Valid Passports When booking a trip to the U.K., ensure that your passport is valid beyond the date of arrival. When booking outbound and return flights, take care to use an identical first, last and middle name as it appears on a current passport. Double check the middle initials as well to ensure consistency, which can avoid questions or delays at check in. Ensure that children also have their own passports.
Airline Ticketing Decide on departure and arrival dates and whether a few days' flexibility is possible for potentially better pricing. To complete a flight booking online, by telephone or at a travel agent, each passenger should have a current passport, credit card with expiration date and its three- or four-digit security code, a nine-digit Known Traveler Number (if applicable) plus any airline loyalty membership numbers.
Expect to complete a roundtrip booking rather than a one-way flight for a maximum stay of six months. When the transaction is complete, an email is issued to indicate the booking confirmation number. Keep this number for any itinerary changes and for flight check-in. Airline Check-In Passengers normally receive an email 24 hours before scheduled departure to indicate that online check-in is open.
Print or save the boarding pass on a smartphone. Alternatively, use a self-service check-in kiosk to produce a boarding pass by entering the confirmation number and scanning a passport. Otherwise, provide a passport at a staffed airline check-in counter. Once the boarding pass is issued, display it with a passport at security control prior to entering the departure hall. One or both documents may be asked for again at the gate or upon embarkation. Landing Cards Non-EU transatlantic visitors are required to fill in a white landing card distributed by all airline carriers prior to touchdown.
The card requires personal identification details, an address in the U.K., purpose of trip, items being brought into the U.K., and a signature to be submitted to Border Control together with a passport. Anyone who fails to get a landing card inflight will find one on desks near customs. In 2017, the Home Office announced the possible elimination of the landing cards, in use since 1971. A replacement digitalized program is being designed to minimize cost and cut back on waiting times that affect more than 16 million non-European visitors to the U.K. Boarding Cards Following a flight, a printed boarding card should be disposed of with care and not left in the seat back pocket.