The Public Commercial Services (PCS) Union’s National Executive Committee has announced strike action affecting UK Border Force over two periods in December 2022. If you're travelling into the UK during the these dates you should be prepared to face a longer wait at border control.
The strike dates are:
- 23 December to 26 December (until circa. 7am)
- 28 December to 31 December (until circa. 7am)
The locations affected are Birmingham Airport, Cardiff Airport, Glasgow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Terminals 2,3,4 & 5, Manchester Airport and Port of Newhaven.
Military personnel, civil servants and volunteers from across government are currently being trained to support Border Force at airports and ports across the UK on the strike dates – which we understand will include manning immigration desks.
At airports, e-gates will be in operation as normal and can be used by anyone who is eligible, including most UK passport holders and selected other nationalities including passport holders from the EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA.
Important: Children under 12
Children under 12 cannot use e-gates and families with children aged 11 or younger must therefore use staffed immigration counters. Children aged 12 to 17 may use e-gates as long as accompanied by an adult.
Departing the UK
There are no passport checks on departure from the UK and our understanding is that anyone leaving the UK on these dates should not be directly affected by strike action.
We have not been made aware of flight cancellations for any of our holidays over this period as a result of the Border Force strike, but in the event that we are made aware we will be in touch with individual clients immediately to discuss their options.
So, unless you hear otherwise from us your holiday can go ahead as planned but please be prepared for longer than normal queues at the UK border (especially if you are not able to use e-gates).
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