I will be flying American Airlines to Heathrow to connect to a AA/BA flight to Lisbon. I believe the first flight lands at T3 and the second flight departs from T3. Do I go through immigration at Heathrow? I have a few hours between flights so If I want to go into the shopping/retail area, will I have to go back through immigration? I've been trying to reason this out logically but nothing seems quite logical. While I have been to LHR a few times, I've never used it as a connecting point.
LHR Connecting Flight Immigration Question
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No. You may need to go through security at LHR, but not immigration and customs. In this case, you'll do that for the first time at LIS.
You will need to go through security but not any border controls. Follow the signs to "flight connections" and stay in T3. If you didn't get your LHR-LIS boarding pass in the US, you can get it at a BA service counter at T3.
The shopping/retail areas at LHR are all within airside now. There are minimal shops available outside security but no need to venture out because selection of shops airside is so much better.
If you were to decide for some reason you wish to leave the secured area, yes you must exit through Immigration and then re-enter through security. I wouldn't do it personally because I don't like waiting in queus and recently the queues have been very slow and very long. In February I waited at least 30 minutes at LHR border control. In April it was over 45 minutes.
Assume luggage is checked through to Lisbon....also I believe most BA flights leave from terminal 5 but no matter..only a slight difference..
Upon arrival on the AA flight at Heathrow you follow sign to flight connections...if you're staying in terminal 3 there will be a sign...if you have to change to terminal 5 the signs will direct you to a bus....
If you're staying in terminal 3, you will go through a security check (make sure you have no liquids you picked up say at a duty free shop before leaving the USA; this is very important as you will not be getting your luggage back to put the liquids in your checked baggage. After security you will be in the departure lounge which has lots of shops.
If you have to bus to terminal 5, it's pretty much the same deal. You will go through security as above and when through security will be in the terminal 5 departure lounge where there are shops.
At no point will you pass through UK border controls or HM customs.......
BA's Lisbon flights leave from T3, at least for the time being. The OP didn't say if the trip is next week or next year.
I was hoping that the LHR/LIS flight would leave from T5 because I've only used AA for LHR flights and therefore I have only seen the unglamorous T3. I would love to see T5. This connecting flight has an AA number but is operated by BA so I thought there was hope. But I see by looking at current BA502 departures that T3 is my fate and as I am going next month I'm pretty sure things are not going to change. Thanks to all who responded to my question.