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Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1243941" data-attributes="member: 45720">Hi Robert,I know it all sounds a little confusing, but I work at Manchester Airport.Here's the official line:If you have ticketed through to Jo'burg, and your luggage is being transferred on, (double check with (both?) airlines) then you have a choice.You could, with enough time simply exit Immigration & Customs (separate in effect in the UK for now - though now called the UK Border Agency).As you will have hand-luggage only & an onward ticket then this should be no problem. If you encounter any it will be at the first hurdle, Immigration, and you can simply give up at that point, but I don't think you will.Customs won't be interested in you - and you will have little for them to look at if they do talk to you. As for security & re-check-in:Again, as you will have hand-luggage only, it is only a matter of re-checking in - contact them when you arrive from Seattle & let them know your intentions - I see no reason why they wouldn't allow you a one hour check-in time.Security queues can be horrendous - but that'll be after check-in - and the airline knows your on your way. They actually call people to queue-jump for flights that are boarding - so you won't miss the flight because of that.In other words, with pre-warnings & on-the-day advice, I think that getting out of the airport should take about 30-40 minutes from the plane getting to the gate; and getting back to the plane once you reach the terminal building should be do-able in about 90 minutes.Others are quite correct - you cannot meet anyone unless you clear Immo & Customs - only other passengers are allowed "Airside" as we say.  Actually there's a distinction between Transfer & Transit passengers -  you could be either depending on your choice. It is quite common with passengers who have a large gap between flights to change status & leave the system temporarily.Let me know if this isn't clear.Good luck.H</blockquote>

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