Where can I get info on the need for an ETA as we are traveling to Florence and most likely will be transiting through London Heathrow from the States to Florence. Do I need an ETA for this brief layover?
Also anyone have recommendations on how long customs take going through, Madrid or Barcelona onto Florence. There are a couple of flight that we may used the layover is 90-120 minutes. Enough time? Any words of advice?
Thank you
Rich
https://www.gov.uk/eta/when-not-need-eta
You don’t go thru customs til your final destination in Europe and then it’s basically just a walk thru the correct door
You are asking about Passport Control which can be unpredictable
I wouldn’t want a layover less than 2 hours at either of those airports- unpredictable
If flights are all one one ticket and bags are checked you might be OK with less
While the website says you don’t need one, it wouldn’t hurt to have one in case your connecting flight is cancelled for whatever reason and you need to spend a night, or, if you decide to visit the UK in the near future. The process is simple.
In December I traveled through Gatwick and the connecting flights lane was closed. Everybody had to go through immigration.
For Madrid, I’ve gone through immigration in a few as 30 minutes, but a couple years ago it took 1.5 hours.
You don't need an ETA.
Some people make is sound like if you don't have an ETA and have to enter the UK due to a canceled flight you will wind up in prison for centuries or be forced to sleep on the tarmac next to your departing plane.
All that will happen is that you will be processed by a Border Force officer rather than being able to use the egates.
An ETA is not a visa. It is not permission to enter. It is simply a pre-clearance to travel to the UK. If you don't plan to travel to the UK, there is no need to have one. And the Border Force officers understand this.
