Express Immigration/Customs

[doczim]

Does Qantas offer J Class Express Immigration/Customs cards on departure (and return) from/to of Brisbane International? I know Virgin Australia did when we went in 2015, but when we went in 2013 with QF we didn't get them , so I wanted to check.

 

[Jet L]

Well as QF WP you would get it in Y. assuming you are still WP. not 100% for J most likely though.

 

[doczim]

oh I need to update that now, no longer QF WP , just a NB now.

 

[greyyy]

Well as QF WP you would get it in Y. assuming you are still WP. not 100% for J most likely though.

SYD airport does for J (for Qantas and Fiji Airways, at least), but I thought that BNE didn't do express inbound and outbound immigration.

 

[hm520]

Yes, but it's all automated now anyway so not necessary.

 

[greyyy]

Yes, but it's all automated now anyway so not necessary.

This is exactly how I found 'ExpressPath' coming into Sydney - immigration and customs is so quick anyway that I felt silly for 'using' it.

 

[doczim]

SYD airport does for J (for Qantas and Fiji Airways, at least), but I thought that BNE didn't do express inbound and outbound immigration.

BNE definitely did outbound in 2015, I still have the passes that VA gave us. I am pretty sure we got express inbound also, but not 100% on that one.

 

[kermatu]

I was an inbound J QF passenger in Brisbane international last week. Received an express card but couldn't see any such line and just walked straight up to a machine anyway. Pretty irrelevant on inbound flights these days in most of Australia and NZ. Outbound still some advantage to an express card / sticker.

 

[doczim]

I contacted QF on Facebook and they didn't know and advised I need to contact the QF airport team. When asked how to do that they said when I check-in ! Was kind of hoping to know beforehand.

 

[Matt_01]

I flew out and back through BNE late last year, they hand out the departure cards at check in and arrival cards on the inbound flight. As others have said they are not that necessary any more and they are normally not collected so if you get some you can normally hang on to them.

If you what to try your luck at getting some in advance take a look at the "free to home thread" on AFF. I gave away a few late last year or earlier this year. There are a number of other members giving these passes away, so you maybe able to score some.

 

[kermatu]

I flew out and back through BNE late last year, they hand out the departure cards at check in and arrival cards on the inbound flight. As others have said they are not that necessary any more and they are normally not collected so if you get some you can normally hang on to them.

If you what to try your luck at getting some in advance take a look at the "free to home thread" on AFF. I gave away a few late last year or earlier this year. There are a number of other members giving these passes away, so you maybe able to score some.

I have given away a lot of inbound and outbound express cards to friends and family with no status or flying Y this past year - more than half say they still have them as they aren't collected or needed. I am surprised actually that QF even give them out now to be honest.

 

[kitkatff]

arriving in MEL it can be useful to exit after collecting your luggage if there are a few other flights' worth of people also waiting to get out and you can't be bothered queuing up for 20 minutes.

People with kids can use the express cards for customs as I think the machines don't work for kids under 12 or thereabouts?

I use them because half the time my passport is not recognised by the machine, no idea why as it works fine when leaving ... maybe they're trying to tell be something?

 

[kermatu]

arriving in MEL it can be useful to exit after collecting your luggage if there are a few other flights' worth of people also waiting to get out and you can't be bothered queuing up for 20 minutes.

People with kids can use the express cards for customs as I think the machines don't work for kids under 12 or thereabouts?

I use them because half the time my passport is not recognised by the machine, no idea why as it works fine when leaving ... maybe they're trying to tell be something?

I can't remember the last time they even bothered to operate an express customs path in SYD at least.

 

[auriga]

I can't remember the last time they even bothered to operate an express customs path in SYD at least.

I agree it is a bit useless for SYD inbound.

 

[kermatu]

Not specific to QF of course, so from their point of view still better to hand out the cards.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

On the occasion when I was at SYD int in Dec last year, the express line didn't have anyone there, not the guy checking express (departures) cards, and also all the buntings were shut.
So no choice but had to go to the general line to use outgoing Smartgate and drop off the OPC into the box.
These days, with the outgoing Smartgate being placed in the middle of the general line, if I remember correctly, no outgoing Smartgate in the express line, so the express card is next to useless (if you want to use outgoing Smartgate).
Same as incoming, if wanting to use incoming Smartgate, that express card is also not really worth it.
When they collect the Smartgate tix before going into the open (unsecured public) area, also there is no special line there.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

arriving in MEL it can be useful to exit after collecting your luggage if there are a few other flights' worth of people also waiting to get out and you can't be bothered queuing up for 20 minutes.

Yes. As I posted in another thread, the customs part at MEL is now divided into a long walk for the general public and a very short walk for express path holders. It saves a few minutes time, but more importantly, a long walk to one side of the terminal and then all the way back again.