UK airport rules are changing imminently with 1.5 million Brits impacted for the better
Sun-seeking British families are about to have their airport travelling systems simplified.
That's because as of tomorrow (July 8), the age restrictions placed on eGates users will be partly scrubbed, meaning around 1.5 kids can finally make use of the technology and speed things up.
At the moment, children must be at least 10 years of age to work eGates across UK airports (and the Eurostar/Eurotunnel), but The Sun reports that eight and nine-year-olds will now be able to get involved.
They still need to be accompanied by an adult and reach 3 feet 11 inches in height, though, due to the biometric screenings that capture their profiles.
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No longer will these school-aged children need to queue up with their parents to speak to a border control officer on their way abroad.
Only 13 airports in Britain are currently operating eGates for their customers - listed below:
- London Heathrow
- London Gatwick
- London City
- London Luton
- London Stansted
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- East Midlands
- Newcastle
- Cardiff
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
Mike Tapp, the minister for migration and citizenship, said of this major update: "Travel with young children can be stressful for parents. By expanding eGate access, more families can experience a swifter and smoother journey home – freeing up precious time this summer holiday season."
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, went on to comment: "This is a welcome development as it will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many."
In other travel news, Ozempic/Mounjaro/Wegovy users now need to declare their weight-loss jab usage when taking out travel insurance policies.
This will affect approximately 1.6 million individuals as they head out to the world's beaches.
Failing to do so could leave them holding the bag of a massive payment if you go to make a claim, even one unrelated to weight loss treatment, and your insurer discovers you are using the medication.
"It’s essential to declare any pre-existing medical conditions and prescribed medications or treatments when taking out travel insurance, including weight loss jabs," a spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers told The Sun.
"Doing so will help you get the right cover for your needs, while failing to share this information could cause issues at the point of claim or even invalidate your policy."
It's also essential that you inform your travel insurer if you start taking weight loss jabs after securing a policy.
Dan Seddon