Sydney International Priority Security Lanes

[blackcat20]

Interesting that they now have a disability queue along with families

I know parents of extremely rambunctious boys would be thrilled to avoid long queues

We took the family line, but at the end were funnelled into the normal queue, so I'm not sure what the point was.

 

[mrsterryn]

We took the family line, but at the end were funnelled into the normal queue, so I'm not sure what the point was.

Oh darn , thanks

 

[blackcat20]

Oh darn , thanks

In Melbourne it definitely works better.

 

[sudoer]

Interesting that they now have a disability queue along with families

I know parents of extremely rambunctious boys would be thrilled to avoid long queues

The disability queue at SYD is at the same end of the terminal, but has priority over families for both security and immigration.

The family queue is usually quite slow and long. Security is insufficient - there are only 6 'bays' to load carry-on baggage for x-rays which are shared with the disability queue. As you'd expect with families, there are plenty of infrequent travellers who are nervous, stressed, or simply have no idea what they are doing. There are also lots of liquids being carried on for infants, which slows things down at the other end of the x-ray belt as they need to be manually checked.

Once through security, the manual immigration queue (required for under 8s, those under 1.1m tall, and those in wheelchairs) usually only has two or three agents working, and often has 30+ families long. The disability queue also shares these agents and gets preference over families.

My wife and I fly with our two year old quite a lot - her logbook is up to 52 flights. On a good day, immigration and security at SYD seems to takes about 30 minutes. During school holidays it is often closer to an hour.

Probably the most annoying part is they won't let us use the J/F priority queue even when we are flying a premium cabin!

We took the family line, but at the end were funnelled into the normal queue, so I'm not sure what the point was.

Kids under 8 and/or under 1.1m tall? The normal queue is far quicker anyway.

 

[blackcat20]

Kids under 8 and/or under 1.1m tall? The normal queue is far quicker anyway.

Both under 8 but well over 1.1m. We were through very quickly anyway so no big deal, but I did wonder why they label the family line only to redirect you anyway.

 

[sudoer]

Both under 8 but well over 1.1m. We were through very quickly anyway so no big deal, but I did wonder why they label the family line only to redirect you anyway.

Apologies it seems there are different rules for departure and arrival e-gates. I'm guessing your kids were deemed old enough to follow the instructions.

On departure, use of SmartGates requires the user to:

• have a machine readable passport
• be able to follow the instructions (i.e. not babies, small children or people who need assistance)
• are be a domestic traveller on an international flight

On arrival, use of SmartGates requires the user to:

• have an ePassport symbol on your passport
• are at least 1.1m tall
• are at least seven years of age and travelling with a parent or legal guardian
• are not a domestic traveller on an international flight
• are not an unaccompanied child under 16 years of age