End of Iris? [effective 17 September 2013]
Sep 3, 2012, 3:33 pm
#751
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG & Accor Plat...
Posts: 734
I went thru T5 last thursday and i thought the border officer has a different type of uniform. I asked him about the non-functioning iris and his next two comments were pertinent: " i dont normally work here" (Might explain the uniform) and " iris has been down for weeks and i dont expect they will turn it on again" 
Sep 3, 2012, 4:49 pm
#752
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Berlin
Posts: 1,533
I went thru T5 last thursday and i thought the border officer has a different type of uniform. I asked him about the non-functioning iris and his next two comments were pertinent: " i dont normally work here" (Might explain the uniform) and " iris has been down for weeks and i dont expect they will turn it on again"
Palmer
Sep 3, 2012, 5:01 pm
#753
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
This evening there was an A4 piece of paper with something along the lines of a door (?) problem and that the maintenance having been called.
Sep 4, 2012, 4:35 pm
#754
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Cambs
Programs: Mucci, BAEC Silver, Scandic 3rd Floor, PC Pleb, FB Off White, Tufty Club
Posts: 2,836
Sep 5, 2012, 3:48 am
#755
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Hampshire, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 372
I went through around lunchtime on the 31st and it was tensabarrier'd off. When I got to the desk, the guy checking passports said it was gone for good.
On another note, have they changed rank insignia? The guy checking my passport had two stars, instead of the normal one, two, or three bars that I'm normally used to. Anyone know what it means?
On another note, have they changed rank insignia? The guy checking my passport had two stars, instead of the normal one, two, or three bars that I'm normally used to. Anyone know what it means?
Sep 5, 2012, 4:07 am
#756
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London-etc
Posts: 3,893
Sep 7, 2012, 5:42 pm
#758
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
One of the two T5 IRIS was working tonight.
Came through at about 9:30 and arrivals hall was in utter chaos. People coming up the escalators from the satellite trains were being diverted away down the corridor as the hall was already full. No idea what was going on.
I got a bit lucky, as I was right at the front of a section being held back before being allowed to even enter the hall. I just asked the guy if IRIS was working and he nodded and let me though, telling me to make my way through the crowd to the IRIS lane. There were about 20 people ahead of me and only one machine working. Just as I joined the queue they opened up a human operated lane and whisked us all through. I probably got through a good hour quicker than the people I started queuing with.
I will really miss IRIS as/when it goes. The egates are just not as effective at all.
Came through at about 9:30 and arrivals hall was in utter chaos. People coming up the escalators from the satellite trains were being diverted away down the corridor as the hall was already full. No idea what was going on.
I got a bit lucky, as I was right at the front of a section being held back before being allowed to even enter the hall. I just asked the guy if IRIS was working and he nodded and let me though, telling me to make my way through the crowd to the IRIS lane. There were about 20 people ahead of me and only one machine working. Just as I joined the queue they opened up a human operated lane and whisked us all through. I probably got through a good hour quicker than the people I started queuing with.
I will really miss IRIS as/when it goes. The egates are just not as effective at all.
Sep 9, 2012, 10:57 am
#763
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Clearly, what UKBA frontline agents say on this has to be taken with a bucketful of salt.
Sep 9, 2012, 11:09 am
#764
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
Sep 9, 2012, 11:16 am
#765
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Bonvoy Amb, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 553
One of the two T5 IRIS was working tonight.
Came through at about 9:30 and arrivals hall was in utter chaos. People coming up the escalators from the satellite trains were being diverted away down the corridor as the hall was already full. No idea what was going on.
I got a bit lucky, as I was right at the front of a section being held back before being allowed to even enter the hall. I just asked the guy if IRIS was working and he nodded and let me though, telling me to make my way through the crowd to the IRIS lane. There were about 20 people ahead of me and only one machine working. Just as I joined the queue they opened up a human operated lane and whisked us all through. I probably got through a good hour quicker than the people I started queuing with.
I will really miss IRIS as/when it goes. The egates are just not as effective at all.
Came through at about 9:30 and arrivals hall was in utter chaos. People coming up the escalators from the satellite trains were being diverted away down the corridor as the hall was already full. No idea what was going on.
I got a bit lucky, as I was right at the front of a section being held back before being allowed to even enter the hall. I just asked the guy if IRIS was working and he nodded and let me though, telling me to make my way through the crowd to the IRIS lane. There were about 20 people ahead of me and only one machine working. Just as I joined the queue they opened up a human operated lane and whisked us all through. I probably got through a good hour quicker than the people I started queuing with.
I will really miss IRIS as/when it goes. The egates are just not as effective at all.