The incoming passenger card - emergency contact?

[Warks]

Arriving yesterday morning into SYD from LAX and when filling in (or out) this form this question occurred to me again. Why do they ask emergency contact details for residents? Pretty much everyone is headed home I would assume if they live in Australia so it seems like a question for non-residents. If we are going to be home why would they email or write to my mother-in-law?

Found a pic of the card from another thread here but couldn't post it. Still basically the same since at least 2005.

I can see the validity of it as a visitor and if it were on a departure card it could also be useful for residents.

Wit electronic processing now they just seem to toss the card in a pile at customs so I don't even know if it's used for anything.

 

[acoolbreeze]

In theory its for if somebody was severely sick on the flight and potentially passed some communicable disease people can be tracked down and contacted asap (as an alternative to regular contact details).

 

[Spongbob]

Yes, you might be the sick pax so not contactable - hence the need for the alternative contact person.

 

[Hvr]

Have never filled that part out, they get my mobile number and that's it. Not a problem.

 

[Mark3000]

Have never filled that part out, they get my mobile number and that's it. Not a problem.

That's good to know. I've often wondered if they would pull me up if I left it blank. Filling in four forms for the wife and kids is a big hassle

 

[Warks]

When travelling for work my wife is my emergency contact. Not sure if she is when she's next to me on the plane!

How much longer until this form is phased out? Or changed anyway. It's really only a customs form as all the other info is processed electronically for those with those passports. How long until every Australian and Kiwi has one? Can't be long.

 

[NinnyPoo]

I never fill in these details. I have also never been questioned on why I haven't.

 

[RooFlyer]

That's good to know. I've often wondered if they would pull me up if I left it blank. Filling in four forms for the wife and kids is a big hassle

Sorry, are you that busy during the X hour inbound flight? I know looking after kids is a full time job, but surely 5 minutes can be squeezed in somewhere?

I never fill in these details. I have also never been questioned on why I haven't.

That's OK, you don't get notified when its found that the pax next to you had Ebola. I don't care really, but then I guess we all pay when there has to be such a big search because some people think they are so special.

Honestly people, is it such a big drama?

 

[Hvr]

<snip>
That's OK, you don't get notified when its found that the pax next to you had Ebola. I don't care really, but then I guess we all pay when there has to be such a big search because some people think they are so special.

Honestly people, is it such a big drama?

Are you suggesting that someone would sift through the cards to see who was sitting next to a person who came down with Ebola? I truly hope no one would even consider wasting their time if they needed to find out who was on the plane and where they were sitting.

After all the airlines can quickly provide a list of every person on board and their residential details far more quickly.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Why even bother with incoming passenger cards for residents? Most other countries don't bother. Heck - could have a smaller version of the card and save a bunch of cash similar to the crew declaration form

 

[legroom]

Sorry, are you that busy during the X hour inbound flight? I know looking after kids is a full time job, but surely 5 minutes can be squeezed in somewhere?



That's OK, you don't get notified when its found that the pax next to you had Ebola. I don't care really, but then I guess we all pay when there has to be such a big search because some people think they are so special.

Honestly people, is it such a big drama?

But there is a separate Ebola card where your seat number is requested as well.

I fill in everything - doesn't take much time at all.

 

[RooFlyer]

Are you suggesting that someone would sift through the cards to see who was sitting next to a person who came down with Ebola? I truly hope no one would even consider wasting their time if they needed to find out who was on the plane and where they were sitting.

After all the airlines can quickly provide a list of every person on board and their residential details far more quickly.

But there is a separate Ebola card where your seat number is requested as well.

I fill in everything - doesn't take much time at all.

I knew saying 'Ebola' would be a distraction . Is anyone suggesting that there would never be a reason to contact some-one - or a contact for them - in the near vicinity of another passenger on a long haul flight ?

But beside that - I repeat my entreaty - Honestly people, is it such a big drama?

Why even bother with incoming passenger cards for residents?

See answer provided post #2.

 

[Hvr]

I knew saying 'Ebola' would be a distraction . Is anyone suggesting that there would never be a reason to contact some-one - or a contact for them - in the near vicinity of another passenger on a long haul flight ?

But beside that - I repeat my entreaty - Honestly people, is it such a big drama?



See answer provided post #2.

Do you really believe that sifting through thousands of pieces of paper is a viable let alone effective method of tracing people sitting in a particular region of a plane?

These pieces of paper are a total waste of time and money especially when there are alternative and highly effective methods to attain the same information already being used.

 

[Mark3000]

Do you really believe that sifting through thousands of pieces of paper is a viable let alone effective method of tracing people sitting in a particular region of a plane?

These pieces of paper are a total waste of time and money especially when there are alternative and highly effective methods to attain the same information already being used.

Exactly. Well said!!
It's not so much the time it takes but it's so annoying and unnecessary. The airlines have all the info re seat numbers etc and having to do it for every child is a complete waste of time. Why can't we do what other countries do and have one per family

 

[dairyfloss]

I'm fine to fill them all out... completing outgoing and incoming passenger forms is the only time that I ever get to practice my handwriting... and yes, it is getting much, much worse over time. Mrs. Winfield, my teacher from Year 6 would be so disappointed.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Warks]

That also reminded me of another thing on such cards - the number of boxes to fill in your names. Luckily we didn't go for long names in our family and don't have a double barrelled surname. That said, all of us only have a couple of boxes to spare. I've never asked my Sri Lankan friend how he gets on! Do you just ignore the boxes and squeeze it in or leave out the odd name?

I also find it's one of the few times I use handwriting and it's so bad I don't know how they'd ever read my details. I'd just blame turbulence.

 

[JessicaTam]

That also reminded me of another thing on such cards - the number of boxes to fill in your names. Luckily we didn't go for long names in our family and don't have a double barrelled surname. That said, all of us only have a couple of boxes to spare. I've never asked my Sri Lankan friend how he gets on! Do you just ignore the boxes and squeeze it in or leave out the odd name?

I also find it's one of the few times I use handwriting and it's so bad I don't know how they'd ever read my details. I'd just blame turbulence.

My name doesn't fit, so I just stop when I run out of boxes.

 

[RooFlyer]

Do you really believe that sifting through thousands of pieces of paper is a viable let alone effective method of tracing people sitting in a particular region of a plane?

These pieces of paper are a total waste of time and money especially when there are alternative and highly effective methods to attain the same information already being used.

No. But I think the difference between our perspectives is that I couldn't give a rat's behind.

That also reminded me of another thing on such cards - the number of boxes to fill in your names. Luckily we didn't go for long names in our family and don't have a double barrelled surname. That said, all of us only have a couple of boxes to spare. I've never asked my Sri Lankan friend how he gets on! Do you just ignore the boxes and squeeze it in or leave out the odd name?
<snip>.

Goodness! Such questions of the ages! But perhaps its just as well there are such things to ponder, else we'd be just staring out the window in sheer boredom in those last 30 minutes or so of the flight.

 

[legroom]

Exactly. Well said!!
It's not so much the time it takes but it's so annoying and unnecessary. The airlines have all the info re seat numbers etc and having to do it for every child is a complete waste of time. Why can't we do what other countries do and have one per family

It's not unknown for pax to swap seats in the same or to a different cabin (comp upgrade) after boarding so airline info may not be entirely accurate.

Good start but not 100% accurate all the time !

It's for the known unknowns really.

Who may have suspected a white Caucasian Dr sitting next to you was carrying the Ebola virus (the NY case) ?

 

[nachomann]

And what do they do with all these passenger cards ? Does someone have to type them all into a computer ? Or do they pile them up in a big warehouse somewhere ?