We travel to London next month with our 9-year-old grandson. We fly directly from Cleveland to Dublin, then from Dublin to London. Both flights are on Aer Lingus. We will go through passport control in Dublin, and we have all necessary legal documents to present there (parent authorization letter, copies of birth certificates, etc.).
Do we need to go through passport control again once we land at Heathrow? I'm finding much conflicting information, even from the airline.
You will need an ETA and go through immigration in London. Dublin is in the EU.
More importantly, you will need written authorisation from both parents to be travelling internationally with the minor.
Flights from Ireland to the UK are treated as domestic, so no immigration queues.
Welcome to the best country on the planet :)
I found in June that there was no formal immigration arriving from Dublin to the UK on certain flights from Dublin. For me the ETA was likely wasted money. Not sure what the typical experience is, maybe there isn’t one.
For me the ETA was likely wasted money.
The value to you is that it prevented you from breaking the law.
From the end of September showing a passport when travelling from Ireland to England by ferry will be a legal requirement, even for Irish and English citizens (Common Travel Area notwithstanding) in a tightening of the border. That will show up any missing ETA for non Irish/English passport holders.
No passport (or ETA for those requiring it) will lead to denial of ferry travel.
All the emphasis has been on the ferry travel, but it is highly likely also to apply to flights. Whether that is through passport control in London, or denial of boarding in Dublin if no passport or ETA is held remains to be seen.
Toby, I believe you should have shown your passport when leaving Dublin for London. I believe the ETA is electronically connected to it.
I believe you should have shown your passport when leaving Dublin
Maybe for bag drop but not at the gate.
It’s possible some electronic check was done behind the scenes for my ETA.
I may be able to use the same one in a couple years, if I return before it expires.
I have done this numerous times.
There is no passport control when flying from Ireland to the UK. It is like a domestic flight. If the airline checks your passport it's strictly for ID purposes.
When you arrive in Ireland, you will go through passport control and because of the CTA you also get permission to enter the UK. So no passport control when you land at Heathrow. (The first time I entered Ireland, the immigration officer in Dublin reminded me that I could enter the UK as well. When I flew to the UK, I just walked off the plane and out of the airport.)
Yes, you do, technically, need an ETA. Even though it has nothing to do with entry into the UK, it's still needed. You technically need an ETA when driving from Ireland to Northern Ireland if you are not a UK or Irish subject.
Being in the EU or not in the EU has nothing to do with it. It's all about the CTA.
If you are flying back to the US via Ireland, be aware that you will go through US immigration in Ireland. When you get to Cleveland, you just walk off the plane like a domestic flight. (So keep those papers handy.)
I have done this numerous times.
Supposedly requiring and showing passports of all nationalities using these flights is required now or soon to be required. Including Uk and Irish passport holders.
Thanks, all, that was just what I needed to know. Forgot to mention that yes, we all have our ETAs and passports so should be good to go. The reason I was checking is that I'm arranging a car service to pick us up at the airport and need to figure out the timing. Thanks again. The grandson is very excited!
I also checked on the new rules for ferry travel, and it also applies to Aer Lingus flights, with travelers required to show passports and ETAs before boarding flights between Ireland and the UK. Apparently do not need to go through immigration again.
Looks like you’re all set. I’ve flown that way repeatedly. Yes, you will be inspected in Dublin. You’ll get Irish passport stamps and then proceed on to London. No further inspection there. It’s good you have the necessary ETA. If you have a ticket direct to London via Dublin Aer Lingus will have confirmed that when you checked in in Cleveland. If you didn’t have it they probably would not have let you board even your Dublin flight. Irish immigration will likely also be confirming the ETA for your trip on to London. But that’s all done automatically so if you have it you won’t be asked about it. But I think it’s a good precaution to carry paper or electronic confirmation of the ETA with you just in case.
Since the ETA is tied to your passport, the only real way to check if you have one is to show your passport to the airline.
But as you said, this is not immigration. It is the airline checking you have the right documents.
What happens is that when you check in, your passport information is sent to the UK government to check you have your ETA. (Of course, British and Irish subjects are exempt but the only way the airline would know this is to look at passports.)
I haven't traveled between the UK and Ireland since ETA has taken affect so I understand this change.
I had an issue a few months ago in Dusseldorf. When I went to drop luggage, it wouldn't let me and said I had to see an agent. He checked and said I didn't have an ETA. I said I did. He fiddled around with him computer and then said, "There it is." The computer, he said, was causing problems that day.
On a BA flight a few weeks ago, I had to show my email confirmation because the computer didn't have my ETA information. It's possible because my original AA flight was canceled and I was put on a BA flight.
These changes are a bit concerning to those who care about the integrity of the Common Travel Area and the maintenance of a completely open "soft" border between NI and RoI. Looks like it officially takes effect from 28 September.
