13 UK airports where Brits will soon no longer need to use their passports

New rules at major UK airports are coming into effect and will let Brits go through without showing their passport, though you'll still want to make sure you have it with you.

A baker's dozen of British airports have new contactless technology where eGates can check the identity of the person approaching them and compare it to verified travel information so they can let somebody through without needing to hold their passport over a reader.

Again, we cannot stress enough how daft it would be for you to try and travel through an airport without bringing your passport, but if all goes well then you'll soon be able to walk right through many airports without much of an issue.

The age limit on using the eGates has been dropped to include children aged eight or nine, so even more people will be able to confidently stride through an airport.

A total of 13 airports have got the passport-less eGates in place now and are gradually switching towards adopting the new approach, with the idea that all of the eGates will be able to do this by early 2027.

The eGates at UK airports are being converted to get you through sooner (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The 13 airports you can go through without a passport

These airports are the ones in the UK that have the eGates installed, as they're steadily being adapted to include the new passport-less technology.

They are:

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Edinburgh
• Gatwick
• Glasgow
• London City
• London Heathrow
• Luton
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Stansted

Do remember to still bring your passport in case something goes wrong (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Once again we here at LADbible Towers cannot stress enough that you should still take your passport with you when travelling by air, and the eGates at these airports are gradually being switched over.

How they work is they take a picture of you as you approach the gate and check it against travel, immigration and passport data and then open to let you through once it's done the check and is satisfied you're good to go.

The only time you'd need to whip out the passport in this instance is if there need to be further checks, and sod's law states that you will be the unlucky soul who for some reason doesn't get buzzed through the gate and have to show your passport with everyone's eyes on you.

The big idea behind all of this is to make the process of moving through the gates at airports a quicker experience for everyone with a minimum of waiting time.

Then again, it is a reminder that one picture of your face taken from the right camera and they'll be able to know all sorts about you, even if it is for your convenience.