Fast Track at London Heathrow
Jul 23, 2018, 4:30 pm
#76
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Except when UA forgets to load them. A few months ago on IAH-LHR they neglected to do so, but as we exited, the jetway agent said "Don't worry, just show them your boarding pass at the Fast Track lane." At the Fast Track lane, however, the helpful agent refused any effort to be shown the boarding pass, saying "If you don't have a Fast Track paper, I can't let you use this lane." 
I did ask the FT agent once if they would accept a BP marked First or Business for access. Said agent said they would.
Dec 11, 2018, 12:42 pm
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
Dec 11, 2018, 12:47 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
If you fly to LHR often enough then consider registering for Border Force as you get to use the eGates: https://www.gov.uk/government/organi...s/border-force
At GBP50 I think it is great value and have used for a couple of years. I will not be renewing my subscription that is up in early January because in the last UK budget, the UK has now given Aussies (and Americans) the ability to use the eGates effective January 1, 2019: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e...more-countries
Don't pay @TomMM if you are an American https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e...more-countries
At GBP50 I think it is great value and have used for a couple of years. I will not be renewing my subscription that is up in early January because in the last UK budget, the UK has now given Aussies (and Americans) the ability to use the eGates effective January 1, 2019: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e...more-countries
Don't pay @TomMM if you are an American https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e...more-countries
Dec 11, 2018, 1:29 pm
#80
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
^^ good point on the e-gates being available to US, UK, CAN, and a few others in 2019 as well.
May 26, 2019, 12:34 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,971
LHR is now using eGate for US Passport holders (they said it just started a few days ago at T2). https://www.heathrow.com/arrivals/im...-and-passports. No pre-registration needed. It is incredibly simple - no paper, fingerprint, no questions to answer and no staring into a camera.
I am not sure if they still have / are still distributing Fast Track forms.
I am not sure if they still have / are still distributing Fast Track forms.
May 26, 2019, 1:22 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
LHR is now using eGate for US Passport holders (they said it just started a few days ago at T2). https://www.heathrow.com/arrivals/im...-and-passports. No pre-registration needed. It is incredibly simple - no paper, fingerprint, no questions to answer and no staring into a camera.
I am not sure if they still have / are still distributing Fast Track forms.
I am not sure if they still have / are still distributing Fast Track forms.
May 26, 2019, 7:40 pm
#83
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
LHR is now using eGate for US Passport holders (they said it just started a few days ago at T2). https://www.heathrow.com/arrivals/im...-and-passports. No pre-registration needed. It is incredibly simple - no paper, fingerprint, no questions to answer and no staring into a camera.
I am not sure if they still have / are still distributing Fast Track forms.
I am not sure if they still have / are still distributing Fast Track forms.
May 26, 2019, 8:39 pm
#84
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
May 26, 2019, 11:43 pm
#87
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
But the eGates for fast track (equipment) only certain nationalities qualify such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the USA. One of the UK budget changes last year.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 27, 2019 at 12:50 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
May 26, 2019, 11:50 pm
#88
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,916
it is supposedly also gone for those that can't use egate and is seeing a border control officer.
May 27, 2019, 6:37 am
#89
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 949
No landing cards last Friday and I did not use the egates.
Arrived to an almost empty arrivals hall so the FastTrack vs egates comparison is kind of moot for me. The egates for USA passport holders, which are before the Fast Track entrance, had like 10 people in line so I went to the empty manned Fast Track line on the far left.
Border Officer scanned my US passport then waved me through with no stamp.
Arrived to an almost empty arrivals hall so the FastTrack vs egates comparison is kind of moot for me. The egates for USA passport holders, which are before the Fast Track entrance, had like 10 people in line so I went to the empty manned Fast Track line on the far left.
Border Officer scanned my US passport then waved me through with no stamp.
Last edited by onthesam; May 27, 2019 at 7:12 am
May 19, 2021, 7:34 am
#90
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: UA 1K, SPG PLATINUM
Posts: 20
London Heathrow immigration?
We are booked to fly into LHR early July. While still over a month away, I am wondering what the immigration queues are like at LHR for early morning arrivals (we land at 7.30 am). Also, we will be in Polaris cabin - any chance fast pass is still operating? I have found online horror stories about >5 hr waits at LHR but no reliable info re. how that changes with landing time. We have two small kids with us so a >5hr wait will likely kill me!