Incoming passport checks/times at T5
Jul 18, 2020, 7:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Ba gold, gha black
Posts: 283
Incoming passport checks/times at T5
Hi all, has anyone been through passport control recently. Arriving tomorrow afternoon and wondering how wait times have been for others. Gatwick North was a breeze last week, but i always worry about T5 if everyones passport has to be checked.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Jul 18, 2020, 7:49 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
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I don't have any first hand experience, but just make sure you've completed this form - non-completion is slowing passenger processing down.
Jul 18, 2020, 9:04 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
I don't have any first hand experience, but just make sure you've completed this form - non-completion is slowing passenger processing down.
Jul 18, 2020, 9:09 am
#5
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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you will get an email with a pdf version of the completed form attached. If an immigration officer wants to look at your form you can just show it on your phone.
Jul 18, 2020, 9:51 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
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I was there Thursday afternoon at 12:30pm, queued for an hour for a manual check. I think UKBF have now given in with the manual checks and opened the gates as of Thursday evening.
Jul 18, 2020, 10:20 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I think it's variable. UKBF gave up at one point last week when the queues for manual checks were too long and made the eGates operational again.
Jul 18, 2020, 10:35 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,991
A friend of mine just arrived home in London after flying from Budapest.
He said that the e-gates in T5 were open, with no queue, and no-one checked whether he had completed the required form.
He said that the e-gates in T5 were open, with no queue, and no-one checked whether he had completed the required form.
Jul 18, 2020, 11:59 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 273
Are the e-gates open for UK citizens only, or is it still UK + EU + "trusted countries"?
Jul 18, 2020, 12:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
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Posts: 2,991
Jul 18, 2020, 1:31 pm
#12
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 63,804
My understanding is that Border Force have told the Home Office that on current staffing levels, and with rising passenger numbers, they cannot check all arrivals. This was always the case at the Channel Ports. Therefore they have a daily percentage target to meet, and from that point on it's best endeavours. Personally I'd prefer a reversion to the Bangemann Wave on the Locator Form and then off to the e-gates - the really important point on the Form is that if there was a outbreak traceable to your flight or departure airport, Track and Trace can get hold of you.
In the meantime, the later in the day you arrive, the faster it will be to get through the UK Border.
Jul 18, 2020, 3:17 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheltenham
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Took us just under an hour on Thursday afternoon , it was a complete mess and from an infection control point of view a shambles . Glad to hear it’s got better .
Jul 18, 2020, 3:18 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,060
The form is quite possibly the most badly designed form in the history of online form filling. The first question should be “are you British, returning to your home?” A yes answer would then mean you would not have to answer many of the questions, which are completely redundant to a UK resident returning home.
Jul 18, 2020, 3:21 pm
#15
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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The form is quite possibly the most badly designed form in the history of online form filling. The first question should be “are you British, returning to your home?” A yes answer would then mean you would not have to answer many of the questions, which are completely redundant to a UK resident returning home.