Express customs cards

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Split

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Just wondering if anyone knows the deal with these cards? I am a gold frequent flyer and I always receive these cards when leaving BNE international airport and maybe 1 out of 5 flights received them when landing back into BNE or at another airport who has this express option. On my last two flights people around me got them (don't know there status).

It's a nightmare going through customs in Brisbane at the moment so obviously this cards save a lot of time.

I can't find any mention of them on the Qantas website.

Thanks for any info.
 
Usually platinum only is my understanding. Any other distribution is based on discretion.
 
It's a nightmare going through customs in Brisbane at the moment so obviously this cards save a lot of time.
How do you figure that? Last time i went through BNE, they had merged express and crew into the one line. The normal lines were faster and the smart gate lines were faster again.
 
IMO the express cards are useless coming into MEL. You can only use them to clear immigration (not customs any more).
Having an e-passport, quickens things up 100%. Out of the many times I have cleared immigration, the e-passport kiosk has told me to join the que only once. Only then is the express card any good to me.
 
IMO the express cards are useless coming into MEL. You can only use them to clear immigration (not customs any more).
Having an e-passport, quickens things up 100%. Out of the many times I have cleared immigration, the e-passport kiosk has told me to join the que only once. Only then is the express card any good to me.

Agree. Really quick with the E-kiosks. Customs is where the pass is needed. :evil:
 
The last two flights I have returned to BNE from Dubai and there was a flight from LA arriving at the same time the immigration wasn't so bad but customs was a nightmare. Once I was given the card the other time I didn't receive it but it must be because I'm not platinum yet and got lucky the other time.
 
.... and used!

No value for immigration but very useful for customs.

Yes only useful for customs. Interesting that unlike other countries, our egalitarianism seem to mean that there are no 'fast' lanes for F & J at australian ports. Nit that our queues really need them unlike places such as Heathrow.
 
Express cards can't be used through Melbourne customs. Are they still able to be used through customs in other Australian ports?
 
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IMO the express cards are useless coming into MEL. You can only use them to clear immigration (not customs any more).
Having an e-passport, quickens things up 100%. Out of the many times I have cleared immigration, the e-passport kiosk has told me to join the que only once. Only then is the express card any good to me.

Agreed, got through immigration very quickly about a month ago, then had to wait a considerable time for my bag to be delivered from the nether regions of the airport where the plane had been forced to park.
By the time I got my bag, admittedly one of the first off, the passengers of several other planes were waiting to go through Customs, the line snaked quite a way around the baggage carousels meaning I missed my connecting domestic flight.
 
I thought the express arrivals cards were for Platinum and above. But take note they are not always handed out. Occasionally need to ask them to provide.

Sometimes the queues for quarantine in SYD are long. This is where the express arrivals cards come in very handy.
 
Was there a sign saying "express"? I have never seen an express lane for customs/quarantine at MEL, only for immigration.

Yes and there was a person ensuring that only those who had the card were allowed to enter.
 
Yes and there was a person ensuring that only those who had the card were allowed to enter.

Great! I'll look for that lane next Sunday morning. Is it located on the completely opposite side of the hall from where QF bags are delivered (carroussel 5 or 6 if I remember correctly)?
 
All customers seated in First and Business and any Platinum's seated in Premium Economy and Economy.

Just wondering if anyone knows the deal with these cards? I am a gold frequent flyer and I always receive these cards when leaving BNE international airport and maybe 1 out of 5 flights received them when landing back into BNE or at another airport who has this express option. On my last two flights people around me got them (don't know there status).

It's a nightmare going through customs in Brisbane at the moment so obviously this cards save a lot of time.

I can't find any mention of them on the Qantas website.

Thanks for any info.
 
I've asked about for the express custom/quarantine lane before at MEL, and have been told that there wasn't one, and to line up in the queue that snakes back on itself for hundreds of metres. The AQIS express passes have been useless to me. I vaguely remember an express lane one one occasion around 8 years ago, but not seen it since. Has it returned? I don't fly in international F/J that often to have noticed.
 
Yes and there was a person ensuring that only those who had the card were allowed to enter.

Curious!
I have not seen an Express line for Customs at MEL in many a moon.

Even on a recent re-entry - also in October - with a QF F Host escort, there was no Express line available. The brilliant QF F person did arrange a speedy exit but it was by negotiation, not by means of an Express lane.

Would be very interested to know where the lane is accessed, when it has appeared.
 
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