'Horrendous' Long Lines Worsen for Passengers at London Heathrow
Visitors from outside the European Union are continuing to have to wait in abnormally long lines — often more than two hours — at London's Heathrow Airport to have their passports processed.
New data from Virgin Atlantic published Monday by the BBC shows that for 30 days out of the 31 in July, the airport's border force missed its self-imposed target of a 45-minute wait or less for 95% of the visitors from outside the European Union. Virgin says the waits have "frustrated" passengers.
"At a time when the UK needs to show the world it is open for business, the government and Border Force need to provide a great first impression for every visitor every time," Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger said.
Last week, British Airways CEO Alex Cruz expressed similar sentiments about the long wait times at LHR, noting that "two-hour queues are fast becoming the norm."
"What kind of message does this send, as we try to build links outside the EU?" Cruz wrote in an op-ed to the Times of London, adding that the wait times at LHR immigration were worse than any other airport in Europe.
Despite the UK government saying it would deploy 200 extra border officers to help mitigate the long lines, passengers wait times are still backed up this summer (including one day when the border officers "abandoned" their posts to watch the World Cup). The worst day so far was July 6, according to Virgin Atlantic's data, with visitors forced to wait two hours and 36 minutes that day to have their passports processed.
Michael Klein, an art dealer from New York who frequently travels through Heathrow, told the BBC that he has waited in passport lines for more than two hours on three different trips in the past month, calling the experience "just horrendous."
Heathrow's CEO John Holland-Kaye has asked the UK's Home Office to allow visitors from "low risk countries" like the US to be allowed to use electronic gates to have their passports processed.
But the UK government says that for the most part, passengers arriving from outside the EU are processed within the 45-minute mark.
"The vast majority of people who arrive at Heathrow get through the border within our service standards," the Home Office said in a statement. "But we understand the frustration for those who have experienced longer waits and remain fully committed to working with our partners to reduce waiting times as far as is possible."
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees