What cheeses me off

[Cossie]

Melbourne International arrivals, I thought Frankfurt was bad. Queues right up through duty free and more.

So after about 1/2 an hour I get to scan my passport and get one of those pieces of paper. Computer says no! Not happy Jan, off to the single queue for those with issues, another 1/2 hour wait.

Can't believe we are meant to be a first world country, what other countries have such an antiquated system, why can't you just scan your passport like most other places?

Even in Albania last year only required to scan passport and biometrics checked at the same time and a photo.

Geez, I am so over all of this, flying into Jakarta we were both directed to the red queue and bags x-rayed.

Something odd with hers. They took the toothpaste tube out sent it through the x-ray machine twice then took a swab. I did offer to brush my teeth! Then the baby powder she uses seemed to be a problem, x-rayed again. Can't make this stuff up.

 

[blackcat20]

Melbourne International arrivals, I thought Frankfurt was bad. Queues right up through duty free and more.

So after about 1/2 an hour I get to scan my passport and get one of those pieces of paper. Computer says no! Not happy Jan, off to the single queue for those with issues, another 1/2 hour wait.

Can't believe we are meant to be a first world country, what other countries have such an antiquated system, why can't you just scan your passport like most other places?

Even in Albania last year only required to scan passport and biometrics checked at the same time and a photo.

Geez, I am so over all of this, flying into Jakarta we were both directed to the red queue and bags x-rayed.

Something odd with hers. They took the toothpaste tube out sent it through the x-ray machine twice then took a swab. I did offer to brush my teeth! Then the baby powder she uses seemed to be a problem, x-rayed again. Can't make this stuff up.

It was equally horrendous on Saturday at 6am. Lines were right back to those first few kiosks before you go around the corner. Never have I been more grateful to be travelling with kids who are too young for the kiosks, we had to squeeze down the right side to get to the manual processing area. Were were landside an hour after landing.

I also dont understand why we have a two step kiosk system, when everyone else is one step.

 

[Beer_budget]

I also dont understand why we have a two step kiosk system, when everyone else is one step.

Two steps, no signage...I don't know what Melbourne's like but Sydney is a nightmare with the step one kiosks just off to the side with no explanation

 

[blackcat20]

Two steps, no signage...I don't know what Melbourne's like but Sydney is a nightmare with the step one kiosks just off to the side with no explanation

I wish I'd taken a photo, but the entire hallway was chock full, not everyone knew where to go. Fortunately we knew just to squeeze past and keep moving.

 

[MARTINE]

Yet have one of those We are Green cards in the room. I would be, but there's one towel hang

The cynic in me wonders if hotels just want to reduce time (and $) spent cleaning per room, laundry costs and guilts us who have travelled endless airplane miles to get there. I am prepared to be shot down on this - I am happy to have my sheets left unchanged for my stay but ‘fess up to wanting clean fresh towels. At home every bathroom has towel heaters so they are always dry - not usually the case in minimalist hotels

 

[somebol]

Hotel pillows that look fluffy but become flat as paper when you use them. what is the point?

 

[dajop]

It was equally horrendous on Saturday at 6am. Lines were right back to those first few kiosks before you go around the corner.

Another reason to not take overnight flights into MEL (as if I needed another reason! ).

I arrived last night on SQ217, from disembarkation to landslide, including stopping by the carousel to collect luggage it was 18mins. Add another 8 whilst waiting to dismembark as I was 4 rows from the back of the aircraft.

 

[Quickstatus]

I think the 2 step arrival is faster not slower.

It splits the immigration process into 2 steps by doing the passport verification bit while you are in the queue.
Step 1 passport verification
Step 2 facial recognition and matching

If step 1 and 2 are combined at the final facial recognition stage, the overall process will be slower.

The only way to make it faster is to increase the number of Facial recognition lanes. But Major airports have to make money by using available space for commercial use - such as Duty Free. After all, prospective superannuants like me depend on it.

 

[dajop]

I think the 2 step arrival is faster not slower.

It splits the immigration process into 2 steps by doing the passport verification bit while you are in the queue.
Step 1 passport verification
Step 2 facial recognition and matching

If step 1 and 2 are combined at the final facial recognition stage, the overall process will be slower.

UK manage it in a single step.

Singapore as a returning resident I don’t even to get my passport out (most of the time anyway). Just scan my face (twice) and I’m through.

But spacr is probably the main limitation at MEL. As you suggest can’t let the convenience of passengers to get in the way of duty free floor space.