Express customs cards

[Dmac6345]

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.

Again, I have been told by staff that there is NO express lane for Customs/Quarantine at MEL. They are only able to be used through Immigration. I came in on QF30 last week and it was mayhem. Took me 3 mins to clear immigration and then 50 mins to clear customs. That was with my came coming out very quickly !!
Maybe it depends on what day/time as the whether they run an express lane for immigration or not.
I wish there was an 'Ask the Customs & Border Protection Agent' thread !

HVR+ needs to elaborate and share his experience

 

[MEL_Traveller]

with a QF F Host escort

you saw a First Host in melbourne!?!? :shock: (I'd go out buy a lottery ticket!)

 

[robd]

I went through MEL on October 9th. I had my express card in hand and asked the Customs agent where the express line was. He said express card was only for immigration. We had to line up with the masses through customs and it took forever.

Went through again on Saturday, but the place was empty

 

[pagingjoan]

you saw a First Host in melbourne!?!? :shock: (I'd go out buy a lottery ticket!)

Special circumstances! She was brilliant. As were the cabin crew and ground and Lounge staff at MEL, LAX (believe it or not!) and LHR on that long round trip.

Kudos passed on, of course. Qantas did a superb job all round. I have nothing but praise.

 

[Himeno]

I used an express pass at MEL customs off QF36 a little over 2 weeks ago.

 

[pagingjoan]

Could you give us a clue as to where the Express line was located? And remind us what time of day or night your flight arrived?
You have a lot of us on the edge of our seats.

 

[Ansett]

Have never seen or heard of an express customs line at Melbourne. Indeed when using the express card it is only at passport control and then it is taken away from you. Would love to know how the express customs and quarantine works.

 

[robd]

I used an express pass at MEL customs off QF36 a little over 2 weeks ago.

What the?

Is there, or is there not, express pass for customs in Melbourne? Is it just a case of Customs Agent on a sickie, so we won't bother today???

 

[dajop]

Could you give us a clue as to where the Express line was located? And remind us what time of day or night your flight arrived?
You have a lot of us on the edge of our seats.

Well QF36 usually arrives around 7am at this time of the year. But I am also curious where the line is located . I may have to take an arrival card out of the "bank" for my next flight into MEL (also a 7am-ish arrival).

 

[Ansett]

Could it be people are getting confused between passport control (Immigration) and Customs and Quarantine?

 

[Cossie]

I asked one of the Customs staff and was told that there wasn't an express lane in Melbourne.

 

[MarkD]

Think you are on the money there Ansett

 

[pagingjoan]

My guess, too - but think we should give those who report using the mythical (but prized in prospect ) service a chance to elaborate. .

 

[Himeno]

Could you give us a clue as to where the Express line was located? And remind us what time of day or night your flight arrived?
You have a lot of us on the edge of our seats.

Was given the card during the flight. Used the smart gate, then got bag from carrousel 5. Heading towards the customs/AQIS line, there was a switch back line leading to an agent and a gate open skipping the switch back to the same agent. People with express passes went through the gate, everyone else went to through the switch back.

 

[van]

I have a pile of express cards at home. I receive them flying business regardless of status and rarely does someone at immigration take them from me. Agree that they assist immigration but the e-passport is faster. The express lanes are usually one or two gates compared to 6-8 gates for the mob. This does not make the express gates much faster unless the flights are unfull in business.

 

[robd]

I came in on VA24 landing 9th Oct, flying J as VA Gold and was given express pass. Jnr & I used E-kiosk through immigration, grabbed the bags off the carousel and headed to customs. There must have been several flights that arrived around the same time, as the queue for customs was really long. I had a bit of a DYKWIA moment when directed to join the masses and asked the agent where the express pass line was. He curtly told me "there is no express pass for customs" and to line up with everyone else. I still have the express pass.

 

[calmelb]

One time when I was leaving MEL (going through immigration after security check) there was a passenger in J who had a CX J Boarding Pass and he walked up the express queue and got told curtly by the woman behind the counter "This line is only for Express Card Passengers, you will have to join that queue", he then started talking with his friends who seemed to have gotten their express cards and then the woman realised her mistake and let him come through.

Have any of you had any problems with the Express card 'checkers'? They seem to be so aggressive about it, even if you are in J

 

[Dmac6345]

I came in on VA24 landing 9th Oct, flying J as VA Gold and was given express pass. Jnr & I used E-kiosk through immigration, grabbed the bags off the carousel and headed to customs. There must have been several flights that arrived around the same time, as the queue for customs was really long. I had a bit of a DYKWIA moment when directed to join the masses and asked the agent where the express pass line was. He curtly told me "there is no express pass for customs" and to line up with everyone else. I still have the express pass.

Same scenario for me the last 10 times this year.