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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Passport control after flight from Belfast to london

30 replies

DaveyouareanuttertwatDave · 26/02/2018 20:21

Sorry not an aibu but trying to settle a disagreement quickly. Do you have to queue up for passport control after returning back to Heathrow from Belfast? Or do you completely skip passport control and go through a different exit? Sorry if it's a silly question!

OP posts:
AngryCrispLady · 26/02/2018 20:25

Both are in the UK so no need for passport.
Just some form of id for flight

Original poster
DaveyouareanuttertwatDave · 26/02/2018 20:30

So you don't have to go out the airport via passport control as you would usually do after an international flight?

OP posts:
frankchickens · 26/02/2018 20:30

Different exit. Police sometimes choose to do an “ID check” for reasons best known to them. We also have agreement with the Republic of Ireland for free movement that dates back to 1922 but passports are sometimes checked depending on the airport/airline.

Ryanair told me off for flying to Derry using my driving licence but that is their petty rules not the law.

Original poster
DaveyouareanuttertwatDave · 26/02/2018 20:32

Great thanks frankchickens and AngryCrispLady. So I'm assuming I can get out of the airport fairly quickly after my flight has landed (only hand luggage)

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 26/02/2018 20:32

You just need some sort of photo I’d. My youngest uses student ID and I use my driving license. Not passport control, as such, getting asked for ID as you go through security. You’re still in the uk, but because you’re traveling through an airport ID us still needed. Belfast city airport staff and Liverpool staff have always been lovely to my youngest and me and very patient, as she has SN. Are you traveling with a vulnerable adult or a baby.

peachgreen · 26/02/2018 20:32

No passport control but I suspect post-Brexit it will be reinstated.

GreenSeededGrape · 26/02/2018 20:34

Keep your boarding pass handy and you should be able to whizz through. Love that about coming back from Dublin regularly!

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 26/02/2018 20:34

Id needed to board plane.
Nothing required after you leave plane.

PositivelyPERF · 26/02/2018 20:35

So I'm assuming I can get out of the airport fairly quickly after my flight has landed (only hand luggage) Sorry I should have said you’ll be asked for ID when boarding but not when getting off the plane and going through the airport. What time does your flight land and do you have transport?

Bluelady · 26/02/2018 20:36

No passport needed, it's usually the best ID.

AngryCrispLady · 26/02/2018 20:37

Yep, no passport control so if you have hand luggage only, getting out of airport is a relatively quick process.

AngryCrispLady · 26/02/2018 20:38

I usually do have my passport for domestic flights though as it’s the handiest in terms of photo id.

Original poster
DaveyouareanuttertwatDave · 26/02/2018 20:39

Great - just double checking as will be travelling with someone who doesn't like large queues and gets nervous at passport control (SN) so trying to convince them that it won't be applicable! She will be ok queuing up for the plane as I'll queue and she can just sit away and wait for me to shout for her once boarding is open but hates passport control and gets paranoid and nervous. Thanks for advice everyone

OP posts:
Original poster
DaveyouareanuttertwatDave · 26/02/2018 20:42

We both have valid UK passports (I travel internationally a couple of times per year) so will have appropriate id just want to get her out of the airport asap so we can get back (friend is collecting us from airport, only hand luggage so should be relatively easy after that)

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 26/02/2018 20:47

So I'm assuming I can get out of the airport fairly quickly after my flight has landed (only hand luggage)

It could still be a fairly long walk, if it's a big airport and the gate that the plane lands at is a long way from the actual exit, so be prepared for that.

I landed at Manchester from Dublin, so again no passport control, and it seemed like fucking miles until I got right outside.

MsJaneAusten · 26/02/2018 20:47

Slightly different but I flew from Belfast to Manchester a few months ago and it took less than ten minutes from landing to sitting in my car. No passport control. No queues. Just straight off the plane and out of the door. Hope that helps Flowers

Welshmaenad · 26/02/2018 20:51

There's no queuing of any sort, you get off the plane and wander out if the airport. Nobody checks or looks at anything at Arrivals, your boarding pass is only checked when getting on the plane.

safariboot · 26/02/2018 20:52

You're still going to have to queue for security at the outbound airport aren't you?

PositivelyPERF · 26/02/2018 20:52

Op, you can sign up for special assistance. It’s brilliant. I left it too late to sign up, initially, but was told to go to the special assistance desk, where they gave my youngest a special lanyard to wear. Just excuse yourself and go to the front of the line, make yourself known as a speedy boarder and you and your friend/family member won’t have to wait in the line. Makes a big difference, as she doesn’t have to cope with people pushing past her and as her carer I go with her. You’re amongst the first on the plane and we just wait until everyone is off before we leave the plane. Though if you’re at the front of the plane you’ll be off first.

PositivelyPERF · 26/02/2018 20:53

Security must have amazing vision, as they always seem to spot the lanyard in the crowd!

John4703 · 26/02/2018 21:00

I had a big argument a few years ago at Stranraer Port. I'd arrived in Scotland off a ferry from Belfast and a policeman asked me for ID. i refused and said I did not have any and that I did not need to carry any ID within the UK. He was rather nasty and threatening but I stuck to my statement that I'd travelled form Belfast which was within the Uk so I did not need to show any ID. (I had my passport with me as I'd been into southern Ireland but was not going to let a UK cop see it)
After ages he waved me to proceed.

Andrewofgg · 26/02/2018 21:01

peachgreen There has never been passport control between GB and NI - both being UK - so it cannot be “reinstated”. And I don’t see a government which needs the DUP introducing it - do you?

Even a Corbyn government probably would not - many of his voters have relations in NI and would resent the delay and inconvenience.

OlennasWimple · 26/02/2018 21:10

Even if you land at Heathrow, you can be out of the airport really quickly after landing. You will probably walk past a cop stood by a desk, but there's no routine check of passengers arriving from NI (immigration or customs)

peachgreen · 26/02/2018 21:16

@Andrewofgg sorry, badly worded as I was in a rush. I still remember when travelling between NI and London certainly required security checks and going through the farthest gate possible, and I suspect that unless the border issue is resolved that will be the case again. But yes, not official passport control.

frankchickens · 26/02/2018 21:18

No passport control but I suspect post-Brexit it will be reinstated

And the award for most ignorant comment goes to.....

As eloquently explained above, we never had passport control for domestic flights Andy no reason Brexit will make any difference, but don’t let that get in the way of snide and dim witted commentary.

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