This isn’t the case for every flight into the U.K. though. I recently flew to the U.K. and the airline just asked for passport and boarding card at the gate as usual. I then used the eGates. Exactly the same with a friend on a different flight.
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- Thread starter The Wookiee
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This isn’t the case for every flight into the U.K. though. I recently flew to the U.K. and the airline just asked for passport and boarding card at the gate as usual. I then used the eGates. Exactly the same with a friend on a different flight.
They also reject 1 in 5 egate entries now to do spot checks so you risk a fine if you haven't done the form if you need to go to passport control.
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The Wookiee
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- #43
But uk police were also checking every passenger from every flight prior to going through passport control. This was yesterday morning.
Two weeks ago. I’m flying again next week so I’ll let you know what happens then.
The Wookiee
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- #46
Flying in from where ?
seagulls99
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- Feb 10, 2012
- 406
I've flown to a couple of places this summer and returned through Gatwick... Not once have my forms been checked.
The Wookiee
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- #48
Places where you have to quarantine for 14 days on your return ?
Tom Hark Preston Park
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- Jul 6, 2003
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Fairly-related question for anyone who has taken a recent flight: have there been any changes to the way they operate the buses that take you between the departure gate and the plane at many airports? Is there any effort made at maintaining some form of social distancing, or do they still pack you in like sardines?
The form asks if you have been in any risk country in the previous 14 days; therefore the origin of the flight doesn’t make any difference. Everyone entering the U.K. has to compete one.
Edit:
And the last sentence suggests if you do get asked then you can just compete it if you get collared.
Berlin.
The Wookiee
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- #52
But Germany is on the safe list
Makes no difference, see post #50 or read this https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
The Wookiee
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- #54
Maybe officials are more rigorous with their checks when flights arrive from those countries where you do have to quarantine
The Wookiee
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- #55
Didn’t need bus at Gatwick but did at Antalya Airport coming home, yes was packed but maybe not as packed as it could have been. Didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Maybe officials are more rigorous with their checks when flights arrive from those countries where you do have to quarantine
How do the people at the Gatwick/Heathrow border know which flight you have arrived on? Everyone funnels into the same arrivals area; they have no idea. And as I said, it’s not where you have arrived from but we’re you've been in the past 14 days.
If you say you’re going to do something, you have to do it, otherwise people won’t take you seriously. And there lies the problem.
The flight I took we had a bus on arrival. Easyjet disembarked us slowly, row by row and we boarded the bus. Bus wasn’t busy as usual. So yes, effort was made.
Birdie Boy
Well-known member
- Jun 17, 2011
- 4,535
Customs will know which countries are coming through the arrivals, for a start it is listed above the conveyor belt but I'm sure they would already know that anyway.
They can then target people picking up off the conveyor belt from particular countries or just target everyone at that time.
They can then target people picking up off the conveyor belt from particular countries or just target everyone at that time.
1) I would imagine it’s immigration which check, not customs?
2) At Gatwick the carousels are after immigration.
3) What about those without hold luggage who will head straight out the airport.
4) If there were few flights then yes, I’m sure immigration can guess which country those in passport control will have arrived from. In the coming hour 8 flights are landing at Gatwick north, not so easy to guess.
5) The question on the form is where you’ve been in the past 14 days, not just where your flight originated from. For the scheme to work they should check everyone.
6) Why don’t they just turn off the eGates and check everyone? Surely this is the sensible approach?
Birdie Boy
Well-known member
- Jun 17, 2011
- 4,535
I expect they're not due to massive queues, which is why I was suggesting customs area where they can pull people over.
I know some people don't have bags, hence just randomly picking people out.
I haven't flown anywhere this year, so not sure how it is working, just a suggestion/guess.
Edit. Standing in a massive queue for a lengthy time is surely helping to spread any contagious diseases.
I know some people don't have bags, hence just randomly picking people out.
I haven't flown anywhere this year, so not sure how it is working, just a suggestion/guess.
Edit. Standing in a massive queue for a lengthy time is surely helping to spread any contagious diseases.