Heathrow with family
Traveling Through Heathrow with Family
Hello! My family and I are visiting from the U.S. and will be arriving at Heathrow for the first time. We’re a bit unsure about the procedures. I understand that families need to use the manual entry together, but I believe kids aged 14 and older can use the e-gates, right?
We have a lot of luggage and a tight schedule, so I was thinking about sending my husband and our oldest through the e-gate to handle our bags while I go through the manual process with the younger ones. Is that allowed? We want to make sure we follow the rules, but this seems like it would save us time. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
It’s great that you’re planning your trip! At Heathrow, families with children do need to go through the manual entry process together, as you mentioned. However, children aged 12 and over can use the e-gates if they are traveling with an adult who can assist them with any issues that might arise during the process.
In your case, since you want to separate and have your husband take your oldest through the e-gate while you handle the younger kids, it’s technically against the rules to split up family groups in this way. Border control usually expects families to stay together.
To ensure a smoother experience, you might find it easier to keep everyone together and go through the manual process as a unit, especially if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage. While it may take a bit longer, it will keep you all together and avoid any potential issues with the border control staff.
If you’re in a hurry, consider informing a staff member about your situation—they may be able to provide some assistance or guidance. Safe travels!