Susan M Fron
SusanM
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (August 2019)
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Customs in france, immigration possibly in the ukI will be traveling from the United States to London and then transferring to a flight to Biarritz on another airlines. Will I have to go through customs twice? Loving this forum.
You are quite right in what you say (expect that passengers don't usually have to physically claim their checked in luggage during transit at Heathrow) but it seems most passengers don't realise that they actually clear customs at Heathrow and not in Spain. Heathrow airport explains it all here: https://www.heathrow.com/flight-connections - a really good explanation of what you have to do where and if you have enough time between arrival and departure as you can enter your individual flight data to get a tailor-made answer according to your flights.
No customs but you will go through immigration again. Because England and Ireland never joined the Schengan passport free zone they do check all entries. Some airports not as strictly as others. Biarritz, I flew through, Bilbao took forever as every passport was closely scrutinisedI will be traveling from the United States to London and then transferring to a flight to Biarritz on another airlines. Will I have to go through customs twice? Loving this forum.
I won't be checking bags, so that should help. Will be flying into Gatwick but I'm sure it's the same.You only have to clear customs at Heathrow if your bags are not checked through to your final destination. I've never had to do it (but then I always use Star Alliance airlines - United and partners). If you've booked on the SAME ticket at the same time, then you probably won't have to clear customs at Heathrow.
You'll know because all of your flights will be on the same ticket, even if you have different airlines listed.
If you've booked two separate tickets that are not connected to each other to save money, then I hope you allowed plenty of time! You'll have to go through Passport Control, clear Customs, then re-check your bags and go through passport control and security again. That's because when you check your bags in the States, they won't be able to check them all the way through.
But this is actually quite rare for flights coming from the US, and booked on travel sites like Expedia, etc.
I agree with you Ivar. And it looks even bleaker for the Irish/UK border.With an airline change in London, you will claim your luggage and clear passport and customs there. Going back through security, you will have passport and customs in Biarritz, but it is pretty cursory while the UK is still part of the EU. The border process after Brexit is being negotiated, but it does not look good for the UK.
I won't be checking bags, so that should help. Will be flying into Gatwick but I'm sure it's the same.
is it Stanstead you fly to Biarritz from?
Not so. I was staying downtown, and I mean downtown, several blocks from Regent Park, took a cab to Stanstead. It cost 50 euro but only took 45 min.It sounds as if mercifully her flight comes into and departs from Gatwick.
As a word of warning to others potentially travelling through London AVOID STANSTEAD AT ALL COSTS!! It is a LOOOONG way out of London to the north east wheras Heathrow and Gatwick are to the west and south respectively. You'd be lucky to get get to Stanstead in 3 hours from Gatwick.
I went through Heathrow for the first time last year (hopefully my last time)..and had to dump half my toiletries in my carry on backpack because all liquids must fit in 1 small plastic baggie. No liquids more than 100ml. Ridiculous. I will avoid London if at all possible in the future..or just purchase what I need once in Spain.
For example, I live in Washington State and TSA kees warning us that, at some çpoint, WA drivers' licenses will not be considered true ID for travel because we don't comply with REAL ID requirements. You can pay extra to get one that will be. It hasn't happened yet, though and I think it's because they're afraid of TV cameras showing chaos at SEA-TAC. But one day they probably will, and they probably won't announce it nearly far enough in advance to catch the occasional traveler.
I’m not sure about what you’ll experience going there, but be aware of chorizo-sniffing dogs on the way back. Last May (2017), we flew from Madrid to Chicago-O’hare. Signs throughout the immigration and Customs area warned about reporting any meat coming into the US.
As I was making my chorizo-free way through the line, a beagle led a customs agent right to me. The agent, while polite, was very serious about determining whether I was trying to bring Spanish chorizo into the US. I told her I did not have any and allowed her to search my small backpack. What I had forgotten in the rush to get off the plane was the jamõn sandwich I was given on the Iberian flight. While the sandwich was confiscated I did get to enjoy the company of a cute beagle.
¡Buen Camino!
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