Time to get through immigration T5
Sep 4, 2021, 8:46 am
#226
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 790
I can confirm it is a single queue until well into the immigration hall. Only then, after moving through 5 rows within the immigration hall, are e gate and non e gate people split. The longest wait is to get to that split. The lines around the A gates consist of all pax waitingvto get to the hall.
Sep 4, 2021, 8:54 am
#227
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 688
Sky news report below
”Covid-19: Hours-long delays at Heathrow airport 'unacceptable' says Home Office, after pregnant woman fainted in queue”
https://apple.news/AO7AajHlHQ9aPweP9ciSdOA
”Covid-19: Hours-long delays at Heathrow airport 'unacceptable' says Home Office, after pregnant woman fainted in queue”
https://apple.news/AO7AajHlHQ9aPweP9ciSdOA
Sep 4, 2021, 9:12 am
#228
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,533
Under what authority do they ‘detain’ people for this long?
there’s very rightly strict rules in which the police can detain people who are suspected of a crime.
What authority does immigration have to detain all these people where there is no reasonable suspicion of an offence having been committed.
(This question is semi serious!)
there’s very rightly strict rules in which the police can detain people who are suspected of a crime.
What authority does immigration have to detain all these people where there is no reasonable suspicion of an offence having been committed.
(This question is semi serious!)
My personal dealings with them over many years both professionally and personally have led me to conclude they are unfit for purpose.
Sep 4, 2021, 9:15 am
#229
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,533
Sep 4, 2021, 10:04 am
#230
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 90
Any idea how all of this will impact mobility assistance? I'm landing around 3pm on Monday with a 3yo with a freshly broken arm. He can walk fine, but when he starts whinging he's a real pain to carry with that arm. If LHR was one of those airports where you can borrow a pushchair that's all I'd need, but as things are I've requested mobility assistance. Can I expect for him to be able to sit on the chair/buggy all the way until immigration if something similar was to transpire again on Monday?
Sep 4, 2021, 2:19 pm
#231
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
Posts: 726
Under what authority do they ‘detain’ people for this long?
there’s very rightly strict rules in which the police can detain people who are suspected of a crime.
What authority does immigration have to detain all these people where there is no reasonable suspicion of an offence having been committed.
(This question is semi serious!)
there’s very rightly strict rules in which the police can detain people who are suspected of a crime.
What authority does immigration have to detain all these people where there is no reasonable suspicion of an offence having been committed.
(This question is semi serious!)
I doubt there is a large number of officers available who would suddenly run out from some office and stop you...and once a few people do it others will follow given the conditions are that bad.
As a British Citizen, if anyone makes a fuss after you've walked past the immigration officers at their stations just offer to show them your passport as your legally required to do!
Sep 4, 2021, 4:00 pm
#232
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cheshire
Programs: BA, Accor, Hilton, ITA
Posts: 376
I can confirm it is a single queue until well into the immigration hall. Only then, after moving through 5 rows within the immigration hall, are e gate and non e gate people split. The longest wait is to get to that split. The lines around the A gates consist of all pax waitingvto get to the hall.
Sep 4, 2021, 4:17 pm
#233
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
If a few people just walk through - assuming they can navigate the crowds - and walk past the immigration officers at their stations checking documents, what would the officers do?
I doubt there is a large number of officers available who would suddenly run out from some office and stop you...and once a few people do it others will follow given the conditions are that bad.
As a British Citizen, if anyone makes a fuss after you've walked past the immigration officers at their stations just offer to show them your passport as your legally required to do!
I doubt there is a large number of officers available who would suddenly run out from some office and stop you...and once a few people do it others will follow given the conditions are that bad.
As a British Citizen, if anyone makes a fuss after you've walked past the immigration officers at their stations just offer to show them your passport as your legally required to do!
Sep 4, 2021, 4:44 pm
#234
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 28
Assuming at the moment you have had your pre-arrival (negative) and booked your day 2 covid test.
Last edited by Turnhouse1; Sep 4, 2021 at 4:49 pm
Sep 4, 2021, 4:58 pm
#235
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,924
"Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary." It's printed on the passport, I think the shambles at Heathrow is now classifiable as both Let and Hinderance. What precisely are they going to charge a UK citizen walking around the UK with?
Assuming at the moment you have had your pre-arrival (negative) and booked your day 2 covid test.
Assuming at the moment you have had your pre-arrival (negative) and booked your day 2 covid test.
Sep 5, 2021, 12:23 am
#236
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: New York City
Programs: JGC
Posts: 445
Just another data point
Arrived at 10:30am via BA.
E-Gates available but facial recognition failed so had to see officer. About a 5 minute queue and all done.
All in all took about 15-20 minutes from deplaning to arrival hall. It was a bus gate so jet bridge would probably have been faster.
I will note was in the first row of J and on the first bus off the plane so people further back might have waited somewhat longer, but the queue looked like it was moving pretty quickly.
E-Gates available but facial recognition failed so had to see officer. About a 5 minute queue and all done.
All in all took about 15-20 minutes from deplaning to arrival hall. It was a bus gate so jet bridge would probably have been faster.
I will note was in the first row of J and on the first bus off the plane so people further back might have waited somewhat longer, but the queue looked like it was moving pretty quickly.
Sep 5, 2021, 12:40 am
#237
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
Sep 5, 2021, 2:17 am
#238
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
Posts: 726
Sep 5, 2021, 2:21 am
#239
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,951
Sep 5, 2021, 2:24 am
#240
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (for now)
Posts: 1,000