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BA checking UK PLF before boarding [at JTR]

BA checking UK PLF before boarding [at JTR]

Old Jul 26, 20, 9:50 am
  #1  
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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!
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Old Jul 26, 20, 9:57 am
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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.
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Old Jul 26, 20, 10:10 am
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Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
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.
How does it work for those who land without having completed the form? Are people even checking?!
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Old Jul 26, 20, 10:11 am
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Originally Posted by samfrost93
How does it work for those who land without having completed the form? Are people even checking?!
There are usually HAL employees asking if you have filled one in. If not you need to fill one in on your phone/tablet there. I think there may be a few tablets available for use.

Checking by UKBF is variable.
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Old Jul 26, 20, 10:33 am
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Originally Posted by KARFA
There are usually HAL employees asking if you have filled one in. If not you need to fill one in on your phone/tablet there. I think there may be a few tablets available for use.

Checking by UKBF is variable.
UKBF are targeted to check 30% of forms
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Old Jul 26, 20, 11:08 am
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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.
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Old Jul 26, 20, 11:11 am
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Does anyone know if you need to fill out the form if you're transferring through LHR terminal 5, from one non UK destination to another non UK one?
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Old Jul 26, 20, 11:14 am
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Originally Posted by jazzyjeff
Does anyone know if you need to fill out the form if you're transferring through LHR terminal 5, from one non UK destination to another non UK one?
If you are remaining airside you do not.

Last edited by KARFA; Jul 26, 20 at 11:29 am
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Old Jul 26, 20, 11:16 am
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Originally Posted by KARFA
If you are remaining airside you do not.
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.
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Old Jul 26, 20, 11:28 am
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Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
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.
I was just reading the SI and about to post something further!

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.
So to cut a long story short, yes you do have to fill in a form when on an INT->INT connection even if you stay airside and do not pass through immigration.
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Old Jul 26, 20, 6:56 pm
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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.
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