IAH-LHR-IAH: 3-Hr Turnaround and Immigration?
Dec 27, 2012, 1:46 pm
#1
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IAH-LHR-IAH: 3-Hr Turnaround and Immigration?
Doing a mileage run Saturday-Sunday IAH-LHR-IAH (flights 34/35). Time on the ground in LHR is ~ 3 hours. Will I need to go through immigration or can I just go through the T4 connecting flight security area using my mobile BP for UA 35? And even if can do this, will alarms go off at the gate when my mobile BP is scanned because I will have never gone through UA check-in/security? Thanks.
Dec 27, 2012, 2:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Doing a mileage run Saturday-Sunday IAH-LHR-IAH (flights 34/35). Time on the ground in LHR is ~ 3 hours. Will I need to go through immigration or can I just go through the T4 connecting flight security area using my mobile BP for UA 35? And even if can do this, will alarms go off at the gate when my mobile BP is scanned because I will have never gone through UA check-in/security? Thanks.
Dec 27, 2012, 3:08 pm
#4
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Thanks sbm12. I may get the immigration stamp anyway but it's good to know I have a non-immigration option.
Dec 27, 2012, 3:24 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Very good advice. I transited in LHR before and needed the paper itin to show to go through the transit security versus immigration. I did not have my connecting ticket yet.
Dec 27, 2012, 4:28 pm
#6
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Besides, if you consider the stamp a "visit" then couldn't just being in the airport count, too?? FWIW, I don't consider either a visit so I wouldn't count it either way.
Dec 27, 2012, 4:55 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I did exactly this last month. No problems, quite easy. There is a short security line for transit within the terminal. Best to have a paper boarding pass, but for all they know, you could be coming from anywhere and transiting to the IAH flight. I definitely would not go through the hassle of immigration--can be horrible (gate agent told me that they had times when pax were backed up to the jetways waiting for immigration, although it's better since the Olympics. Buy something from the Harrod's store to show you were there!
Dec 28, 2012, 7:55 am
#8
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With the potential lines in and out I would skip the stamp. I also tend to run out of pages in my passport so that might be a bias showing.
Besides, if you consider the stamp a "visit" then couldn't just being in the airport count, too?? FWIW, I don't consider either a visit so I wouldn't count it either way.
Besides, if you consider the stamp a "visit" then couldn't just being in the airport count, too?? FWIW, I don't consider either a visit so I wouldn't count it either way.
Dec 28, 2012, 9:37 am
#11
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Transfer desk may give you the third degree when getting your boarding pass. 3 hours is more than enough time. My first time out of the US (2010) was on a 6 hour turn to LHR. Got the third degree back in the states as well but otherwise successful.
No. You cannot transit the US so you have to make entry and deal with DHS. Then deal with TSA to get back through security for your return flight.
No. You cannot transit the US so you have to make entry and deal with DHS. Then deal with TSA to get back through security for your return flight.
Dec 28, 2012, 11:43 am
#12
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Dec 28, 2012, 1:15 pm
#13
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USImmigration might well ask you how long you were away. I have sometimes been gone less then a week to Asia and when I say that they are a bt skeptical. I have often wondered how people who do such a short MR handle any questions at US Immigration.
Dec 28, 2012, 1:22 pm
#14
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I did have one immigration officer ask to see my elite card after my spiel.
Dec 28, 2012, 2:18 pm
#15
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I said i was doing it for the miles and even told the CBP how much it was. Looked at me like i was an alien and had a escort come to take me for secondary. It wasnt too bad just a ton of more questions and a bag search.