Heathrow Flights
For international Heathrow flights, allow about 40 minutes to get through passport control, baggage reclaim and Customs. It may take longer at busy periods and less time for UK and Ireland flights or if you don’t have hold luggage to collect.
Arrivals process
On leaving the aircraft, follow signs for arrivals to go through passport control, baggage reclaim and Customs. Unless you are catching a connecting flight, your first stop will be passport control, which will be clearly signposted.
If you are catching a connecting flight and your baggage is checked through to your final destination, follow the Flight Connections signs when you leave the aircraft.
If you are connecting from an international flight to another international flight you will not need to clear Customs. If you are connecting from an international flight to a UK flight you must clear Customs and Immigration.
If you are not flying on to another city, and there’s a problem with your baggage, you should contact your airline immediately, as baggage handling and delivery at Heathrow is the responsibility of the airlines from the point of check-in to the point of collection.
Please note that there are restrictions on food items that you can bring into the United Kingdom. For example, it’s illegal to bring meat and dairy products into the UK from outside the EU.
The arrivals areas at Heathrow are in the following locations:
- Terminal 1: Ground floor (international); first floor (UK and Ireland)
- Terminal 3: Ground floor of the arrivals building
- Terminal 4: Ground floor
- Terminal 5: Ground level
All Heathrow terminals have a selection of shops and cafes in the arrivals area, and baby changing facilities are also available throughout all terminals. But Heathrow only has public showers in the departure lounge of Terminal 4 (after security).
UK currency is available at bureaux de change in the arrivals hall and some baggage reclaim areas and you can organise car rental at the hire companies’ desks in arrivals or book in advance.
There is nowhere to sleep in the airport. If your booking includes a stopover in a local hotel, then follow the signs to Arrivals. Leave the airport via passport control, baggage reclaim and Customs, then check in as normal when it’s time to continue your journey.
Heathrow Flights – Your Return
You should check your ticket or contact your airline for advice on checking in times, but as a general guide, long-haul flights (including El Al flights) open check-in three hours prior to departure. European flights check-in two hours before departure. UK and Ireland flights check in 90 minutes before departure.
Please be aware that heightened security restrictions remain at all UK airports and you should allow plenty of time to get through security control, particularly at peak times and during holidays.
