London airports bring in new travel rule for families ahead of the summer holidays

London Heathrow Airport (Collected Photo)

Families flying from London airports this summer will want to take note of a new rule that will affect London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted airports.

From today (Wednesday, 8 July), youngsters aged eight and above will be permitted to use the eGates at 13 UK airports, providing a more seamless return journey for families. Until now, the eGates were exclusively available to passengers aged 10 and over, meaning those with younger children had to join the family queue, which can prove substantially longer.

Lowering the age threshold is projected to enable approximately 1.5 million additional youngsters to pass through the electronic gates and other re-entry checkpoints far more swiftly. While children can now be aged eight or above to utilise the eGates, they must also measure at least 120cm (3ft 11in) in height, ensuring they can be properly detected by the biometric scanners.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: “Today’s change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday. It will also free up more time for tourists to enjoy our fantastic country this summer and in the years ahead.”

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, also described it as a “welcome development”. She commented: “It will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many. Airports work very hard with border authorities to ensure the UK’s front door is both secure and welcoming, with those coming home and visiting enjoying a smooth experience.”

Arriving at just the right moment ahead of the summer holidays, the update will impact 13 major UK airports. This includes:

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

Travel Insurance Expert at Confused.com , Tom Vaughan, commented on the eGates rule change for children. He said: “The minimum age for UK airport e-gates drops from ten to eight today, meaning up to 1.5 million more children could clear the border automatically instead of queuing at a staffed desk. This is great news for families travelling with young children. Anyone who’s queued at border control with tired kids will know it could mean shorter waits and a smoother end to the journey home.

“It’s also a sign of where things are heading. As facial recognition technology becomes more established, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the age threshold lowered further in the coming years. But whether or not your child can use an e-gate, the basics still apply: everyone in the family needs a valid, biometric passport to travel. It’s easy to overlook this among the excitement of planning a trip.”Our research shows that confusion around passport validity is still common, with less than half (43%) of holidaymakers aware that passports for EU travel must be issued within 10 years of departure.

“That’s a significant number of people who could turn up at the airport only to discover their passport isn’t valid, regardless of which gate they’re heading for. With summer getaways in full swing, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check every family member’s passport now. Our passport checker can help you spot any issues early, so the only thing slowing you down at the border is the length of the queue.”