Last week, Heathrow T5 E-gates appeared unable to process the new rules for fully vaccinated travellers, forcing them into 2.5-hour immigration queues. Telegraph’s Travel correspondent John Arlidge, who was in the queue, was advised by an immigration officer that travellers should 'lie' on their PLF, stating that they will self-isolate, even though the legal requirement to do so has now ended.
'There is currently no button on the UK's Passenger Locator Form (PFL) to declare that you are exempt from self-isolation because you are fully double vaccinated and coming from an amber country,' Arlidge wrote.
'If you tell the truth on the locator form and say you are exempt and tick the ‘Government / Assembly Approved’ reason – which is the only option that makes any sense – you cannot use the E-gates.'
A Government spokesperson responded: "Our utmost priority is protecting the safety and health of the public. That means, occasionally, passengers will need to accept an increase in the time taken to cross the border."
