Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
Apr 28th 2014, 1:42 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
Just a quick tip from my experience last week. Airlines have a 'VIP' card that they give to their First class passengers when flying to LHR to allow them to bypass the main immigration lines. I managed to blag a couple of these for me and Mrs H. We just handed them to the security guard then walked straight up to a UKBA official - the line was hours long otherwise.
So, if you're feeling charming, have a word with the service manager on your flight and see if you can grab one of these pink VIP entry slips. They are great!
So, if you're feeling charming, have a word with the service manager on your flight and see if you can grab one of these pink VIP entry slips. They are great!
Apr 28th 2014, 3:41 pm
#2
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
I must just be lucky - had zero line or maybe a three minute line the last several times I've arrived at LHR.
Apr 28th 2014, 7:48 pm
#5
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 84
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
I had one of those in the distant past, and it was worth it. Now I have one of those electronic passports (UK), and it's always very quick to go through that line. I've never been offered a queue jumping card again.
However, being on the TSA Pre list is great! And in that vein, Mrs Me is not TSA Pre and we got split up on the last trip. The agent who spoke to Mrs Me told her that if we'd booked via a real person (rather than internet), she'd be inherit my TSA Pre cooties. I have yet to test that assertion.
However, being on the TSA Pre list is great! And in that vein, Mrs Me is not TSA Pre and we got split up on the last trip. The agent who spoke to Mrs Me told her that if we'd booked via a real person (rather than internet), she'd be inherit my TSA Pre cooties. I have yet to test that assertion.
May 2nd 2014, 1:49 am
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 78
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
Just a quick tip from my experience last week. Airlines have a 'VIP' card that they give to their First class passengers when flying to LHR to allow them to bypass the main immigration lines. I managed to blag a couple of these for me and Mrs H. We just handed them to the security guard then walked straight up to a UKBA official - the line was hours long otherwise.
So, if you're feeling charming, have a word with the service manager on your flight and see if you can grab one of these pink VIP entry slips. They are great!
So, if you're feeling charming, have a word with the service manager on your flight and see if you can grab one of these pink VIP entry slips. They are great!
May 2nd 2014, 2:11 am
#7
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Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
It's now deprecated at LHR I believe. It's been replaced with the e-gates that never ****ing work for me, whereas iris used to work just fine.
May 2nd 2014, 2:12 pm
#8
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Joined: Jun 2012
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 91
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
These only work for me if I remove my glasses and make an effort to wear a blank expression. As long as I do those things they seem to work, miss either one though and it's a red flashing light for me.
May 3rd 2014, 1:34 pm
#9
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 72
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
Recently on a UK domestic trip from LHR to NCL it flashed read at the gate and the member of staff there was so shocked that it wasn't working I half expected him to call security and have me rugby tackled to the ground, all because my facial expression was slightly different at the gate than from when I entered security. Probably because I was politely smiling at him. A second attempt with me trying to adopt a blank expression seemed to work. It was quite amusing though.
May 3rd 2014, 2:20 pm
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Flying back to the UK - immigration line tip
The last 3 times we've come back into the USA we've had to stand for ages in the US citizens line, Houston being the worst. This week we got our Global Entry certification so are hoping this is going to expedite matters, including TSA security. As well as a couple of domestic flights in the US this year we will also be flying to/from Canada and Australia so we decided to spring for the $100 each to get into the Global Entry program.
