LANDING CARDS NO LONGER NEEDED AT UK AIRPORTS

[Keith1010]

We arrived to London Heathrow an hour ago and a landing card is no longer required for non-EU countries arriving there ( I believe from seven countries) including the USA.

 

I am not sure if it was the reason for this but there were no lines when we arrived to Terminal 3 at LHR.

 

Either way one less item to fill out  and supposedly it will save lots of money and allow resources to be better used.

 

Keith

[Globaliser]

52 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

We arrived to London Heathrow an hour ago and a landing card is no longer required for non-EU countries arriving there ( I believe from seven countries) including the USA.

 

I believe that this is a complete withdrawal of landing cards: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48297695

 

Were you told whether you were now able to use the e-gates? Did you use them? I have seen it said that today was also the day on which seven countries were to be added to the list of those eligible to use the e-gates (namely Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and USA).

[Keith1010]

53 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

I believe that this is a complete withdrawal of landing cards: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48297695

 

Were you told whether you were now able to use the e-gates? Did you use them? I have seen it said that today was also the day on which seven countries were to be added to the list of those eligible to use the e-gates (namely Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and USA).

We used an  airport concierge today  since  two weeks ago the lines  were something  like 90 minutes when  we  arrived  and we used  a concierge that time too.  My impression  from the  concierge is that we would do this electronically  but just not 100% sure.

 

Keith

[GeezerCouple]

23 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

We used an  airport concierge today  since  two weeks ago the lines  were something  like 90 minutes when  we  arrived  and we used  a concierge that time too.  My impression  from the  concierge is that we would do this electronically  but just not 100% sure.

 

Keith

 

Could you tell us more about the Airport Concierge?

 

Is that like the private VIP services who meet you and escort you through expedited lines (or mysterious back doors behind velvet ropes)?

 

We've done that twice some years ago.  It wasn't inexpensive, but it was a huge help.

 

Thanks.

GC

 

 

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Could you tell us more about the Airport Concierge?

 

Is that like the private VIP services who meet you and escort you through expedited lines (or mysterious back doors behind velvet ropes)?

 

We've done that twice some years ago.  It wasn't inexpensive, but it was a huge help.

 

Thanks.

GC

 

 

We did use an airport  concierge and this one is Royal Airport Concierge.  In most cases they  can get you through airports quickly.  You are right it is not inexpensive but is a big help in certain airports.

Keith

[Globaliser]

3 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

We did use an airport  concierge and this one is Royal Airport Concierge.

 

What does the service do for you at immigration? Does it just put you in the Fast Track queue, or do you get to jump that queue too?

 

And how much do they charge?

[Keith1010]

5 hours ago, Globaliser said:

 

What does the service do for you at immigration? Does it just put you in the Fast Track queue, or do you get to jump that queue too?

 

And how much do they charge?

At Heathrow they get  you  to a special area.   For example two weeks ago the line was at least 90 minutes long if not more.  They  got us to a special area for dignitaries  and such with no line at all. 

 

I've also used them for connecting flights  where they got us from one terminal to another in short order.  In that case no immigration involved.

 

Price varies depending on what service we want.

 

Keith

[GeezerCouple]

16 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

What does the service do for you at immigration? Does it just put you in the Fast Track queue, or do you get to jump that queue too?

 

And how much do they charge?

 

We've only used a service like this in Paris (about 12 years ago, so things may have changed) and in Rome about 4 years ago.

 

In Paris, we were met by a gentleman who greeted us and very quickly literally lifted a velvet rope (!) and opened a discreet door not far behind it.  And so we left a big crowd that was trying to sort themselves into some sort of order or lines or whatever...

 

He collected our documents (tickets and passports, I think), and spoke with someone off to one side (of who knows where we were), and then he helped us gather our luggage as it appeared in the regular area, and took it to a car that was waiting.  It was all arranged through the hotel.  It was for a very special trip, and it was a surprise for DH.  His jaw almost hit the floor at the "velvet rope" start 

I don't remember enough of the details to be able to try to figure out where we were or even what was happening, but it was very fast and very easy. 

 

In Rome, we used a private "VIP" service not associated with our hotel.

