Express Path - sped up (outbound) immigration/security Screening at Intl airports

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Mal

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I have seen something briefly posted about this at one of the forums I visit, but don't recall it being posted here... and not really sure where I saw it. Apologies if already posted somewhere else!

Sydney, Melbourne and a third International Airport (BNE? ADL?) are participating in a Fast Track (Outbound) immigration/Security Screening trial.

For Qantas, it appears to apply to WP/CL/First pax at least, but I assume more people as well. Can't find online references to it anywhere. Other airlines are also participating and would have their own criteria.

It's a slip of paper given to you at check-in. A couple of exerpts:

"As a valued customer, we invite you to use Express Path to speed you through immigration and security queuing."

"Note: The Australian Government is supporting an industry trial of "Express paths" for defined passengers at three Australian Airports"

"The trial will be evaluated by the Government to determine whether these arrangements continue".

Using the Express path, you basically go through the "Diplomatic/Flight Crew/Apec/D Sticker" queue for outgoing immigration, and at Security screening, they have a specially set up lane just for crew/Express path customers.

Nothing appears set up yet at inbound immigration. Maybe in the future. The card is collected at security screening. I'm not sure whether Customs stamps the form or not when you present it.

PS, the slips aren't dated... remind anyone of similar schemes overseas ;)
 
Hmm - another reason to consider getting WP as well as EXP on the BEHEMOTH and SOB before September...
 
simongr said:
Hmm - another reason to consider getting WP as well as EXP on the BEHEMOTH and SOB before September...

Of course I may just have a couple of spare vouchers ;)

The trial could be for Gold's and Business class well. Don't really know, and didn't have the time to ask about it.

They may also give them out to OWE/OWS's.
 
Mal said:
Of course I may just have a couple of spare vouchers ;)
Could be worth putting them up on coupon connection. ;)

Mal said:
The trial could be for Gold's and Business class well. Don't really know, and didn't have the time to ask about it.
There was 3 people travelling today and the 2 Platinums got one but the Gold did not!
 
Does anyone know which airport is the third airport in this trial?

MEL, SYD, ???

Curious to know if it's BNE, ADL, DRW or PER. (Presume BNE, but not really sure. Hope I havn't missed out any other regularly scheduled INTL airports)
 
Mal said:
Does anyone know which airport is the third airport in this trial?
With no responses so far, I will respond that at BNE International there is an "e" ribbon logo on the APEC, crew, group & domestic lanes on the left. I was not in that lane "due to being a WP", the other day, so can not confirm access based on status. However, I would be willing to guess (given the logo use) it is available (if not to priority QF customers, at least other airlines' priority customers). I certainly saw people escorted past me in the queue, who were not crew! (Not that status gets queue jump privileges, but class might.)
 
In my past two trips (over the past three weeks) - one SQ F and one SQ J out of MEL, I got a voucher for fast access through Immigration control and the security check. Actually - on the first flight (F class) I refused the voucher since I have an APEC card, only to have the security checkpoint staff advise me that I should have taken it to use the priority security checkpoint - they let me use the lane, but I got the feeling that if they were busier, they would have forced me to use the other busier lanes - despite having a APEC card which IMO should allow me to use the "proirity" security.

I am QF PLat, so I guess I will get the priority vouchers in the future on any OW flight... and with one more SQ flight, I will be SQ Elite Gold, so that should get me the same on any *A flights too...:D
 
dot said:
... despite having a APEC card which IMO should allow me to use the "proirity" security
I agree, but for some reason APEC BTC cardholders (at least in the UA/NZ terminal at Sydney) don't get Priority security although they do get priority immigration. It makes no sense ... but then, what does these days? :arrow:
 
d15.in.oz said:
... I was not in that lane "due to being a WP", the other day, so can not confirm access based on status. However, I would be willing to guess (given the logo use) it is available (if not to priority QF customers, at least other airlines' priority customers). ...
Are you saying you were not eligible for this lane for being a WP or did you omit a "not" from "due to being a WP"?

As a QF WP last time I travelled I was given an e voucher.
 
I must try NOT to use a double negative… It did not occur to me to get an “e” pass in BNE, as I was not checked in for my international flight at BNE... Therefore I couldn’t confirm (as you now have) that BNE was participating in the express clearance program for Qantas priority customers.

However, I was trying to add that the lanes had the “e” logo present, so BNE was likely to be “the other airport” questioned in the original post. (Only want to put a proviso that, as I wasn't in the lane "officially" as a WP, I couldn't personally confirm access for that reason.)
 
Flying QF in F out of SYD a couple of weeks ago I was NOT given the e voucher as they had run out! thankfully no queues for a change at Immi and only one instance of a DYKWIA at security who decided that although he was late for boarding his flight that he would start arguing with security and telling them how hw had spent with QF in the past few months :confused:

I was actually a little disappointed in the check in process in F :(
 
dot said:
despite having a APEC card which IMO should allow me to use the "proirity" security.

No offence, but why should an APEC card holder get Express Security? Is it part of the APEC card T&C's that airports should provide sped up security for the holders of these cards?

The Express Path trial is all about improving the speed of 'important' customers through Immigration and Security outbound. While APEC holders are also important in their own way, I fail to see why Australia should offer something that other countries don't in the scheme (and isn't listed as a benefit)
 
I'm not claiming that I deserve special treatment just because I have an APEC BTC (I'll get the priority pass most of the time anyway due to my OW and (soon) *A status); Its just that it seems odd to race through immigration control only to be lobbed with everyone else when you get to the security checkpoint - a whole 25m further on. Most airports don't have separate security checkpoints anyway, so in most airports, it is a non-issue.

Originally Posted by Mal
I fail to see why Australia should offer something that other countries don't in the scheme (and isn't listed as a benefit)

FYI: On my departure from PEK last Friday, there was actually a separate security checkpoint for Diplomats and APEC BT Card holders (Crew have their own checkpoint) and there was no priority given to J class travellers. I can't remember any other airports with similar facilities for APEC BTC holders, but then I have only had my card for four months or so. I can't be sure that other airports don't also offer the same facilities as I have only gone to small percentage of APEC BTC recognising airports.
 
Flying as *G in biz class on Thai I didn't get an express card.

When I asked the immigration officer what the fasttrack was she said it was for people running late for their flight.
 
In SYD a couple of weeks ago I used the F checkin and was not issued with a fast track voucher. I had totally forgotten about it anyway. F checkin was great, the concierge arrived to take my golf clubs to the oversize baggage drop.

Got through immigration, only a few people in each queue, and as I approached security I was asked if I had a fast track voucher. Remembering the fast track voucher I got in MEL last month I showed this to the officer and was waived through to the fast track security line. Must remember to keep this in my jacket pocket for future flights.
 
On Friday the x-ray queue after immigration was quite large so I used the e fast track. I had to surrender my voucher. :(
 
Strange, I was not asked to surrender the fast track voucher. Good to go again on another busy day....
 
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I have a voucher from a previous flight and was hoping to give it to my wife when she travels with the kids to LHR in Sept. Would immigration be looking for WP status or F class on the BP or just for the voucher?
She is only a QP member and PB status.
 
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