Overnight the UK Government has changed the rules for passengers transferring, and staying wholly airside, so that they no longer need to complete a Passenger Locator Form for travel.
This is the text from the .gov website:
Airside transit
Airside transit is when you do not pass through UK border control. You remain ‘airside’ before you leave the UK on your connecting journey.
If you transit airside, you do not need to take a COVID-19 test before you travel if you:
- qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England
- have not been in a red list country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England
If you do not qualify as fully vaccinated or you have been in a red list country, you need to take a COVID-19 test in the 3 days before you travel to England.
Check separate guidance to see if you qualify as fully vaccinated for travel to England.
You do not need to complete a passenger locator form before travel to England.
When you are in England you do not need to quarantine or take any COVID-19 tests.
This will simplify things for passengers saving a ten or so page form. However, I wonder how effectively this will be communicated to airline staff.
Qualifying passengers, who find themselves checking in with an agent who isn’t aware of the updated rules, should suggest to the agent that they check Timatic.
Timatic is used by airlines and travel agents to verify passengers travel document requirements for their destination and any transit points/