LHR Passport Control/Customs Questions

You should arrive at the airport 3 hours before your departure to complete flight checkin, security screening, and there is no passport control.

Thank you!

There is no passport control or customs on departure from London. There is only a security screening. The airlines would suggest you arrive at LHR 3 hours in advance.

The Schengen countries have passport control on exit but the UK and US only have it on entry.

The real kicker is that the time can vary greatly depending how many people are in line. Last year I cut it way the heck too close (in my opinion) with a flight from LAX-LHR then LHR to EDI. We had about 20 minutes by the time we got through everything before the next flight started to board. I want to say we had 90 minutes between flights. Way too close. You walk like a good 35+ minutes plus having to get on a bus to go to another terminal... then the line to go through customs was slow.... they ask about 10 questions, we had a very serious girl who stared at everyone like they were possibly a criminal. We made it through (bad bed-side manner and all). But it didn't leave much time to rush to where the next plane was taking off.

As for departures from LHR- its way faster than LAX. I left on a Saturday in the middle of the day last year in May, and it was empty- I think it took 45 minutes to go through the security and check-in (combined). However, if it was crowded I think it could take longer, just depends.

No passport control at LHR for departing flights. Security only. However, some airlines have their own security check where you have to answer a bunch of stupid questions. This takes forever as there is one person for an entire flight and they like to be chatty.

Here are some of the questions I've been asked:

What do tourists do at (your destination)?
What do you do for a living or what did you do? Why did you do that?
What did you do here in London? Why?

This is not official security. This is someone the airline hired to ask questions to make sure you are not a terrorist.

The last time I flew back from LHR, a bunch of us who checked in online, almost missed the flight because this "security check" was taking forever and the guy doing it couldn't care less.

Easter Sunday is not going to be a busy time - that would be on Maundy Thursday to the Saturday for departing holiday-makers. There also will be reduced business traffic, even from a normal Sunday.

" we had a very serious girl who stared at everyone like they were possibly a criminal. "

Yes, I've seen a couple of those in Tampa airport but some of the male border control officers were far worse.

I remember on one the arrivals at LHR direct from SFO in the afternoon it was very crowded in contrast to my experience of arriving in the morning. When I reached that part in line where a sign indicated the following, something to this effect: "From this point it should take another 30 (?) minutes to a Border Control officer." That time estimate was deadly accurate. Within that time period (can't recall exactly how many minutes it stated), but I got to a officer, not minute earlier or later.