Major UK airport issues 'please check' request to passengers flying from there

With the arrival of the summer holidays comes a surge in travel, as families prepare to jet off to destinations across the world. However, a major UK airport wants passengers to make an essential check before they travel, and the advice applies no matter your chosen destination.

Whether you're booking an adventure holiday or planning to soak up the sunshine abroad, it's vital you check GOV.UK's foreign travel advice. Heathrow Airport issued a request today (July 25), reminding all passengers to do one vital thing before heading to the airport in a message shared on social media.

Posting on X, the notice read: "Good morning from Heathrow Airport! The weekend is just ahead. We advise passengers to check the requirements of the country you are going to here: https://gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice."

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GOV.UK shares advice and warnings about travel abroad. This includes essential information such as entry requirements, safety and security, health risks, and legal differences.

Anyone can use the website's search tool to find a country or territory, and you can sign up for email updates to stay up to date with any changes before you travel. The advice has recently been updated for several popular destinations, including Spain and Greece.

For instance, in early June, the advice for Brits travelling to Spain was updated to include updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. Meanwhile, the advice for Brits travelling to Greece was updated earlier this month.

It now includes information about wildfires in Greece and updated information under emergency alerts and preparedness. The notice states: "There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. For advice, visit the wildfires section on the Safety and security page."

The website also offers advice on a range of topics such as hand luggage restrictions at UK airports, your rights at the airport, taking cash in and out of the UK, driving abroad, and help and services you can access around the world.

According to the Foreign Office'sforeign travel checklist, designed to help British people prepare for travel and stay safe while they're abroad, the first thing you should do is research your destination. It says: "Get up-to-date advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences by checking foreign travel advice for the country you’re visiting."

Following your research, you should get insured before you go, check your documents for travel, consider your health, check the healthcare advice for all the countries you're visiting, and prepare for the unexpected.

The advice states: "Have a backup plan for accessing key information such as your accommodation details, flight details, passport details, contact numbers and insurance policy (for example, in case you lose your phone). Share it with friends or family or store online using a secure data storage platform."