'Welcome' to Britain

[msmob]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45165222

Imagine, your first visit to Britain and you experience 2,5 hours queuing to get in ...at passport 'control' as a Non EU /EEA passport holder ....

Soon  - if you're lucky, the EU/EEA visitors can experience this 'joy'

Considering what is costs to GET a visa to come - you'd think 'we' could afford more officers to 'control' ...

For now, avoid Heathrow would be my advice ...land somewhere in Europe, first, and arrive on a flight to a regional UK airport ...  I have not experienced such queues in Manchester, East Mids, Bristol...

[John Gaunt]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45165222

Imagine, your first visit to Britain and you experience 2,5 hours queuing to get in ...at passport 'control' as a Non EU /EEA passport holder ....

Soon  - if you're lucky, the EU/EEA visitors can experience this 'joy'

Considering what is costs to GET a visa to come - you'd think 'we' could afford more officers to 'control' ...

For now, avoid Heathrow would be my advice ...land somewhere in Europe, first, and arrive on a flight to a regional UK airport ...  I have not experienced such queues in Manchester, East Mids, Bristol...

I don’t see what the problem is here. People queue all over the world. Why is there this insistence on q-management in this country particularly?

[krimster2]

my family and I just had this problem we we were flying to Moscow on British Airways and stopped over in London
I've been in this airport dozens of times in my life, the lines were never this long or slow...

[msmob]

I don’t see what the problem is here. People queue all over the world. Why is there this insistence on q-management in this country particularly?

Hi JG

I've flown into 10 plus nations in the last year and if I had to queue 2.5 hours I'd be pissed off

The bosses of British airlines using Heathrow have complained as this reflects on them and 'our' nation's organisational capabilities 

While this problem continues, what is wrong with highlighting the issue and recommending how to avoid the issue

[John Gaunt]

Hi JG

I've flown into 10 plus nations in the last year and if I had to queue 2.5 hours I'd be pissed off

The bosses of British airlines using Heathrow have complained as this reflects on them and 'our' nation's organisational capabilities 

While this problem continues, what is wrong with highlighting the issue and recommending how to avoid the issue

Oh, nothing wrong with highlighting the issue, if you feel there is one. I rather think the the bosses at Heathrow are more interested in their bottom line then the delays at passport control.
It just seems peculiar to this country that people miannat q-ing. I think at US ports of entry it can take far longer at times and yet one never hears complaints.

[msmob]

Well, I've never waited that long entering any nation..but it is clear others are experiencing such delays at Heathrow

[krimster2]

yes!  I think I was the only person in the line NOT angry and upset, I never, never experienced such a delay at Heathrow, 2+ hours in a line
it looks like there is some extra scrutiny going on, saw folks being diverted and questioned, I was worried that there was something "going on"
made me REAL nervous boarding the next plane

security got cross with me, when I saw an old acquaintance, and shouted out to him, "Hi Jack"
haha

[2tallbill]

Imagine, your first visit to Britain

It's the UK, how many times do we have to tell you this??!!?!?!?!?

 

[Trenchcoat]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45165222

Imagine, your first visit to Britain and you experience 2,5 hours queuing to get in ...at passport 'control' as a Non EU /EEA passport holder ....

Soon  - if you're lucky, the EU/EEA visitors can experience this 'joy'

Good Give the EU crowd the rough end of the stick, see how they like being dished out punishment beatings

Myself I will feel great joy at striding past all the non-UK lot like you will be when you leave the UK Mobe and straight through the UK entry lane

[Boethius]

Oh, nothing wrong with highlighting the issue, if you feel there is one. I rather think the the bosses at Heathrow are more interested in their bottom line then the delays at passport control.
It just seems peculiar to this country that people miannat q-ing. I think at US ports of entry it can take far longer at times and yet one never hears complaints.

.

It’s never taken me longer than 15 minutes to clear US customs. That’s all in Canadian airports. I believe JFK in New York, or perhaps O’Hare in Chicago have the busiest lines, and I believe they are no more than 45 minutes, at most.

[krimster2]

last two trips under 5 min for me
--AND--
one of those was a non-stop from Amsterdam
--AND--
I had some contraband

ok, it was just unpasteurized cheese....

[mhr7]

Well, I've never waited that long entering any nation..but it is clear others are experiencing such delays at Heathrow

Long lines, everyone's bag being checked and the most absolutely rude security personnel I've ever encountered, and this was just in the transit area.

[mhr7]

last two trips under 5 min for me
--AND--
one of those was a non-stop from Amsterdam
--AND--
I had some contraband

ok, it was just unpasteurized cheese....

Just flew back to the States through JFK last week and it took 10 minutes tops, easy peasy.

[msmob]

Good Give the EU crowd the rough end of the stick, see how they like being dished out punishment beatings

Myself I will feel great joy at striding past all the non-UK lot like you will be when you leave the UK Mobe and straight through the UK entry lane

Once again, Trench's 'humour' at work 

Are you too stupid to see the damage done by such long waits?

