23
Just realized my UK passport saves me 3 hours at Heathrow every trip
I always used my US passport coming back because I thought it was faster, but last month I tried the e-gates with my British one and breezed through in 2 minutes instead of waiting 45. Has anyone else found one passport is way better for airport stuff than the other?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
anna4917d ago
The bit about saving 3 hours at Heathrow really hits home. I've had both passports for years now and I learned the hard way that the UK one is way better for coming back into Britain. The e-gates are a lifesaver, but make sure your passport has the chip and isn't too old or worn out. I had one that was a bit scuffed and the machine wouldn't read it, so I had to go to a person anyway. For leaving the US, I always use the American one because PreCheck cuts the line down to nothing. Just keep an eye on which country you're entering and use the passport that gets you the easiest route through customs.
1
the_max7d ago
Three hours saved at an airport sounds great, but I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal.
7
rileygarcia7d ago
No joke, the e-gate thing is a total game changer. I had the exact same issue with a worn out passport a couple years ago. Got stuck in a long line at Manchester because the machine kept spitting it out. Now I always travel with both and I check the condition of the chip page before I go anywhere. The US PreCheck is a must too, I agree. It's pretty much the only way to get through security without losing your mind. For me the big thing is knowing which passport to hand over at each checkpoint. It's a pain to remember sometimes but it saves a ton of hassle.
3