When will Australia get modern entry procedures?

[kpro]

That's the way travel is going. Won't be long before apps are essential for all airlines - Ryanair is leading the way (sounds like a joke but how many people board aircraft with mobile BPs these days? The vast majority in my experience).

Domestic in Australia I use a mobile BP 99% of the time. International, I use a mobile BP 0% of the time. I always have a bag to check in, so even if its QF I'll collect the paper BP from the counter.

I'd say it's getting better, especially as more tech savvy people become the bulk of travelers. My parents wouldn't know how to use an airline app at all.
I personally only have the QF and VA apps on my phone. I'll use a paper BP if flying AA domestic for example.

Check in counters will just have a QR code, doesn't need to be the airline app, just a page on the airline website. Really no different to a lot of processes already such as US contact tracing.

Possibly. It seems to be app only at the moment but it could change.

Every country arrivals website is different, if anything building these on the airline websites will make it more consistent, not less.

Every countries arrival form is different, as they all ask different questions and care differently about when and where you've been. This just means airlines need to maintain multiple versions of questionnaires on their apps (or websites). So both consistent and inconsistent even in the same app.

When you're coming into Australia you could have over 60 different UI variations of the form now. Though I get it that the in-app UI would have been the same for the outbound country, even if the questions are different.

Also, it's app only at the moment for Australia, and it's also to be seen if other countries change their processes and systems to match Australia.

 

[justinbrett]

Possibly. It seems to be app only at the moment but it could change.

I've been given QR codes for many different countries by many different airlines at check in counters.

Every countries arrival form is different, as they all ask different questions and care differently about when and where you've been. This just means airlines need to maintain multiple versions of questionnaires on their apps (or websites). So both consistent and inconsistent even in the same app.

When you're coming into Australia you could have over 60 different UI variations of the form now. Though I get it that the in-app UI would have been the same for the outbound country, even if the questions are different.

Also, it's app only at the moment for Australia, and it's also to be seen if other countries change their processes and systems to match Australia.

Consistent UI can ask different questions. The QF UI is consistent for APIS, US Contact Tracing and AU Arrival declarations.

 

[ayebee]

maybe point already made, but I suspect the AU inbound paper form is still there so customs have a piece of paper with a signature for legal purposes, given the potential penalties on false declarations.

other than that, it would be nice if the "smart" gate process was single rather than 2 steps.

 

[Quickstatus]

you have to fill it out inside the terminal which costs you a fair whack of time.

So much free time in an airplane. Even writing on a card takes maybe 1 minute.
Don't even have to open passport to get the number- its memorised.

Unless you are a regular and keep a stash handy.

Nah could not be bothered - see above.

 

[justinbrett]

So much free time in an airplane. Even writing on a card takes maybe 1 minute.
Don't even have to open passport to get the number- its memorised.


Nah could not be bothered - see above.

I don’t think you got my point - they no longer distribute Japan arrival cards to airlines. You won’t be given anything on the plane.

If you don’t want to do the digital version you have to get a paper form inside the terminal - the airline won’t have any.

 

[Quickstatus]

I don’t think you got my point - they no longer distribute Japan arrival cards to airlines. You won’t be given anything on the plane.

Yes i know. I was commenting on the time it takes to fill out an arrival card in an airplane. - so much better.

 

[anat0l]

Playing a bit of devil's here... but what happens to people who do not have a smartphone (e.g. a basic mobile phone, or no phone at all)? I know that sounds extremely dumb, i.e. what traveller doesn't have a mobile phone these days, let alone one that can access Internet services.

 

[dajop]

Playing a bit of devil's here... but what happens to people who do not have a smartphone (e.g. a basic mobile phone, or no phone at all)? I know that sounds extremely dumb, i.e. what traveller doesn't have a mobile phone these days, let alone one that can access Internet services.

In Singapore they have tablets available in the arrivals hall, with staff on hand to assist. (the data synching only takes a couple of minutes, so this seems to work well).

 

[kpro]

I've been given QR codes for many different countries by many different airlines at check in counters.

We're talking slightly different things here. Currently these QR codes lead to the current-state implementations which are country operated websites.

Your post was talking about how for this new style of implementation, QR codes can lead not just to an "airline app, just a page on the airline website". I'm saying these airline websites with entry forms don't exist yet in the Australian implementation, hence "It seems to be app only at the moment but it could change."

Consistent UI can ask different questions. The QF UI is consistent for APIS, US Contact Tracing and AU Arrival declarations.

I'm not denying there can be consistency in the UI in a single app. A consistent UI with different questions and form element types for answers can still lead to an inconsistent user experience.
However, if you're returning to Australia on Cathay one week and then Qatar another - now you have both an inconsistent UI and an inconsistent user experience.

 

[justinbrett]

We're talking slightly different things here. Currently these QR codes lead to the current-state implementations which are country operated websites.

Your post was talking about how for this new style of implementation, QR codes can lead not just to an "airline app, just a page on the airline website". I'm saying these airline websites with entry forms don't exist yet in the Australian implementation, hence "It seems to be app only at the moment but it could change."


I'm not denying there can be consistency in the UI in a single app. A consistent UI with different questions and form element types for answers can still lead to an inconsistent user experience.
However, if you're returning to Australia on Cathay one week and then Qatar another - now you have both an inconsistent UI and an inconsistent user experience.

Most airline apps are just embedded websites, so I think this debate is just semantics. I’m almost certain the QF US contact tracing form can be filled out on their website or in the app. Likewise for BA.

If someone is flying so frequently on so many airlines I think they’ll be smart enough to work it out. I disagree with your comments about inconsistent UI within the same airline, especially compared to the alternative of a different website for each country, many of which using different terminology and some requiring user accounts and verified emails and/or phone numbers.

People manage to book tickets, manage bookings and check in on various airline websites and apps, this is no different. For those that struggle there will be a paper/assisted option like there is in Japan and Singapore but the masses will be encouraged to go digital.