Snowy560

Hello I think I may have asked this before, but it's now two weeks to the first holiday all four of us have had together in ... years (usually, it's 2 or 3 of us at a time!).

So 4 of us + daughter's bf are going to the UK and Gib. All of us have UK passports except bf who holds Canadian. Would you try going through the EU citizens queue at LGW since we are a group travelling together?

Daughter (age 20) suggested she could go through the non-EU line with bf (also age 20) but my concern is border control will maybe think they're trying to settle in the UK (and yes I am a complete control freak!).

What do any of you do in similar circumstances? My sense is we should go through one line or another together as a group.

Thank you!

Stinkypup

I would all go in the EU line

dbd33

I would try and go through the EU line. If the foreigner gets the heave-ho then let the daughter go through the dodgy alien line with him. It doesn't matter that much because the baggage carousel can only take a few bags and is quickly full, everyone has to wait for the people processed slowly through immigration to claim their bags anyway.

Snowy560

OK thanks we will try that one. I think it's best.

Stinkypup

I consulted Snoop, the queen of law abiding - googled arrivals- they have epassport gates - you may not have a choice- either way they are pretty quick if not too many planes are coming in at the same time

Passport control | Gatwick Airport

As dbd says, you can go and collect the luggage

Snowy560

Thank you. Interestingly I have never actually used the electronic system as travelling with a child has precluded that. But now I see they have lowered the age to 12 (didn't it used to be 18?; we travelled with a 14 year old in 2015 and couldn't use them).

The link also says:

"If you aren’t eligible to use the e-passport gates or prefer not to, then please wait for the next available border force officer."

So we can probably wait for the officer (as we have always done in the past because of being ineligible to use the electronic system/child below required age).

Stinkypup

Yep- forgot that - youngest pup is older ... Stick to the original plan! Gatwick isn't bad - luggage can take an age so I wouldn't worry too much. I will now go and beat Snoop for giving me misinformation.

Snowy560

No she hasn't informed you wrong: you can use them with kids 12+

Stinkypup

No matter, she needs to be punished

Flossie and Jim

We are 2 x Canadian and 2 x UK passports. We asked the person who stands at the queue entrance which line we should go in. At Heathrow they told us to use the EU line. At Gatwick, the (very) miserable gentleman told us to use the Canadian line (which was mahoosive). Think it just depends on the mood/friendliness of who is on that day

Snowy560

That sounds similar to us. OK I will seek guidance before joining a line.

Thank you!

scrubbedexpat134

Don't forget if you are dual CAN/UK citizens you will need your Canadian passport to get back into Canada.

rivingtonpike

Pretty simple really. Leave Canada on Canadian passport, enter UK ON British on, leave UK ON British one and re-enter Canada on Canadian one.

Gozit

I would go all in EU line. I did that in Frankfurt with 1x Maltese passport and 4x Canadian passports (put mine at the top of the pile ) and all I got was a dirty look and "Why are you the only Maltesian?" (Yes, he said it like that ) but he let us through.

Stinkypup

Gozit is the one in the middle ..