Hidden city LHR immigration?
Jan 16, 2018, 4:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 98
Hidden city LHR immigration?
I am thinking of buying a BA first class XXX-LHR-LAS (home) and return the following month LAS-LHR-XXX. I would like to turn the second pairing into a London trip. I understand about baggage. My question is, as an American, would there be hassles with UK immigration? I would have an additional ticket showing me leaving the UK.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Jan 16, 2018, 7:03 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
I highly doubt you'd get a second look. I find as an American going through UK immigration they're rather friendly and helpful. Your ticket showing departure & hotel/airBNB reservation should work no problem.
Is the ticket price different or much higher doing XXX-LHR-LAS LAS-LHR instead?
Is the ticket price different or much higher doing XXX-LHR-LAS LAS-LHR instead?
Jan 22, 2018, 1:49 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
If you are young and state that you are coming to visit your boy/girlfriend after finishing university (college) without any plans to find a job in the US, then you are likely to be denied entry. Otherwise, it should be relatively straightforward unless you are really unlucky to be asked lots of questions about your holiday and you respond with what appear to be evasive or untrue answers.
Jan 24, 2018, 6:48 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,671
You may find the airline asking questions as well. I had a friend that had been studying in the UK for a year after living 9 years in Japan, but he was originally from Australia. He was going back to Tokyo for a couple of weeks before going back to Australia for good. While trying to check in for the return flight, he was stopped by the airline as he didn't have with him the ticket showing he was leaving the country. It was in Tokyo (in the days before electronic ticketing). He had to buy a fully refundable ticket out of Japan that he cancelled as soon as he got there and had refunded.
Similarly I'm a dual UK/Australian passport holder and I once showed my Australian passport in Oz when leaving for the UK. The check in person started to panic as I didn't have either a visa to stay in the UK or a ticket leaving the country. Showed her my other passport and that was fine. Less of an issue these days as you can change passport info via the airline APIS.
So, just be prepared for the airline to ask along with possibly immigration for exit details.
Similarly I'm a dual UK/Australian passport holder and I once showed my Australian passport in Oz when leaving for the UK. The check in person started to panic as I didn't have either a visa to stay in the UK or a ticket leaving the country. Showed her my other passport and that was fine. Less of an issue these days as you can change passport info via the airline APIS.
So, just be prepared for the airline to ask along with possibly immigration for exit details.
Jan 24, 2018, 6:58 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
To the extent that "home" also means US National, this is simply a matter of a USN visiting the UK. If that is the case, no visa and no likely linkage between ticket and immigration. Even if there are immigration concerns, they will not be about this ticket, but rather about whether OP has onward or return tickets and plans to leave the UK at the end of his visit.
Thus, whatever immigration issues the OP may or may not face are extremely unlikely to be associated with this hidden city ticketing arrangement.
Thus, whatever immigration issues the OP may or may not face are extremely unlikely to be associated with this hidden city ticketing arrangement.
Jan 24, 2018, 10:23 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,195
As long as UKBA don't think this is some attempt to try and extend your tourist visa validity you should be OK.
But why be so coy about XXX? the XXX could be important to the answer.
But why be so coy about XXX? the XXX could be important to the answer.
Jan 24, 2018, 10:27 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I've come to believe that FT ought to ban "XXX" as a term !