Smartgate in Sydney using Flight Crew lane now?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Mal

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Posts
12,298
Have they changed things in Sydney with the Smartgate immigration points?

From what I see, Smartgate customers now go through the "Flight Crew" line. They seem to have removed the second SmartGate machine that was there just for "Smartgate customers" and seem to have replaced it with a biometric passport trial machine.

Lined up today behind some flight crew from a *certain* airline. Got basically told by one crew member that I seemed to be in the wrong line. Second crew member then asks me if I'm Flight crew with their airline.

So, anyone else been through Syd International recently and can confirm? The precious Flight Crew seem to be upset that they no longer have an exclusive line!
 
Mal said:
Have they changed things in Sydney with the Smartgate immigration points?

From what I see, Smartgate customers now go through the "Flight Crew" line. They seem to have removed the second SmartGate machine that was there just for "Smartgate customers" and seem to have replaced it with a biometric passport trial machine.

Lined up today behind some flight crew from a *certain* airline. Got basically told by one crew member that I seemed to be in the wrong line. Second crew member then asks me if I'm Flight crew with their airline.

So, anyone else been through Syd International recently and can confirm? The precious Flight Crew seem to be upset that they no longer have an exclusive line!
Interesting...

Hmmm... what was their reaction when Smatgate opened for you?
 
I assume we're talking about strolling through with the new e-passport?
 
serfty said:
Interesting...

Hmmm... what was their reaction when Smatgate opened for you?

Priceless. The look on their faces was really one to remember!
 
cssaus said:
Yes, but the smartgate devices now been upgraded to validate against biometric data that is now stored on the new e-passports.

See the links:

http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/passports/index.html

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4243

There seems to be Generation 1 of the Smartgate , Generation 2 of the smartgate and Generation 3. I believe Generation 3 will be the one used when the system is properly rolled out.

Gen 1 is the standard one that uses the old passports for those registed on the Smartgate Trial. Gen 2 was a trial one for the first E-Passports and looked very similar to Gen 1. Gen 3 I think might only handle E-Passports and is a different design.

In Syd, they have a Gen 1 and a Gen 3 I think. Honestly don't spend enough time "loitering" around the immigration area to take full notice. They used to have 2 Gen 1 smartgates and a Gen 2 smartgate. One Gen 1 smartgate was just for Crew Members, and the other was for Smartgate trial participants.

Hopefully someone flying through Syd in the near future can confirm...
 
So has any Smartgate customers been through SYD airport recently?

Would have thought at least one would have!

Any experiences with Smartgate and the Flight Crew lane?
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Went through SYD Smartgate yesterday around 08:30. First Smartgate covered up and the second one said to be not operational.

Queue mostly full of crew and longer and slower than the OZ&NZ passport lanes.

5 minutes later the 2nd from the wall Smartgate started up and 2 other non crew and I immediately went to it and it worked.

Saved me at least 30 minutes in the crew queue.
 
gaia said:
Went through SYD Smartgate yesterday around 08:30. First Smartgate covered up and the second one said to be not operational.

Queue mostly full of crew and longer and slower than the OZ&NZ passport lanes.

5 minutes later the 2nd from the wall Smartgate started up and 2 other non crew and I immediately went to it and it worked.

Saved me at least 30 minutes in the crew queue.
'

So Smartgate is definately going through the Crew queues now?

Interesting. Any shirty looks from the "precious" flight crews?
 
Mal said:
So Smartgate is definately going through the Crew queues now?

Interesting. Any shirty looks from the "precious" flight crews?

Yes, shares crew queue.

Never had an issue with flight crew.

Have been asked if I'm a pilot at baggage collection when on the rare occasion my baggage comes off first.
 
gaia said:
Mal said:
So Smartgate is definately going through the Crew queues now?

Interesting. Any shirty looks from the "precious" flight crews?

Yes, shares crew queue.

Never had an issue with flight crew.

Was this at Immigration for where QANTAS flts arrive (i.e. North end of T1) or the other end of T1?

Presumeably this is the same line that one joins if they're carrying an APEC card?
 
cssaus said:
Was this at Immigration for where QANTAS flts arrive (i.e. North end of T1) or the other end of T1?

Presumeably this is the same line that one joins if they're carrying an APEC card?

Yes, where Qantas flights arrive.

And yes same queue as APEC card.
 
gaia said:
cssaus said:
Was this at Immigration for where QANTAS flts arrive (i.e. North end of T1) or the other end of T1?

Presumeably this is the same line that one joins if they're carrying an APEC card?

Yes, where Qantas flights arrive.

And yes same queue as APEC card.

Thanks.

Does anyone know if the immigration counters for the other end of T1 arrivals have a Smartgate Kiosk as well?
 
cssaus said:
Does anyone know if the immigration counters for the other end of T1 arrivals have a Smartgate Kiosk as well?

Didn't last time I was there - although that was a few months ago.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..

Recent Posts

Back
Top