ePassport gates at Heathrow

Unless its changed, the ePassport gates are only for EU/EEA passports. Non-EU passports (and your profile says you are from the USA) need stamping, and they need a passport officer to decide if and for how long to let you in, so automation not possible. If you look less than prosperous they may ask you to prove you have funds to cover your stay and to get home again, if not they can refuse you entry.

This is similar to Global Entry. You have to sign up for the service and costs 70 GBP for the first year. Go to: https://www.faster-uk-entry.service.gov.uk

We just got back from France, England and Ireland.
I was pushing my wife in a wheelchair and towing her carryon suitcase. She would have gotten the wheelchair years earlier if she had known how quick she can get through airport security lines. Chairs always go to the front of any que, including restaurants
Upon our return, she immediately had a knee replacement. Now she will have to get back in lines.

We passed through Heathrow in March. We didn't speak with a single border control person when entering the terminal. We scanned our passport ourselves each time. It seemed rather strange but there were no lines like in previous years. I guess? this was epassport. We were solely in Terminal 5.

If you have "Registered Traveler" you can use the epassport gates. I have it and use it.

If you have not applied for it and paid the fee you have to use the regular non-EU lines.

If you are passing through Heathrow and not leaving the airport except on another flight outside the UK then it is not the epassport gates.

So Wray, were you in transit at Heathrow (never left the airport) or you were being admitted into the UK?

Nigel,

We were overnight at the Sofitel and then back into Terminal 5. These passport scans were just before security, where in the past there would have been people checking our passports. I didn't see anywhere else to go...anyway, no one reprimanded us or stopped us. Just lucky?

And then it was back into Terminal 5 from Schipol/AMs to catch our flight home from Terminal 5 as well. This is where we used to have a long line for border control. Our flights were BA flights.

It felt really strange. It was kind of like self-serve...

I realize that the OP already flew yesterday, but I will post this comment since it may help others who often fly into Heathrow.

I fly from the US to Heathrow once a year. I am sorry that Delta now flies into Heathrow Terminal 3 (older, less impressive than Terminal 4, which was previously used). My recent flight to Heathrow Terminal 3 landed around 7:00 a.m. on Sat. May 13. There were possibly 1,000 people in the non-EU passport control line with me. It was efficiently staffed, and the line moved. I spent 1 hr. 10 minutes getting through the line. While in line, I read signs communicating something like: "Frequent non-EU visitors to the UK: you can use the (shorter) electronic entry EU gates by signing up for this program. www.gov.uk/registered-traveller" I have not yet checked out this website but plan to do so.

Elizabeth is correct—we were required to use the very long non-EU passport line. I think for frequent U.K. travelers, looking into the registered traveler program makes sense.

Elizabeth is correct—we were required to use the very long non-EU passport line. I think for frequent U.K. travelers, looking into the registered traveler program makes sense.

I investigated the link provided by Elizabeth. Here are the eligibility requirements:

To apply for Registered Traveller membership, you must be 18 or older
and have either:

• a UK visa or entry clearance [or]
• visited the UK at least 4 times in the last 24 months

You must also have an eligible passport.

A US passport is eligible.

I wish my trips to the UK were that frequent.

I have Registered Traveler. I get to use the egates usually only available to UK and EU

I landed at Gatwick Airport today. The line for U.S passport holders snaked through the immigration hall and up the ramp you take to get there. It was hundreds of people.

I went to the egates but it wouldn't read my passport (computer chip problems.) So I had to see an agent. There is a special line for people whose passports weren't read by the machine. There were five people ahead of me. When I reached the agent he saw my US passport and asked if I had registered traveler. I said yes, he scanned my passport and apologized for the gates not working for me. In total just under 10 minutes from the time I arrived at Immigration to taking the escalator up to customs.

It's the same at Heathrow.

I got an invitation to join through Global Entry.