[UK] Wait of ‘up to 6 hours’ for expats at COVID checkpoints

Expats face waiting ‘up to six hours’ at UK COVID-19 checkpoints because people do not have the correct documentation to return home, Euro Weekly News reports.

Footage showing a woman who collapsed at Heathrow after allegedly waiting seven hours in a queue for a COVID-19 test has spread concern for those in the expat community wanting to return to the UK. 

Heathrow chief solutions officer Chris Garton confirmed that the Home Office has not increased the number of border control staff, adding extended waiting times in crowded airports to expatriate concerns. On top of the expensive COVID test kits and complicated paperwork already giving headaches to many.

A Facebook user posted on a local information site on behalf of an elderly friend concerned about “scare stories” she has heard about waiting times, ahead of her return to the UK. Expats replied to confirm that, although leaving Spain had been effortless in the main, the experience, once they landed in the UK, was a different story.

“I flew back just over a week ago. And Malaga airport was very quiet. I walked straight up to security and that didn’t take long to get through either. There was more of a weight/line [sic] at Heathrow checking all the paperwork as some people didn’t have it correct or couldn’t find it on their phones etc, but again they were moving queues and trying to move it on.”

Anecdotal reports on social media suggest that although UK airports are experiencing some teething problems, they are trying to keep things running smoothly for passengers. However, Lucy Moreton from the Immigration Services Union told Mail Online that the situation isn’t going to get any better unless travellers have all the correct documentation. (Link via original reporting)

“The Government should put more pressure on airlines to make sure that all the documents are there and correct before people fly. Why are these people boarding without the carrier making sure they have the documentation they need? It would not solve it, but it would make the queues shorter”.

Expats face waiting ‘up to six hours’ at UK COVID-19 checkpoints because people do not have the correct documentation to return home, Euro Weekly News reports.

Footage showing a woman who collapsed at Heathrow after allegedly waiting seven hours in a queue for a COVID-19 test has spread concern for those in the expat community wanting to return to the UK. 

Heathrow chief solutions officer Chris Garton confirmed that the Home Office has not increased the number of border control staff, adding extended waiting times in crowded airports to expatriate concerns. On top of the expensive COVID test kits and complicated paperwork already giving headaches to many.

A Facebook user posted on a local information site on behalf of an elderly friend concerned about “scare stories” she has heard about waiting times, ahead of her return to the UK. Expats replied to confirm that, although leaving Spain had been effortless in the main, the experience, once they landed in the UK, was a different story.

“I flew back just over a week ago. And Malaga airport was very quiet. I walked straight up to security and that didn’t take long to get through either. There was more of a weight/line [sic] at Heathrow checking all the paperwork as some people didn’t have it correct or couldn’t find it on their phones etc, but again they were moving queues and trying to move it on.”

Anecdotal reports on social media suggest that although UK airports are experiencing some teething problems, they are trying to keep things running smoothly for passengers. However, Lucy Moreton from the Immigration Services Union told Mail Online that the situation isn’t going to get any better unless travellers have all the correct documentation. (Link via original reporting)

“The Government should put more pressure on airlines to make sure that all the documents are there and correct before people fly. Why are these people boarding without the carrier making sure they have the documentation they need? It would not solve it, but it would make the queues shorter”.