Will I need to go through immigration at Heathrow?
 

If I have a connecting flight through London but two separate reservations on two separate airlines, will I need to go through immigration in London?

I am flying Virgin Atlantic LAX-LHR and Lufthasna LHR-TXL, and then British Airways TXL-LHR and Virgin LHR-LAX, but had to book all the flights separately. I have visa issues in the UK and am not allowed to enter the country. Will I be able to make my connecting flights without going through immigration or a passport check?

I believe you will

First, this is an issue you should have investigated before making your flights; second, check out Heathrow's website to get an answer to the question. I'm thinking Dukey is correct.

With hand luggage only you should be able to avoid immigration and use the Flight Connections Centre.

You may also find that Virgin Atlantic may refuse you boarding as to them your final destination is the UK and they'll get fined heavily if they transport someone who is refused entry

Thank you for the information. I did research prior to booking, but was unable to get a solid answer from either Heathrow (no answer at immigration; see below for info from their website) or any of the airlines I am traveling on. My experience with UK border control is that they operate on arbitrary rules, which is why I reached out here.

This is the closest answer I could find:
"You transit the UK airside if you arrive here on a flight, remain in the arrival lounge of the airport without passing through UK immigration control, and then depart on another flight from the same airport.

"You can transit the UK airside without a visa if:

you are a national of a country that is not in the list below [US is not listed]"

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/vi...ansit-airside/

However, I am confused if I will need to travel through UK immigration control to transfer between terminals...

I don't think since they are two separate tickets that you can check luggage through. Therefore, as long as you have only hand luggage, you follow the signs for flight connections and never officially enter the UK. OTOH, if you have to check luggage, the only way to collect it is at the carousel which is after UK immigration. That is my understanding f the situation.

I think xyz123 is right.

You may be able to check your luggage through, even with separate tickets. Virgin allows this with a BA separate ticket as they have an agreement in place. You need to check with them and with BA as your return originates with BA.

If you have to physically pick up checked luggage to re-check on your next flight you will indeed have to go through Immigration at Heathrow. If you luggage is checked through or if you have hand luggage only, you can stay airside.

Ah, I think finally found a definitive answer! I will definitely not be checking luggage, so based on this map, it does not look like I will need to go through immigration control getting between terminals:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...international#

Thanks, everyone!

If you have only carry-on luggage you should be able to stay airside and not have to enter the UK. If you have checked luggage and the airlines will not transfer automatically - you will have to enter the UK to collect and recheck it.

Agree that if the tickets are totally separate, as far as the first airline is concerned you are ending your trip in the UK. If you need a visa for that and don't have it you may well have trouble getting on the plane (since they are responsible for returning you to the US if you are barred from entry.)

I would talk to your airline in advance and make sure that your showing the ongoing ticket will be enough for them to allow you on the flight.

yes you have to go through immigration/

and you have to fill out a landing card/


razr//

I beg to differ....I've done flight connectins at Heathrow a couple of times and following flight connections you never get to the immigration hall....you are bussed in a "sterile" manner to the entrance of the trminal yur departing flight will be leaving from....you do go through security provided as we've all said you don't have to pick up and re-check baggage.

There will be no immigration- you go to Flight Connections and will be transiting without visa. The separate tickets are a non-issue too.

now that i think about it you wouldn't go through immigration/

you just go through a security checkpoint/

an official will look at your passport--boarding pass/

before you get on the bus to transfer to other terminal/


i flew jfk--lhr--fiumicino on brit air-- and i looked at my

passport--no stamps for either uk or italy/

don't know how that happened/


but i do remember being questioned by official at heathrow over

me being born in uk but having a us passport/

standing in a snaking queue and handing someone my landing card/

so you definitely show somebody your passport/


razr//

HI MBALAVAG ! At the end you got to make the connection without passing though immigration? i have your same situation but i'm travelling from italy and then connect from the same airport and same terminal to MEXICO, could you tell me before i book my flight? i will need to travel on Monday so today is the last day to buy it ! thank youuuuuuuuuu

i am travelling only with hand luggage I just need to know IF I will hae to pass thrpough the immigration :S thanks!

If you have only check-on luggage and you are heading for a connecting flight in the near future you will stay airside (I have done this many times). But you must have agreement in advance from your first airline or they may not let you on the plane in the first place.

thank you nytraveler, i don't understand what you means with "agreement in advance from my first ariline" what kind of agreement you refer to ? thanks!

travel_style: nytraveler may have thought you were he OP from this old thread and have the visa issues. (an example of why it is generally better to start a new thread instead of tagging on to a thread that is asking different questions about different situations)