How did you get to the Hilton? I have had a cab refuse to make the trip before.

I cannot see how Iris does that more than e-gates. This looks to me more like the all too easy customary public sector bashing than a plausible theory.

Pix may be fine in the UK*
 

but in the C&I rooms in YYZ Toronto (if memory serves) and at LAX Los Angeles (where memory does serve) there are signs explicitly FORBIDDING the use of cameras and recording devices, and stipulating seizure of those instruments.
* Wikipedia sayeth Canada, therefore T'ronna is NOT part of the UK.

YMMV:eek:

Willy Walsh should be on the phone to David Cameron and Theresa May every day and show the same strengths that he used on USHITE back in 2010.

He should also "write" stinking comment pieces in the leading newspapers.

According to this site and this summary sheet all that BAA can do is demand that you stop taking pictures and leave the premises! :D

EDITED TO ADD: It also says that photography in aerodromes is illegal - somebody should tell that to the trip reporters!

But this is the UK government you're dealing with, not some two-bit union. Those seeking favours had best stick to more discrete forms of lobbying.

After breaking this rule/bylaw could one demand to be escorted off the premises in this situation, I wonder?

Immediately, if possible... :-)

Maybe because ePassport gates is cutting-edge Wizard of Oz technology?

ePassport gates (usually) have a UK Border Farce officer sitting at a desk behind the gates, watching a screen which brings up each passport photo and the matching photograph from the booth. Presumably ready to intervene if the system lets someone through it shouldn't have? You often get two chaperones in front of the gates to manage the queue and help people in to the booths and make them work.

So that's three human staff to operate three "automatic" ePassport gates.

I still think we should run a FT challenge. Two groups of 100 passengers. Three ePassport gates (with their three staff!) vs three standard manned desks - my money would be on the manned desks ;)

What's the current prognosis for Heathrow immigration around the 2nd week of the Games? I need to decide on flying or taking the Eurostar.

I personally don't think it'll get much worse than it currently is. There are still only so many flights coming into LHR and trains coming into St Pancras. I think the additional transport congestion will be around the surburban area and commutable areas - people who e.g. cannot get a hotel in London but are staying somewhere say a 30 min train ride.

So based on that I'd go LHR everytime.

I've flown into LHR twice in the last four days:

Sunday morning (8.20am) passport control was almost empty in the UK/EU lanes, I was through in less than one minute. I commented on how quiet it was and the passport officer did say that it had been much busier earlier on, though...

Monday evening (8.30pm) the UK/EU lanes had about 50 people in the queue, only a handful in the ePassport gates queue, I was through the latter in about 5 minutes.

I should have stated that I'm not traveling on an EU passport so it's the foreigner queue that I'm worried about at LHR. I don't think it would be so bad at St. Pancras.

It's not all at T5. Last month, I arrived at LGW at midnight on the BA flight from Tunis, and there was one passport inspector working the non-EU passport lines. Took an hour to get through. The wait in the EU/UK lines appeared to be just as long.

Quick question about fast track.

I'm flying CW back from DXB tomorrow morning. The cabin crew should give me fast track passes right?

Will I need them at 06:20am on a Saturday?

If it doesn't seem like they are worth using, can I save them for a rainy day?

You don't get fast-track passes unless you have a non-EU passport, as I understand it. If you do get one, they aren't dated so you can use it another time.