What to Expect When Travelling to USA

Hi all,

Me and my family are travelling to USA at the end of June (hoping UK travel bans allow).

I purposely booked a flight at 14:30 as it gives plenty of time to sort any issues out with me (UKC) and ESTA's etc. Now, our flight has been changed to a 7am flight. I now have a worry because it is so early they may not have the relevant staff available to sort me out. What's more, we have a connecting flight from Manchester to Heathrow.

I don't know if the travelling to USA complexities will be dealt at Manchester or Heathrow. If it's Manchester then at 4am in the morning they may not have any staff available to process me, you know the staff that look at marriage certificates etc and re-activate the ESTA.

Is this a genuine worry or not? Would appreciate anyone's help or any advice to 'get ahead of the game'.

TIA

A few years back we had to sort out some very complicated thing before a flight at 6 am or something at Heathrow.  It got sorted and they could contact everyone they needed to do it.  A 7 am flight is not an unusual situation at the airport.  That's just my anecdotal experience, I hope yours works out as well. 

A few years back we had to sort out some very complicated thing before a flight at 6 am or something at Heathrow.  It got sorted and they could contact everyone they needed to do it.  A 7 am flight is not an unusual situation at the airport.  That's just my anecdotal experience, I hope yours works out as well. 

Thanks Jimbo. My worry is Manchester due to it being significantly smaller and what I would imagine less resourced. I guess there's no real way to find out - unless I go the day before to ask etc.

Unless the questioning will be at Heathrow? But then would they let me board a connecting flight knowing the intended final destination is USA.

My mum arrived into Manchester last Sunday. She’s due to fly out of there on May 14. Since she arrived (5 days ago) her flight had changed at least 4 times.

I’d be expecting yours to change again, so no point getting worried until you actually know what the flight situation is, if you see what I mean!!

She is also trying to connect to a flight at Heathrow (on a different airline) and mostly the MAN - LHR leg means she won’t connect with her flight to the US!! So we’re putting together a backup plan (train down to LHR the night before and staying in a hotel) but not pulling the trigger until things are more definitive...

Honestly, don’t panic yet (at all) but they will have IOs at the airport at that early hour and will be able to sort issues (otherwise they wouldn’t be open for business!) but are there any steps you would possibly be able to take to sort the issue? Look at different flights/ arrangements for getting to Heathrow, for example? Just as a super backup so that you don’t get so worried?


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hey @Ben1989 just to give you an example of what happened for me and my spouse --

we flew from heathrow to boston in late april. my spouse had applied for an ESTA online and it was approved in a couple of hours; at the airport though, we (and, it appeared, everyone else on the flight who was an american married to a non-american) were put to the side and had to talk to a representative from the USA and provide our marriage certificate before we could complete check in. this took nearly an hour, and that was at noon.

I'd definitely make sure you have time built in for the american questioning etc at the airport, presumably in manchester if that's where you check your bags for the entirety of the trip. on the other hand, i wouldn't be surprised if entry requirements to the usa change in the next few weeks, so it might get easier.