I am landing in London Heathrow on AA flight in the morning and I am planning to go into London on the express train to get in some sunshine and walking before my evening flight on Alitalia; it's an 8 hr. layover. I was looking at the "transfer" section online at Heathrow and I am confused about how immigration works in this instance. Apparently I will need to go through a security check before I can check into my Alitalia flight which I had hoped to do before storing my carry on luggage and getting the express train. Is this the best course of action or should I leave the airport from the arrival terminal and then leave plenty of time to go through security when I come back? Is the security they list like our US security or is it immigration? When will I go through immigration exactly?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
If you leave the airport, you must go through immigration because you are entering the U.K. You will go through security with your carry-on when you return to the airport for you Alitalia flight.
According to the Heathrow website, your AA flight will land at T3 and your Alitalia flight will depart from T4. Assuming this is correct, you can catch the Heathrow Express downstairs in T3 after you go through immigration and exit through baggage claim and customs. ( you said carry-on only, right?).
To reach T4 for your Alitalia flight, you will need to leave the Heathrow Express at T3 and take the Transfer spur to T4:
https://www.heathrowexpress.com/timetable-schedule/london-heathrow
Since you have to get off at T3 anyway, you may be able to store your luggage there, but I do not know if there is a Left Luggage facility in that terminal, or where it is. There is one at Paddington.
If you can buy your Heathrow Express tix 30 or 90 days in advance you can save quite a bit.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Thank you Lola, I also read this statement on the Heathrow website, should I worry about this? "In Britain
There is nowhere to sleep in the airport. If your booking includes a stopover in a local hotel, follow Arrivals and leave the airport via passport control, baggage reclaim and Customs, then check in as normal when it's time to continue your journey. Your travel documents must allow you entry into the UK.
You can apply for a 24-hour visa on arrival. These are granted at the discretion of the Immigration Officer, who must be satisfied that you have a confirmed booking of onward travel within 24 hours." Will showing my Alitalia itinerary be enough?
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Baker, what is your nationality (which country issued your passport)? You haven't filled in that information.
Depending on your nationality you may need a visa, or just your passport to enter the UK. All this is saying is that people who do need a visa can get a special 24 hour visa so they can stay in a hotel overnight. If you don't need a visa, that comment is irrelevant.
P.S. Some airports have special hotels for transit passengers which are "airside", so you can stay overnight without legally entering the country. There are none of these in the UK.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
"passport control" is immigration. Its not just security.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17429 posts
According to this, Leslie lives in Wisconsin and she will be traveling with her sister from California.
So, assuming they are US citizens, their passports are the appropriate travel documents to enter the U.K. No need for a visa.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
Heathrow and some other European airlines (in my recent experience, Bologna) have moved to a central screening system for carry-on baggage. Instead of being examined at the individual airline's check-in point, you will carry your cabin bag to a central, mass screening section serving many airlines. By mass, I also mean probably crowded so don't be surprised by the line-up.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
Isn't it like that at every airport? Once you have your boarding pass, you go o the security line in that terminal for screening. It is not specific to the airline, but to the terminal and gate. There may be several screening points in one terminal---like here at SeaTac---but each TSA screening point serves all airlines.
Heathrow has one or more security points in each terminal---for example, T5 has a North and South, and signs tell you which is less crowded. That is if you are coming from outside the airport. If you are transferring flights, staying in the airport, there is a different screening line between the flights.
Where have you seen separate security screening for each airline?