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).