Heathrow has been criticized by travellers for its long lines and congestion. This is despite the fact that the airport was closed to all but the most festive traveller.
According to passengers, there was up to 4000 people stuck at passport check due to another egate.
The immigrants claimed that the wait was so long they had to wait for over an hour, when normally it takes only six minutes.
As they vent their fury, other travelers vented about the “outrageous” parking fees charged to Heathrow passengers who were quarantined.
They said that they were faced with another £350 on their bill on top of the £2,450 to isolate in a hotel at the airport.
It comes amid good travel news, as the hotel quarantine that was in place for travelers arriving to England at 4am this morning has been lifted.
Sajid Javid (Health Secretary) told the House of Commons that 11 of the countries included on the redlist would be removed.
According to passengers, there was up to 4000 people at passport check (pictured today), due to another egate.
The men claimed that they were waiting hours for the immigration line to open, when normally it takes only six minutes (photo taken today).
However, hours later restrictions were eased and desperate travelers reported chaos at Britain’s busiest Airport.
John Grimshaw, who was returning to Britain for the funeral of his mother in Chicago, got involved in the disorder.
He claimed that thousands of people waited to check their passports and called Heathrow an “a joke”.
MailOnline received the following statement from him: “Just arrived from Chicago. There are thousands waiting to get their passports checked at E-gates.
‘What the f***. It was a huge expense for business class tickets, but it didn’t make any difference. The place is laughable. The e-gates are down. They’re being fixed.
“I’m six minutes from the immigration office and you are still standing there.” It’s likely that there are three-to four thousand of them.
He stated that ten plus-wide aircraft were on board with 300+ passengers each. This is unacceptable at this airport.
Some others criticized Heathrow on social media for its traffic, one saying that “it adds even more stress and to an already stressful environment.”
Gerry Green posted on Twitter, “Was In Immigration Queue in Heathrow Today, No Social Distancing”, Hot and Sweaty, Only Two People Checking Passports.
“Then, six more appear. There is no riot, just commentary about tea breaks and such. British humour still exists, despite mushroom treatment.’
Online, one user wrote: “Is there any way to improve the wait times and queues to check into Heathrow T2?”
Maan Harbi (teaching assistant) added: “We were supposed to depart at 15:00, but we’re still here at 17:00 because of a technical problem with our luggage system.”
Meanwhile, Britons were critical of Heathrow’s parking fees while they were still in quarantine at the hotel.
Graham Else said he will have to pay £350 on top of his £2,450 stay in isolation due to the pricey parking at the airport.
He told the Telegraph: ‘My wife and I are caught up in the quarantine hotel debacle and arrived on December 8. My booked period expired and I attempted to extend the T5 Heathrow Long Term Parking on the 9th. However, it was impossible to do this online.
‘I now have the prospect of paying £33 per day for the excess days which means I will have a bill of more than £350 when my original term was approximately £140 for 21 days.’
He said, “My wife and me are pensioners. You can understand the effect of the hotel quarantine fee on our finances. So this additional whammy really hurts.” Heathrow was contacted for comment.
After yesterday’s comments by Health Secretary John McDonnell, the hotel quarantine system for tourists arriving in England today was ended.
According to the Cabinet minister, the Red List will be removed from the Commons at 4 am on Wednesday. This list was reinstated in an attempt to stop the Omicron variant spreading.
People arriving in the UK from 11 African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Zambia have been required to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel at a cost of £2,285 for solo travellers.
Javid stated that Omicron has spread to the UK and around the globe, which means that the effectiveness of the travel red book in stopping Omicron’s incursion from overseas is now less.
Said Javid has confirmed today that every country will be removed by the Government from its international travel redlist because Omicron is rampant in Britain
He stated to MPs that while we maintain temporary travel testing procedures, all 11 countries will be removed from the red travel list starting at 4 am tomorrow.
He said, “Those already in managed quatrine, I understand that it was a practice to ask them to end their quarantine period.”
“I do however understand its importance and have sought urgent advice. I will act quickly to get that information.”
Later, Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay stated that the Government will allow ‘early withdrawal’ for people who were in managed quarantine prior to changes to the red-list.
He stated that anyone who tests positive for HIV must remain in quarantine.
This will result in regulations being changed, which we will implement as fast as possible. Additionally, we are preparing additional specific guidance for the individuals affected.
Tim Alderslade was the CEO of Airlines UK.
He explained that the Omicron-established red list does not require the use of the red checklist. However, it is unnecessary to perform costly isolation and emergency testing on fully vaccinated traveller, which would again place us at war with Europe.
“It’s testing, and not the limited red list that’s the deterrent for travel.
The UK requires that all travellers arriving from abroad must take the pre-departure exam and then self-isolate until they get a positive result at their post-arrival check.
If testing rules are not relaxed, Mr Alderslade said that the Christmas and New Year key booking periods will be “undermined”.
He said that this was a crucial moment for UK air travel and that if the Government fails to lift these restrictions by New Year’s Eve, then it would need to support a sector again singled out with additional economic assistance.
Karen Dee, chief executive of Airport Operators Association said that the removal from all countries on the red list was a welcomed recognition that such measures are ineffective when Omicron rapidly becomes the predominant variant in the UK.
“It’s hard to believe that both the UK and other devolved countries didn’t realize the logic behind the costly, blanket and heavy testing system.
The UK is the only country that currently requires both a predeparture and post-arrival screening for every arrival, regardless of their vaccination status. UK testing is significantly more expensive than other European countries.
“They place an enormous burden on families, just like many people were hoping to reunite with their loved ones abroad during the Christmas period.
“The UK government should immediately restore the pre-Omicron travel system or it could ruin Christmas plans across the nation.”
Mark Tanzer is the chief executive officer of Abta Travel Association. He stated that the test measures were extended over the Christmas and new year periods, with the industry fast approaching peak-booking season in summer 2022, so travel companies are now facing serious problems.
“Consumer confidence has been affected by travel restrictions. This setback will not be temporary.
“The Government should acknowledge that by providing grant support to assist businesses during the challenging weeks ahead.”
David Frost is the chief executive of South Africa Tourism Services. He stated that while this was a welcome development, the red-listing of southern Africa for only three weeks has caused significant damage to employment and livelihoods, as well as little benefit to UK health.
“The UK Government should now declare this unwieldy instrument history and acknowledge the disastrous impact that red lists can have on confidence in the traveling public.”
The World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the decision, but said that a blanket ban on travel ‘doesn’t help’.
On Tuesday, he said at a briefing: “I would just like to actually use this opportunity to appreciate the United Kingdom’s lifting of the travel ban.”
Nicky Kelvin (travel expert) said that the latest revision to international travel guidelines came into effect today. It is yet another step in the continually changing rules that apply to British travellers.
“My recommendation to Brits traveling abroad is to bring a test, such as Qured’s. The traveller can schedule an appointment and receive the test over video with a doctor.
Qured will immediately issue an electronic certificate containing test results after the submission is made. The Certificate can then be presented together with the Passenger Locator Sheet upon your arrival in the UK.
‘The benefit of doing this is to avoid getting stranded somewhere and not being able to do a test – travellers can then have the results delivered in a timely fashion. Additionally, Qured offer an affordable service, costing around £30 per test.’