Confused about new transit visa requirements for transiting through Heathrow

First, it is NOT a transit visa, it is an Electronic Travel Authorization.

Assuming you are both US citizens AND you are only connecting in London you do not need one. Read the official UK government site, ETA , for more information if you like.

Edited to add, click on the ETA link above. Under Contents, click on "When do you not need an ETA".
The 4th item down applies to you.

Just follow the signs at Heathrow for transiting passengers and you will be fine.

Are your flights on one ticket or two. If the former you will be fine without an ETA.

But, if you have booked two separate tickets for each flight and you are checking luggage you will have to go through UK immigration, collect your bags and re check them. You will therefore be crossing the UK border and will need an ETA. To complicate things even more, if you have two separate tickets, but only have carry on luggage and you can get your second boarding pass before you leave (so that you have it on arrival at LHR) you can still stay airside, follow the Flight Connections route and will not need an ETA.

That 4th point is not clear.

From the ETA Website.

you’re transiting through a UK airport and you will not pass through
border control - check with your airline if you are not sure

How do you know if you will not pass through border control? I wrote about this 3 weeks ago where I had a situation where I would be on one ticket but two different airlines and switching terminals. Not even the airlines could give me a definitive answer. British Airways, of all airlines told me to call my embassy.

Thanks all! We are on one ticket with British Airways both ways and will not need to claim and recheck bags, get different boarding passes or leave the terminal. Before writing this post, I did see that 4th point on the ETA website, but it wasn’t clear to me how they define border control . I’ve had layovers at Heathrow four times in the past couple of years and there’s always been some kind of passport check for transiting passengers as well as having to go through security before entering the terminal. Is this also considered border control?
By the way, British Airways also told me to call my embassy!

Go to this Heathrow Airport Connecting Flights site. Plug in your flight info and it will tell you what you will need to do.

For what you describe, you will not need an ETA.

Your pasport was checked by the airline because they have to make sure you have one. This is not Border Control. This is just an airline passport check.

Everyone transiting through Heathrow, unless arriving from a UK airport, must go through security. This is also not Border Control.

More than likely you won't have to change terminals. (The link in the above post will answer your questions.) Just follow flight connection signs.

I used flight connections a few days ago and it couldn't have been easier. The signage is very good. And I had to change terminals and airlines.

On a side note, even if you are changing terminals and airlines, you shouldn't have to go through passport control....unless....you have checked luggage that cannot be transferred automatically and/or you don't have the boarding pass for the second flight.

The airlines don't control "Flight Connections." Heathrow does.

While an ETA may not be required in your situation, I would still consider getting one. Here’s why. They are good for two years, take just a few minutes to apply for, and aren’t that expensive. If you have any irregular flight issues you have more options.

Why not just get an ETA? It doesn’t cost much. It shouldn’t take long? Is there some reason you think the request would be delayed or denied? When I’m on vacation I prefer to eliminate unnecessary worries. As much as I love this forum and trust its contributors, I would buy the cheap insurance and not count on this forum for my safety and convenience.

cdelsignor Wondering if you have completed your travels through Heathrow and what was your experience. Did you need the Direct Airside Transit Visa? I have a similar situation this fall where I’ll be traveling to Italy on British Airways and have a 2 hour layover in Heathrow. UK.gov website was not very clear on this.

Why not just get an ETA?

Agree. If some extremely unlikely event were to occur, such as a shutdown of Heathrow due to terrorism or a natural disaster, while you were on your layover an ETA will let you exit onto UK soil to go to another airport or to catch a train. Good unitl 2027 I think, so you can plan a future UK trip.

Just to reiterate that this is NOT a visa you are talking about, but an Electronic Travel Authorisation. Assuming you are US citizens and you are booked through on one ticket with BA just follow Flight Connections when you get to LHR. You will not go through Immigration but you will need to pass through Security again. As it's 2 BA flights you are likely to stay in T5 but there is a small possibility you will need to transfer to T3 - if so you will get there airside by bus.

Update: First of all, thanks to everyone who offered advice on this page and also through the FB pages. Fortunately, our transfer through and layover in Heathrow went smoothly on both flights so we didn’t need an ETA. That being said, I think if we were to do this again, I would probably go ahead and get the ETA, especially if we were traveling at a time of year when weather related issues could cause delays.

Great, thanks.

If another airport flight cancellations occur: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/happening-now-heathrow-gatwick-ops-suspended-due-to-atc-radar-failure The ETA will allow you to go outside the airport if you need an overnight stay.