I am self-planning a trip for myself, my co-leader and six 14 year old Girl Scouts. We fly SEA-LHR-MXP in July. I have two questions:
1. Due to Brexit will we have to go through customs twice: once in UK and once in Milan? Trying to prepare my brain for that.
2. We are going to "splurge" for an airport transfer to our hotel (meininger garibaldi station). Since half of our group has not travelled internationally before, I'd prefer to skip the bus/train upon arrival. Has anyone here used a solid shuttle company for a group of 7? (one girl is flying ahead and meeting us there)
Thanks everyone!
Posted by
New York, NY
4000 posts
Brexit is still up in the air. It doesn't matter to you anyway.
As you won't be entering the UK, all you will be doing is transiting thus you'll go through security at LHR only. Immigration/passport control and customs will be at MXP.
Read the Heathrow Flight Connections Guide for more direct information about your specific itinerary.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
Stop worrying about Brexit. It won't even be a thing for you, since you're just passing through.
Posted by
Chicago
1943 posts
Let's just say that Brexit looks less likely by the day at least for awhile. Customs for non-EU residents should remain the same.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16287 posts
Brexit has nothing to do with changing planes at Heathrow. As long as your flights are on one ticket and your bags are checked through to MIlan ( or you have only carry-on), you can transfer "airside" at Heathrow.
Simply follow the purple "Flight Connections" direction signs to the gate for your next flight. You do not go through immigration/passport control. You will go through security again before reaching the gate.
Please tell us what airline you are flying, and we can figure out if you might have to change terminals. You will still stay "airside", but will use a dedicated bus to transfer.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Do look at the Heathrow Connection Guide link that Continental posted. If you put in all of your flight details, it will show you the exact steps you need to take, as well as the estimated time for the process.
Italy is in the Schengen zone, and the UK is not. Brexit will not change this. So, the procedure for changing planes in Heathrow on your particular route will not change.
Posted by
OP
Tacoma, WA
17 posts
Thank you. Usually when I have done so with my family, we switch airlines and have gone through passport control in London and then not had to do it in our final destination. I knew there would be several folks on here with some specific info and experience! I only go over every couple years and in the hub-bub of getting kids, Scouts and truculent husbands through all of it, I oft forget the protocols!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5519 posts
Today (pre-Brexit), you do not through immigration or customs at LHR if your final destination is MXP. You stay airside (follow signs for flight connections) and go through security where they check your boarding pass and passport in LHR. When you arrived at MXP, you go through immigration and customs. This has nothing to do with the UK’s EU status. This is because the UK is not party to the Schengen agreement.
The same scenario applies post-Brexit.