BA checking UK PLF before boarding [at JTR]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, *A Gold, Hertz President's Circle, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 529
BA checking UK PLF before boarding [at JTR]
Is this new? They didn’t do it flying back from MXP a couple of weeks ago, but staff are checking at the gate at JTR today. I get the impression - no form, no boarding!
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 62,215
It's not a requirement on airlines to check the Passenger Locator Form, they won't be fined, so I think this is just how JTR read the memo. There are still plenty of people arriving in T5 without the Form, despite all the publicity.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 152
How does it work for those who land without having completed the form? Are people even checking?!
#4
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,826
Checking by UKBF is variable.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, *A Gold, Hertz President's Circle, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 529
#6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Around somewhere
Programs: Gold, Some red card and some hotel cards.
Posts: 687
The UKBF check that all international passengers have filled in the online forms on arrival at GLA. If passengers have not then they are pulled aside to fill in the forms on tablets before proceeding to immigration.
#8
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,826
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 62,215
That's nearly correct but not quite. If you are remaining airside you complete the form but one of the early questions is about whether you are doing this (remaining airside) and so simplifies the rest of the questioning. In essence unless you have diplomatic or similar status, all arrivals to the UK, whether resident or not, need the form. I agree it's unlikely to be checked.
#10
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 41,826
That's nearly correct but not quite. If you are remaining airside you complete the form but one of the early questions is about whether you are doing this (remaining airside) and so simplifies the rest of the questioning. In essence unless you have diplomatic or similar status, all arrivals to the UK, whether resident or not, need the form. I agree it's unlikely to be checked.
The requirement to fill in a form is regulation 3, the requirement to self isolate is regulation 4.
The exemptions in Schedule 2 comprise a number in Part 1 which don't have to comply with Reg 3 or 4. But the transit passenger exemption is in Part 2 which only exempts from the self isolation bit in Reg 4, and not from the form in Reg 3.
5.—(1) A transit passenger.
(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), “transit passenger” means a person who, on arrival in the United Kingdom, passes through to another country or territory without entering the United Kingdom.
(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), “transit passenger” means a person who, on arrival in the United Kingdom, passes through to another country or territory without entering the United Kingdom.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 488
I've been through the border twice since the form was mandated, the first time my form was checked (and checked THOROUGHLY, she went through every single question and affirmed what I'd written), and the second time T5 Arrivals was resembling London Zoo and the E-Gates had been opened and nobody mentioned it at any point. My conclusion was YMMV.