aj411

I think this is the key for me. In this case (as the OP), I have looked and read about everything I could find from BA, UK government and LHR sites. I was hoping for a bit of first hand experience since the implementation can often be very different from what is in the printed word. Also, the information on all of the sites I have seen seems heavy on arrivals and VERY thin on transit situations. I'd be thrilled if someone, anyone could point me in a direction of better information - a link or description, anything - that is better than the official sites I've look at. Hoping maybe I missed one?

Thanks for all of the thoughts nad advice. If nothing else, it gives me some ideas of gotchas to look for in my further research

KARFA

I am not sure that is a negative really. People generally post in good faith and I think usually believe the answer or advice they are giving is correct. The strength of FT is the amount of knowledge and practical experience that is here, and that there is a very rapid process of peer review built upon that - so very quickly others can share their knowledge and any answers refined to a correct version. I wouldn't want the forum to become just a few "super users" who can post answers, with others feeling they can't post unless they are absolutely sure of their ground.

I am sure we have all got things wrong in the past, even me sometimes But I know it was always corrected by someone else fairly quickly and no harm was done.

bluemoon68

What is to stop someone holding an onward boarding pass from getting off the plane as if they have a connection and then deciding not to travel onwards and joining those exiting as if from an amber or green country?

London Dude

There you go.. it took me 30 seconds to find this..

Connecting to destinations in the Rest of World
For destinations in the rest of the world (outside the Common Travel Area), you won’t need to stop your journey. You’re still able to connect flights at London Heathrow, Gatwick or any other UK airport, but you must stay airside (do not pass border control) and go straight through Flight Connections. If you do not pass border control, you will not need to quarantine. You still need to comply with the entry requirements for your final destination.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...ents#resources

MFCC

No idea tbh. I like to think someone has thought about that and made contingencies but I doubt they have.

bwaflyer

From my own observations, there's a team of Border Force agents at the top of the jetty checking boarding passes, passports and PLF, before allowing you to the terminal. I'm guessing g if you then pitched up at immigration, there would some flag pop up against your name. Awkward questions would probably ensue.

aj411

I found the BA info. It all sounds neat and clean but compared to what has been reported as happening currently (long lines, confusion, crowds and far from social distancing, etc) and the reports of all flights from red countries moving to a separate terminal arrival, I was kind of looking for more a realistic idea of what to expect.
Are they checking you as you come off the plane for connection versus arrival? Is this slowing down the process? Is there going to be good transportation airside between terminals? Are those crowded and timely? Can you still expect to make connections? The Heathrow Connections tool doesnt seem particularly helpful right now. Hopefully, they will update this with a bit more info as this looks to be heading towards "standard practice" for the forseeable future.
Right now, our flight would come into 5 and leave from 5 so that would probably work. If they move all red country arrivals to another terminal, that puts a major wrench in a fairly tight connection

Net (adn why I have questions), the information I can find doesn't really say anything about how this is going to work in practice.

bwaflyer

I've only worked one red zone flight, but this is how it works from a cabin crew perspective. Aircraft arrives at T5. Door opens, announcement made for all connecting passengers to leave the aircraft. Announcement made several times and passengers at the door quizzed by crew if they are connecting, and promptly asked to return to their seats. We know from the passenger list how many people are connecting, and are counting them.off, when we hit the magic number, we signal the HAL staff who then get set up for terminating pax. Once we get the all clear we disembark a few rows at a time, we are limited to 30 passengers per bus. Passengers head up the jetty, are directed down the stairs, and onto awaiting buses and head over to T3. Terminating pax never enter T5 and are kept separate from everyone else. Transit passengers will make their own way to flight connections and be processed as normal. Transit passengers will have their documentation checked by border force on leaving the aircraft. Hope that helps

KARFA

Thanks. This is very useful. I think once you are off the plane as a connecting passenger and on your way the rest of the process is as normal, so over to T5A on the transit or walk in the tunnels, follow the signs for flight connections T5, a bp and document check, and then up to south security. I don’t think that connections process is any slower than normal - in fact it may be slightly quicker as there are so few people connecting at the moment and security is fairly quiet.

The reported long queues are all for arrivals which are separate to connections, and for INT-INT connections the OP will not go through immigration.

aj411

HUGE help!! Thank you!

bluemoon68

So once people from a red country say they are connecting, they are realised to mingle with passengers from other countries. And there is still the potential risk they could dump their connecting ticket and head for the exit?

konagirl2

Well the airline is supposed to have checked the passengers PLF which should say they are a transit passenger, which would link to their passport number, and when they get to the border they are supposed to declare they have been in a red list country. Same as any arrival who could arrive at T5 (or T2) indirectly and is allowed to travel on flights 'mixing' with other passengers. Perhaps someone could try to lie on the PLF in the hope the airline don't read it fully, either as a direct or indirect arrival. If they try and evade hotel quarantine they could get fined £10000 and up to 10 years in jail, although we are all aware those maximums would probably never be handed out. Yes the system requires a bit of morality in society. Also see the risk of fake vaccination documents and fake covid tests amongst passengers you might be 'mingling with'.

aj411

I sort of thought the same thing about the "mingling" but was afraid to raise that point in case someone noticed. :-) On our transit US>LHR>CAI, we have a fairly lengthy layover and I don't want someone to get the idea that we can't go to the Concorde Terrace. As more travelers come through, I wonder if they would come up with an airside quarantine area. Other countries that allow transit haven't done that I have heard but leave it to the UK.

Please understand, I am planning on distancing, masking, etc to be as careful and respectful as possible but I'd still like to transit without too many unneccesary hoops. Quarantining us with other transit passengers seems just about as bad as having us "mingle" with those initiating travel at LHR

ISTFlyer

There is no airside quarantine area at LHR, thus you would be able to access the Concorde Terrace if you are a GGL member or flying First Class in one of the legs.

You would mix with passengers joining at LHR.

nufnuf77

This GOV website says something else:

uk gov