletter". 
I have no experience with the programme though since, like AtlanticXpat, I have both UK and Canadian passports.
I have no experience with the programme though since, like AtlanticXpat, I have both UK and Canadian passports.
Dec 5, 2014, 8:48 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
This just came out in the Canadian High Commission's (London) newsletter:
Frequent fliers can go faster
The UK has launched a new program to allow frequent business travellers from Canada to pass through Heathrow and Gatwick more quickly and efficiently. Those who enroll in the Registered Traveller scheme will be able to use ePassport gates or go through the queue normally designed for EU passport holders. The change will also mean that those registered for the scheme will not need to fill in a landing card. The 5,000 people who will be eligible to register will need to have travelled to the UK from Canada at least four times in the past year and be subject to extensive checks. If you meet the criteria, you can find out more about enrolment on the YouGov (https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller) site.
Could make life easier for those of us who are frequently in and out of the UK. Anybody received a passcode (required to register) from Air Canada?The UK has launched a new program to allow frequent business travellers from Canada to pass through Heathrow and Gatwick more quickly and efficiently. Those who enroll in the Registered Traveller scheme will be able to use ePassport gates or go through the queue normally designed for EU passport holders. The change will also mean that those registered for the scheme will not need to fill in a landing card. The 5,000 people who will be eligible to register will need to have travelled to the UK from Canada at least four times in the past year and be subject to extensive checks. If you meet the criteria, you can find out more about enrolment on the YouGov (https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller) site.
Dec 5, 2014, 12:50 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,629
Pretty steep price to pay comapred to Nexus
It costs Ł50 to apply. This is non-refundable, even if your application is unsuccessful.
If successful, you can use the service for 12 months. You’ll be able to renew after that.
If successful, you can use the service for 12 months. You’ll be able to renew after that.
Dec 5, 2014, 12:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,629
Dec 5, 2014, 2:06 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: YXE
Posts: 3,050
Only 5,000 people met the eligibility criteria of 4 trips, presumably without onwards connections outside of the UK? Wow. There's what, in excess of 2000 seats daily from Canada between all the Canadian gateways on AC alone (add BA, Transat, and the occasional user of a US-based airline to the mix too!) -- so less than 1% of the planes flying from Canada to LHR/LGW are actually these alleged "frequent business travellers".
In light of such, it seems perfectly justified that AC is Rouging as many routes as possible and moving to cater its operations more towards the leisure/personal segment of the market, rather than the relatively rare frequent business travellers for which their role in AC's viability is routinely exaggerated by FT participants. No wonder the FF programs are being constantly watered down/cut back, and J/C seats disappearing with every subsequent re-configuration.
In light of such, it seems perfectly justified that AC is Rouging as many routes as possible and moving to cater its operations more towards the leisure/personal segment of the market, rather than the relatively rare frequent business travellers for which their role in AC's viability is routinely exaggerated by FT participants. No wonder the FF programs are being constantly watered down/cut back, and J/C seats disappearing with every subsequent re-configuration.
Last edited by pitz; Dec 5, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Dec 5, 2014, 5:04 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
Picked up a brochure on this last time I was though LHR. Need one more arrival to qualify...though the procedure described seems typically British in its complexity...having to do something online, then wait for a response, then do another registration, etc. etc. Compare that with HKG where you just take your passport and elite FF card into a small room and in 15-minutes you're registered and ready to go! Got my 4th LHR entry in February so will give this a go...last time the Fast Track lane took 45-minutes! LHR gotta be one of the worst airports in the world despite all the "improvements and upgrades"!
Dec 5, 2014, 6:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
Does this program have reciprocal arrangements with the frequent traveler programs of other countries? I am wondering about US's Global Entry?
I am wondering if nexus and this UK program will one day give reciprocal benefits to each other's members?
PS-often flying in business class to/from LHR is not too bad for me - with fast track lanes.
I am wondering if nexus and this UK program will one day give reciprocal benefits to each other's members?
PS-often flying in business class to/from LHR is not too bad for me - with fast track lanes.
Dec 5, 2014, 8:34 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
I guess I am one of the "5,000"... however they got that number... I thought there would be more, but maybe 5,000 is already a lot of people who qualify...
Thanks for posting this... I will look into it!
Thanks for posting this... I will look into it!
Dec 5, 2014, 9:01 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TXL
Programs: A3 Silver
Posts: 1,116
There's no law that says a British citizen has to enter the UK on a UK passport (I think you're mixing it up with the US law?). You might have some technical issues though if you overstayed (ie stayed for over three months without a visa on a Canadian passport), but on a normal trip it would be fine. I have dual Canadian / UK passports and haven't had any issues.
Dec 5, 2014, 9:05 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
This just came out in the Canadian High Commission's (London) newsletter:
Frequent fliers can go faster
The UK has launched a new program to allow frequent business travellers from Canada to pass through Heathrow and Gatwick more quickly and efficiently. Those who enroll in the Registered Traveller scheme will be able to use ePassport gates or go through the queue normally designed for EU passport holders. The change will also mean that those registered for the scheme will not need to fill in a landing card. The 5,000 people who will be eligible to register will need to have travelled to the UK from Canada at least four times in the past year and be subject to extensive checks. If you meet the criteria, you can find out more about enrolment on the YouGov (https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller) site.
Could make life easier for those of us who are frequently in and out of the UK. Anybody received a passcode (required to register) from Air Canada?The UK has launched a new program to allow frequent business travellers from Canada to pass through Heathrow and Gatwick more quickly and efficiently. Those who enroll in the Registered Traveller scheme will be able to use ePassport gates or go through the queue normally designed for EU passport holders. The change will also mean that those registered for the scheme will not need to fill in a landing card. The 5,000 people who will be eligible to register will need to have travelled to the UK from Canada at least four times in the past year and be subject to extensive checks. If you meet the criteria, you can find out more about enrolment on the YouGov (https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller) site.
(plus 50GBP is a very steep fee.)
You flew YYT-YYZ-AUH-LGW?
Dec 5, 2014, 9:07 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
There's no law that says a British citizen has to enter the UK on a UK passport (I think you're mixing it up with the US law?). You might have some technical issues though if you overstayed (ie stayed for over three months without a visa on a Canadian passport), but on a normal trip it would be fine. I have dual Canadian / UK passports and haven't had any issues.
I don't know about you but my entry stamps state I have leave to enter for 6 months, not 3.
(therefore assuming <6 months, there should not be a problem anyhow.)
The only law that this does apply to is returning home (i.e. I cannot use my foreign passport to enter Canada.)
Dec 6, 2014, 5:48 am
#14
Join Date: May 2014
Location: TXL, YUL
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 43
Frankly - I wish the rules were clearer. 15 years ago, I was told the rule was "enter Canada with the passport you left it on" but that is clearly no longer correct.
Dec 7, 2014, 1:14 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: TXL
Programs: A3 Silver
Posts: 1,116
???
I don't know about you but my entry stamps state I have leave to enter for 6 months, not 3.
(therefore assuming <6 months, there should not be a problem anyhow.)
The only law that this does apply to is returning home (i.e. I cannot use my foreign passport to enter Canada.)
I don't know about you but my entry stamps state I have leave to enter for 6 months, not 3.
(therefore assuming <6 months, there should not be a problem anyhow.)
The only law that this does apply to is returning home (i.e. I cannot use my foreign passport to enter Canada.)