Can you go straight upstairs at LHR?

I flew a fair bit in the 2010s but barely at all since COVID. So the push to digital boarding passes was new to me when I made my return to VA in 2023.

I checked in remotely, but when I double checked on arrival at T3 if I could go straight to the lift, I was told to go to the check in counter first. They said they still had to check my passport, and then printed out paper boarding passes for me. No problem, but then I couldn't see the point of having the boarding pass on my phone.

I'm heading to the US next week and am wondering if I should just go to the check in desk and not bother with the digital boarding pass.. or can I do the digital boarding pass and head straight to the lift?

[mitchja]

The VS app now lets you complete the full passport verification check. You have to take a photo of your passport and upload it to complete the process.

You will also need to complete FlyReady as well which can only be done via the full website. You can do the passport check in FlyReady as well as completing the US tracing form. Basically they just require your address where yo are staying whilst in the US and an email and/or mobile number. This is a COVID carry-over that is still required.

The US contact tracing can only be done from 72 hours before departure. The passport check can be done at any time.

In summery, you should be good to go without the need to visit check-in as long as the following have all been completed successfully before arriving at the airport:

1) Your have a valid ESTA with approval at least 72 hours before departure.
2) Your passport has been verified by VS by taking a photo of it and uploading it - green tick via FlyReady once completed.
3) FlyReady contact tracing has been completed 72 hours before departure - second green tick via FlyReady once completed.
4) Online check-in is fully completed either via the app or website and you can download your boarding pass.

Thanks for the detailed explanation which I find quite reassuring! Also explains why I probably needed to go to the desk last time, then, as I'd be surprised if I had ticked all those boxes