Dear CDs,

I'm a PR (and Indian citizen) here while my spouse is a canadian citizen. We are both traveling to Delhi via London by British Airways. The stopover in London is 8 hrs and we will have to do check-in there as well. My questions are:-

1) Will I be able to meet my brother (he lives in London and will come to see us) at the airport?

2) Will I have to have a Transit Visa beofre traveling or I can buy at Heathrow airport or I would not need one but still be able to meet my brother?

I'm traveling for the first time via London and have never ever met someone like this before, I would appreciate if some of you might have done so or have known someone who has done so. Please share your experiences, it will help me a great deal- I'm traveling on 7th Oct. 2008 so a quicker reply would be appreciated. Any other suggestions are welcome too.

Many thanks,
kisi

As a person who recently travelled to London UK I offer the following:
Your spouse (as a Canadian citizen) can leave the airport and come back but you canot leave the airport unless you have a visa to exit the airport.
I have heard that there is a place where you can meet people from outside the airport in heathrow airport (you will be separated by Glass walls) but while at the heathrow airport, I could not find this place. You can ask your brother to enquire.
Since the stop over is 8 hours, You donot need a transit visa while you wait to change your flight.
If in anycase your flight at Heathrow is delayed or cancelled, The airport may provide you with a hotel accomodation until they book a new seat in a diff. flight for you (provided the stop over is more than 24 hrs.). In this case, you will be given a transit visa at the airport and be accomodated in a hotel outside the airport. In this case you will be able to see your brother.
Hope this helps

Peace by TK

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Quote:

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Originally posted by kisi143




2) Will I have to have a Transit Visa beofre traveling or I can buy at Heathrow airport or I would not need one but still be able to meet my brother?

Many thanks,
kisi

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To my knowledge a direct airside transit visa is reqd for Indian ppt holders, however you may be exempt being a PR, (see link http://www.immihelp.com/visas/nonustransit.html).

You might also want (if possible) to transit via Gatwick (LGW) instead of Heathrow (LHR). Heathrow SUCKS and is a disaster. Best avoided, whenever possible.

Good wishes for your filght and my sympathies if you need to transit via LHR.

Rgds,

Newboyo

Oh my god!

?I'm getting more jitters than strength.... but please share- perhaps it will help me prepare. Does that mean LHR has not been trouble free for anybody? I'm taking British Airways Mntl-LHR-Delhi, so no Gatwick for me.

Iwould appreciate if you have traveled on this route please respond.
Many thanks,
kisi

RELAX! Take it easy.

I've flown via LHR/LGW from Dubai and so therefore found LHR/LGW quite dismal compared to Dubai. In Canada, I've only travelled via Vancouver/Toronto and have no expereince of Montreal airport.

IMO, LHR is a crowded, dirty and old airport. The loos are quite bad and for the baggage you need to go (if memory serves me right) to a cavernous warehouse like area in a basement. LGW on the other hand is a more modern facility.

Having said that LHR services a heck of lot of people every day and so the basic work flow exists. It's just that LGW is better than LHR, IMO.

Once again, relax, take it easy and approach your filght with a positive frame of mind. Look forward to meeting your loved ones at the end of the flight and then these irritations will pale into insignificance.

I'm sorry to have created anxiety in your mind. That was not the idea.

Rgds

Newboyo

Cool down...man and enjoy your travel. As a frequent traveller to LHR I can assure you it is one of the most pleasent experiences.
It is the only airport apart from Dubai where you see so varied (cosmopolitan) passengers. At transit, there is all kinds of food, games, internet, praying area, shops and lots more.
I remember in my 80's and 90's travel, I used to see a lot of Japanese and European/American passengers.
How times have changed; now the travellers are mostly Asians (more indians) and Africans. Before I used to see the Jap youths with backpacks, sunglasses etc. but not any more...slowly these youths have changed to indian youths.
As affluency takes over in India the travel has increased and LHR sees it all, being the central hub..
I can literally say that I have seen the world order slowly changing right in front of my eyes over the years...yes, at the London Heathrow.
I am sure you will love the experience and it will be in your memory for years to come. Have a terrific journey (ps..journey is a form of life education and knowledge).
Please meet your relatives....these moments dont come often.

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"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." (Nelson Mandela)