0

There are several answers regarding the use of dual passports when traveling between the US and the EU. But here is a twist.

I have a flight booked from Amsterdam -> London -> US (and return). As far as I can see, I should use the US passport for airline passenger information for the whole ticket. US passport to be shown going into and out of the US (I realize going out of the US, this is shown only at the airline's desk). Dutch passport control, going in or out, show EU passport.

What should I do for London in transit? I would assume the US passport going out (consistent with airlines), but is that right?

Coming back, should it be the information on the airline manifest (which would be US passport) or the EU passport? (again, my best guess is to use the EU passport).

CGCampbell
  • 10,186
  • 8
  • 50
  • 77
Tony
  • 9
  • 1
  • If you stay airside in London you shouldn't have to show your passport to any immigration officals at all.

    (Also, given how many UK->US flight routes involve transfer at AMS, really suprised you ended up on a US->AMS flight through any of the london airports)

     – CMaster Jan 11 '16 at 13:34
  • 1
    Show your EU passport. Same as if you were stopping in the UK for a while. – Gayot Fow Jan 11 '16 at 13:42

2 Answers2

0

In your circumstances I would:

  1. Use US passport for check-in (because they check if you have entry right to the USA while checking you in)
  2. Use your EU passport to clear Amsterdam emigration (if they check it at all)
  3. If you are only transferring through London then you will not need to clear immigration (i.e. show your passport) at all. For the purpose of getting on the plane use your US passport.
  4. If you have time, you might get into London using your EU passport (to avoid longer queue and filling in a form), but really using your US passport should be fine as well (unless you are British Citizen).
Grzenio
  • 16,494
  • 8
  • 51
  • 92
0

To check in on your return, you can use either passport. I always check in with my EU passport when flying from the US to the EU, and my US passport when flying from the EU to the US. But the airline doesn't really care one way or the other since US citizens do not need visas in the EU. (I live in the US, however. If you live in the EU, you might need to prove that you are allowed to stay there for more than 90 days before the airline will board you.)

For immigration officials, I always show my EU passport to EU officials and my US passport to US officials.

For non-EU countries other than the US, I pick one or the other. The basic principle then is this:

Each country has one passport associated with it. When traveling to that country, check in with that passport. When showing ID to an official from that country, use that passport.

So far I've never had a situation where I was transiting through a country where I wanted to use one passport but arriving in a country where I wanted to use the other. If I encountered such a situation, I would likely show both passports at checkin.

phoog
  • 134,313
  • 19
  • 274
  • 446