Do I need to clear UK Customs?

January 11, 2011 2:10 PM

I'm flying from Canada to Germany through Heathrow. Will I need to clear customs at Heathrow, or do I just transfer flights?

I am booked on BA from Vancouver to Berlin via Heathrow. I arrive at terminal five and leave from terminal 5 at Heathrow.

I have a 2:20 layover, and I would like to know if I will have time constraints due to having to clear customs in the UK.

posted by vansly to Travel & Transportation around United Kingdom (5 answers total)

Not usually.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:16 PM on January 11, 2011

Best answer: I flew a few months ago. I just transferred flights but had to go through a few security theater checkpoints. My baggage was checked all the way through and I didn't have to worry about it in London.
posted by chillmost at 2:31 PM on January 11, 2011

I think what happened on my last flight (actually through CDG not Heathrow) was that I went through immigration at my first stop in an EU country, but didn't go through customs until my final stop. This means my bags were checked through, but my passport was stamped during my flight transfer.

This was last year, so I may not be remembering it correctly.
posted by muddgirl at 3:04 PM on January 11, 2011

London is not part of the European immigration zone. You will go through neither immigration nor customs at Heathrow. Your luggage should be checked through to your final destination.
posted by Hediot at 3:16 PM on January 11, 2011

Best answer: an anecdote from the states:

Philly ==> Heathrow ==> Cape Town.

I had to cross security in all three airports (I think it had something to do with changing terminals in Heathrow). Metal detectors / take off your shoes / the whole 9 yards. I didn't have to clear immigration/customs until I got to CPT, though.
posted by chicago2penn at 3:17 PM on January 11, 2011