Entry into Australia

[Ikara]

It's been about 3 years since I've re-entered Australia through Sydney. My last trips have been back through Adelaide. Very civilised!

Next month I am doing a JQ *class/AA F combination to Richmond Va. Returning on JQ4 on a Saturday. While reading all of the posts here I have seen reference to an "express immigration card" and a "duty free lane". Try as I might I can't find anything about these, either on the site or by googling. Can someone please enlighten me? How do they work? What value are they? etc.

Also, is it worth paying for duty free on exit to be picked up on entry? We will be leaving the US from Honolulu. Is the duty free any value there?

Thanks
JB

 

[Mal]

If you pre-order duty free, the prices are the same, it's just quicker as you collect your bag rather than looking for your items, going through the checkout etc. There are $10 off $100 or more vouchers if you purchase online floating around, I posted a couple in another thread here. http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/166760-4-post.html . I also think there is a 3 or 4 QF points per $ promotion at the moment, but can't be sure.

When exiting the duty free shop, if you walk through the cash registers, there is a duty free immigration lane that is fenced off from the rest of the lanes. Bit more info here: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com.../duty-free-immigration-lane-inbound-8365.html and some other references in other obscure threads.

I think you'd find prices cheaper on most items in HNL than in SYD though.

The express pass immigration cards are given out onboard most flights to Australia to premium pax. They allow you to use a premium immigration queue and a quicker exit through the xray. I think in SYD the immigration queue is next to the duty free queue (on the right hand side), but there are signs all around about it.

You can only use it if you've declared No to questions 1-10 on your immigration card.

A bit more about it is in this thread:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ss-path-immigration-and-quarantine-11272.html
or here:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/syd-express-immigration-11490.html

 

[MelUser]

are these given to qf business passengers flying into melbourne?

 

[Mal]

are these given to qf business passengers flying into melbourne?

Yes, in theory. The trials are for Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. QF WP's, Business and First pax flying Qantas should be given a pass onboard their flight. (although the CSM often forgets about WP pax down the back of the plane, and some prompting is required. They can also forget to load the passes or run out). Other airlines have different guidelines as to how they hand them out, and there are probably a few airlines that aren't participating in the trial.

 

[ludoh]

I have once received an incoming express card when checking in in Sydney. Worth asking for it there (F check in). Have not used as the queues have been short (both Customs and Quarantine) but would you use the duty free customs lane OR the APEC/Crew lane?? :?:
The duty free lane sometimes takes far longer than the normal line-up. Mind you I'm travelling on a non-Oz passport so always fun coming back to Syd on international flights!

 

[JohnK]

You can only use it if you've declared No to questions 1-10 on your immigration card.

Interesting. I know we have discussed this in the past but where does it mention that you are only allowed to use the express arrival card if you answer NO to questions 1-10? If I remember correctly the express arrival card is blank on the back with no conditions attached.

The reason I ask is that I used the express arrival card last month in SYD and I answered yes to question 1. I was just asked why I was answering yes to that question and I mentioned that I am bringing back my own prescription medication that I am prescribed and purchased in Australia. They wanted some examples so I mentioned some of the medication and off I went.

 

[Mal]

Interesting. I know we have discussed this in the past but where does it mention that you are only allowed to use the express arrival card if you answer NO to questions 1-10? If I remember correctly the express arrival card is blank on the back with no conditions attached.

The Qantas Arrivals card looks like the one QF009 posted in this post http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...syd-express-immigration-11490.html#post148419, but with Qantas Branding. The terms are on the back. Not sure what BA would hand out. It does imply that if you answer no, you can still use the express immigration, but normal x-ray queue.

 

[JohnK]

The Qantas Arrivals card looks like the one QF009 posted in this post

Just goes to show how much notice I take of terms and conditions.

It does imply that if you answer no, you can still use the express immigration, but normal x-ray queue.

I thought I would post my experience that I was able to use both expresss immigration and express quarantine queues.