UK Border Force Christmas strike - confirmed dates
Dec 15, 2022, 11:14 pm
#181
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Vancouver
Programs: BAEC & VS Flying Club
Posts: 27
I am flying BA to Heathrow, arriving on 18th with a six hour layover. Can anyone recommend a VIP service to meet at plane door and expedite immigration at T5. Departing flight to TLV is also T5. Don’t need the Windsor Lounge, just someone to grab us and fast track us, similar to CK service on AA.
thanks.
thanks.
Dec 15, 2022, 11:17 pm
#182
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 13
BA all the way through. LAX to LHR, then LHR to TLV, all T5 I believe.
Dec 16, 2022, 12:04 am
#183
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Vancouver
Programs: BAEC & VS Flying Club
Posts: 27
Your bag will be checked through and you won't need to clear immigration. You can do a sterile transit so you don't need to actually pass the UK border (unlike the US where you do need to clear the border to transit). Unless you wanted to leave the airport for the 6 hour layover then you won't have any issues.
Dec 16, 2022, 12:58 am
#184
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 13
Your bag will be checked through and you won't need to clear immigration. You can do a sterile transit so you don't need to actually pass the UK border (unlike the US where you do need to clear the border to transit). Unless you wanted to leave the airport for the 6 hour layover then you won't have any issues.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:01 am
#185
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: 64,496
You do go through security at LHR, unless your connection is from another UK airport, but no immigration requirements, you don't formally enter the UK, so you are not directly impacted by the strike if you stay airside.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:03 am
#186
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,554
You don’t have to clear immigration as mentioned above. You will have to clear security at flight connections.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:15 am
#188
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: 64,496
If you arrive in plenty of time, and your passport allows e-gate use and the queues for the e-gates are not long, then you are better off exiting and using the First Wing as a departing passenger. This is long standing advice around these parts and not related to the strikes, but we don't know the impact of these strikes at this point and all sorts of other factors come into this, such as time of day, day of the week and so on.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:39 am
#189
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 13
If you arrive in plenty of time, and your passport allows e-gate use and the queues for the e-gates are not long, then you are better off exiting and using the First Wing as a departing passenger. This is long standing advice around these parts and not related to the strikes, but we don't know the impact of these strikes at this point and all sorts of other factors come into this, such as time of day, day of the week and so on.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:48 am
#190
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: 64,496
Understood. Solid advice. Dragging the whole family along, 7 in total. Two of us, AA Executive Platinum flying FC, and the other five flying business. Will they let us all go through the First Wing? On AA, they are great about letting fellow travelers follow into Flagship entrance. Wondering about BA.
Dec 16, 2022, 1:55 am
#191
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 13
This is going more than a bit off topic since you're not travelling on a strike day, not impacted by the strikes, have a long connection and this is more about going through security, so I'd gently suggest you look at the threads on the First Wing. But the First Wing can be used by oneworld Emeralds and those flying First, plus one guest. So you won't get all 7 through the First Wing, but you can use Fast Track next door.
Dec 16, 2022, 7:45 am
#192
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP/OW Emerald
Posts: 209
Currently scheduled to fly BA190 AUS-LHR then connect to IST on 29 Dec, arriving LHR on the 30th. We already had an equipment change, but now noticing the flight no longer shows for sale and shows zeroed out in EF. Assuming this is in connection to the strike since the arrival would be during scheduled dates, but wondering if this may ultimately result in a cancellation, or is preemptive to provide potential reaccommodation flexibility should other flights get canceled. How seriously should I be exploring other options or looking to potentially shift trip days around?
Dec 16, 2022, 10:20 am
#193
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Southern Cali
Programs: AA ExPlat, Marriott Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,056
Currently scheduled to fly BA190 AUS-LHR then connect to IST on 29 Dec, arriving LHR on the 30th. We already had an equipment change, but now noticing the flight no longer shows for sale and shows zeroed out in EF. Assuming this is in connection to the strike since the arrival would be during scheduled dates, but wondering if this may ultimately result in a cancellation, or is preemptive to provide potential reaccommodation flexibility should other flights get canceled. How seriously should I be exploring other options or looking to potentially shift trip days around?
Dec 16, 2022, 10:54 am
#194
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: 64,496
Pseudo confirmation that BA and VS have agreed not to sell more tickets into London on strike days. Domestic flights appear unaffected.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64006185
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64006185
Dec 16, 2022, 11:44 am
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,914
I did some random checks on google flights from NYC/ROM/MIL/ATH to LHR, BA flights are indeed not showing for Dec 23-25 and 28-30, while all the other airlines still selling tickets.
Last edited by nk15; Dec 16, 2022 at 11:49 am