British Air landing Heathrow

Try using the Heathrow airport connection tool.

http://www.heathrow.com/flight-connections

When I plug in a random us flight and a random flight to Manchester the planner indicates that you will go through passport control.

Thank you.
I will do that.

I have not traveled to Manchester from the US, but have made many connections there and find it much easier when both flights arrive and depart from Terminal 5. When you exit the plane, follow the flight connection signs. If you have any difficulty, you can ask for guidance from one of the attendants in the area for guidance. If your flight connection time is tight for any reason, when you arrive in the passport control area after following flight connection signs, tell the attendants who are in this area that you may not make your connection and they will put you in the fast track lane. You will go through customs in Manchester after collecting your luggage.

LacLeman is correct. I use BA and Terminal 5 for my international and interEurope flights. I haven't flown to Manchester, but have flown to Leeds. The luggage will be checked thru from USA to Manchester. The signs are clear on where to go. There are also lots of people, also in purple, who can answer any questions and send you in the correct direction. You go through another passport check/control and then security to enter back into the departure section of Terminal 5. If your flight arrives on time you should have no problem making your flight. It usually takes less than an hour for me to get back into the departure section of terminal 5. Just remember that you have security so don't lose track of your liquids or, if you have a money belt, don't have it on.

Immigration/Border Control is for people; Customs is for things.

Immigration at point of entry to the UK (Heathrow). If they let you in, take flight to Manchester.

At Manchester collect bags and walk through customs (unless you are bringing items you need to declare: guns, drugs etc.).

You will go through Passport Control/Immigration at Heathrow. You always go through this at the first port of entry into a country.

You don't get on the regular Passport Control lines but go to "Flight Connections" and they will direct you. The Heathrow flight connections website mentioned earlier will give you step by step instructions.

You will collect your checked bag in Manchester and just walk through the customs area.

You should be fine.

Thank you everyone.

I have a much clearer picture. Being a planner by nature is such a pain.....
Purple signs and purple dressed people. Will do!
Bye now.

Just to emphasize that you will go thru security with your carry on. they are stricter in Heathrow than at many other airports and hold you to the one bag/100 ml rule. There will be lots of signs telling you this.
Take the time to take one of their bags ( there will be several places on the walk there where they will have them) to put your liquids, toothpaste, gels into their bag and DOUBLE CHECK that you have no other liquids out of the bag. Dad forgot he had taken out a small bottle of liquid on the flight and put it in the pocket of his carry-on , not in the plastic bag with his other items. That lead to a 30 minute wait as his carry on was scanned out and he had to wait for the people ahead of him to repackage their items.

I've done that Terminal 5 to Terminal 5 journey recently, and want to reiterate the last comment above.

My liquids were confiscated at Heathrow but they had been OK'd at Dulles. Heathrow is definitely tighter security. I also didn't have to take off my shoes in Dulles (thin ballet slippers) but did have to take them off in Heathrow.

I've also gotten behind HUGE tours in line and the connection was very tight. Other times I've been one of about 75 people in all of that part of security. The last time I did it (2 weeks ago) it took me about 20 minutes to get through security. I'd say that was about average....

If you DO have time to catch your breath as you're on to the next leg of your journey, the whisky samples at the airport are pretty spectacular!! ;-)

Susan
Dual citizen, living in Ireland

Heathrow, like a lot of big airports, is screening carry-on luggage in central depots for some airlines rather than at individual airline departure lounges. Mob scenes ensue. Well, crowded and claustrophobic, anyhow, and time-consuming. Somehow people who have clearly been up in the air before forget that every fragment of metal on their beings must be removed, and hold up the line squiggling and squirming. It is worth pointing out to American travellers that most shoes go through still attached to feet unless armed to kick in doors.