When the Alitalia flight landed and we had just arrived at the gate, my name was announced over the plane's loudspeaker, and I was asked to identify myself.  (Hmm, didn't they know what seat I was in already?  But never mind.)

We were helped off the plane first (we were in business class, as a free upgrade due to change in equipment to a plane that had no premium economy, which we had paid for a long time before), where a woman greeted us, and... we went up the walkway  to the gate area, and again, soon we were "behind the scenes".  Next thing we realized, and we were BEYOND passport control, etc., much to my/our astonishment, and the woman took our docs to one of the agents, but from from the "outside" of the booths, from the "after immigrations" area.  The agent glanced over at us, looked again at the docs, nodded to us, and the woman came back and we continued to baggage.  She had someone waiting to help us with the luggage, and then we were escorted to a car she had arranged as part of the service. And again, off to the hotel.

 

NO lines anywhere, other than the wait for baggage to arrive.  Our luggage arrived fairly quickly, probably because we were seated in premium cabins, and the luggage was tagged accordingly.  I don't think that had anything to do with the "service", but who knows...?

 

It seemed  pretty clear that these people are "there" for their shifts, and once they've sent one passenger off by car/taxi/whatever, they'll get the info about where to go and whom to meet next, one after another.

 

I don't remember the  price, but not cheap.  The first time was the best, a terrific surprise!

 

Also, I just remembered:  In Barbados and in Hong Kong, the hotels automatically provided a similar service.  All we did was again look for someone with a sign, and... off we went.  But in those two places, it was more like scooting around/behind lines, but not so much going "behind the scenes".  It was clear in all cases that everyone (but us!) was very accustomed to the entire process.

 

GC

[Keith1010]

Just to add the service varies not only by  company but by airport.

 

For example in Paris they could come right up to the jet way.

 

Yesterday in Vienna he took my wife's hand carriage into the plane in Vienna whereas in most airport you  could not do that.

 

Again price varies and we don't do it everywhere.

 

Keith

[GeezerCouple]

2 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Just to add the service varies not only by  company but by airport.

 

For example in Paris they could come right up to the jet way.

 

Yesterday in Vienna he took my wife's hand carriage into the plane in Vienna whereas in most airport you  could not do that.

 

Again price varies and we don't do it everywhere.

 

Keith

 

I've never been clear about whether much of this type of service is available at USA airports, due to Homeland Security issues, etc. (at least not for *true* VIP passengers who for some reason aren't flying private).

 

I'd be pretty surprised.  But we've never needed to arrange it "here"  at USA airports.

 

Do you happen to know?  

GC

[Keith1010]

4 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

I've never been clear about whether much of this type of service is available at USA airports, due to Homeland Security issues, etc. (at least not for *true* VIP passengers who for some reason aren't flying private).

 

I'd be pretty surprised.  But we've never needed to arrange it "here"  at USA airports.

 

Do you happen to know?  

GC

The service we use is available at 60 airports across the USA even though I've never had a need to use it within the USA.

 

Also  some airlines offer a service as well but in selected locations within the USA.

 

Keith

[GeezerCouple]

3 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

The service we use is available at 60 airports across the USA even though I've never had a need to use it within the USA.

 

Also  some airlines offer a service as well but in selected locations within the USA.

 

Keith

 

Good to know if it's ever needed.

 

Thank you.

GC

[Globaliser]

20 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

At Heathrow they get  you  to a special area.   For example two weeks ago the line was at least 90 minutes long if not more.  They  got us to a special area for dignitaries  and such with no line at all. 

 

So not the area where you would have been with a first class or business class Fast Track pass? Was it more like a diplomats' area?

[Keith1010]

1 hour ago, Globaliser said:

 

So not the area where you would have been with a first class or business class Fast Track pass? Was it more like a diplomats' area?

Yes it was an area where diplomats would go.

 

Keith

[Globaliser]

Thanks! So how much did that cost?

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, Globaliser said:

Thanks! So how much did that cost?

This one was $400.00 for the two of us.

Price varies depending on what you require.  Can be more or less.

 

Keith

[Globaliser]

19 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

This one was $400.00 for the two of us.

Price varies depending on what you require.  Can be more or less.

 

Thanks! That's helpful.

[Keith1010]

13 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

Thanks! That's helpful.

You are very welcome.

 

Keith