[Boethius]

Just flew back to the States through JFK last week and it took 10 minutes tops, easy peasy.

Yes, but you’re American. The wait likely is longer for foreigners.

[mhr7]

Yes, but you’re American. The wait likely is longer for foreigners.

As a Canadian or a traveler in the visa waiver program it shouldn't take any longer.

[Blighty]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45165222

Imagine, your first visit to Britain and you experience 2,5 hours queuing to get in ...at passport 'control' as a Non EU /EEA passport holder ....

Soon  - if you're lucky, the EU/EEA visitors can experience this 'joy'

Considering what is costs to GET a visa to come - you'd think 'we' could afford more officers to 'control' ...

For now, avoid Heathrow would be my advice ...land somewhere in Europe, first, and arrive on a flight to a regional UK airport ...  I have not experienced such queues in Manchester, East Mids, Bristol...

What's new about this? I met some whinging Aussies last summer who had suffered similar long waits at Heathrow. They thanked me for my advice to come via Amsterdam and then fly into a UK regional airport. They told me that they came every year to the UK and took a hire car at Heathrow.

Their plan for this year was to fly into the regional airport for their touring area, and take the hire car there. They would be flying into the non-Schengen zone and so face no queues in Amsterdam (personal experience).

[DaveNY]

What's new about this? I met some whinging Aussies last summer who had suffered similar long waits at Heathrow. They thanked me for my advice to come via Amsterdam and then fly into a UK regional airport. They told me that they came every year to the UK and took a hire car at Heathrow.

Their plan for this year was to fly into the regional airport for their touring area, and take the hire car there. They would be flying into the non-Schengen zone and so face no queues in Amsterdam (personal experience).

Blighty they were obviously being polite. Think about what your advice entails. Instead of flying into Heathrow and waiting 2-3 hours to clear customs. You want the Aussies to fly into Amsterdam and clear customs there and then wait for a flight to a UK regional airport and fly into the UK regional airport from Amsterdam.

Want to bet that your alternative will take far longer than the 2-3 hours to clear Heathrow customs and cost a few hundred quid/euros more?

[krimster2]

haven't heard an explanation why this is happening
heightened security
cuts in staff
it's Obama's fault

anyone know why

[Blighty]

Blighty they were obviously being polite. Think about what your advice entails. Instead of flying into Heathrow and waiting 2-3 hours to clear customs. You want the Aussies to fly into Amsterdam and clear customs there and then wait for a flight to a UK regional airport and fly into the UK regional airport from Amsterdam.

Want to bet that your alternative will take far longer than the 2-3 hours to clear Heathrow customs and cost a few hundred quid/euros more?

A classic RWD argumentative response! I was also saving them a 6 hours drive to Scotland from Heathrow this year! There is no extra customs coming through Amsterdam. The man held dual Australian/British nationality. It was down to them to decide but they had never thought of this option. At least they had the intelligence to start thinking outside the Heathrow box (unlike you).

[Blighty]

haven't heard an explanation why this is happening
heightened security
cuts in staff
it's Obama's fault

anyone know why

It is a mixture of staff cuts, increased passenger numbers, and heightened security. I always come via Amsterdam which is a suspect destination for the obvious reasons. I am always questioned as to why I have taken the flight Why do they bother as it is on their computer screens? Just their job to be suspicious of people flying regularly to/from Amsterdam.

[DaveNY]

A classic RWD argumentative response! I was also saving them a 6 hours drive to Scotland from Heathrow this year! There is no extra customs coming through Amsterdam. The man held dual Australian/British nationality. It was down to them to decide but they had never thought of this option. At least they had the intelligence to start thinking outside the Heathrow box (unlike you).

I'm sorry but was this Aussie mentally retarded? You said he travels from Australia to the UK annually.  Did he know about websites that offer flight planning? He could have punched in his originating airport and destination and the websites would have given him a dozen alternatives to passing through Heathrow. All free of charge.

[John Gaunt]

.

It’s never taken me longer than 15 minutes to clear US customs. That’s all in Canadian airports. I believe JFK in New York, or perhaps O’Hare in Chicago have the busiest lines, and I believe they are no more than 45 minutes, at most.

Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world, I believe, so at peak times it’s understandable some queues might build up.

[Boethius]

I'm sorry but was this Aussie mentally retarded? You said he travels from Australia to the UK annually.  Did he know about websites that offer flight planning? He could have punched in his originating airport and destination and the websites would have given him a dozen alternatives to passing through Heathrow. All free of charge.

Often one cannot land directly at a regional airport.

[DaveNY]

Often one cannot land directly at a regional airport.

Coming from Sydney, Australia to Edinburgh, Scotland there are plenty of options to bypass Heathrow. Frankfurt is a major hub leading to various UK cities. As is Paris. Probably even be able to fly into Edinburgh from Dubai. You're going to have to make at least one stop/transfer on a Australia to Scotland flight maybe two especially if you want to save a few extra dollars.

I hate making more than 1 stop/transfer however on some long flights to small towns it is often unavoidable.