International business travelers arriving at London's Heathrow airport may find themselves enjoying a much quicker passport check process than leisure travelers, sources have confirmed.
Friday, September 21, 2012
International business travelers arriving at London's Heathrow airport may find themselves enjoying a much quicker passport check process than leisure travelers, sources have confirmed. According to the Financial Times, highly valued business travelers may be allowed a fast track priority when entering the U.K.
Heathrow's infamous long entry lines reached their pinnacle last Spring, when some non-EU customers had to face passport check lines up to three hours long. The long waits were a result of reduced immigration staff and heightened security measures.
"The plans would see 'high value' people considered valuable by airlines or to the British economy given priority access at immigration control ahead of normal travelers," reported British news source the Daily Mail.
Quicker entry would allow business travelers to arrive at their corporate lodging more quickly, freeing their time for meetings, business dinners and other productive activities. The move would likely be appreciated by business travelers, but critics have also voiced their opinions.
“It’s unfair and unjust,” committee chairman Keith Vaz told the Financial Times. “What concerns me is that it will increase the wait for ordinary passengers and we will see a return to the situation [of delays] in April.”
Officials are currently considering the idea, though no decision has yet been made.