New E-Passport Machines
Jan 17, 2017, 11:12 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
It was great on departure to use my biometric US passport in the machine. We avoided a big crowd with no concept of lines.
Now if we could get the same benefit on arrival that would make a huge difference. Last time the passport line getting into Israel was an hour in a crowd that had no regard for a line or queue. People were crushing and cutting in front and all sorts of unpleasant. I would pay extra to use the machine! lol.
Now if we could get the same benefit on arrival that would make a huge difference. Last time the passport line getting into Israel was an hour in a crowd that had no regard for a line or queue. People were crushing and cutting in front and all sorts of unpleasant. I would pay extra to use the machine! lol.
Jan 17, 2017, 11:22 pm
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,919
It was great on departure to use my biometric US passport in the machine. We avoided a big crowd with no concept of lines.
Now if we could get the same benefit on arrival that would make a huge difference. Last time the passport line getting into Israel was an hour in a crowd that had no regard for a line or queue. People were crushing and cutting in front and all sorts of unpleasant. I would pay extra to use the machine! lol.
Now if we could get the same benefit on arrival that would make a huge difference. Last time the passport line getting into Israel was an hour in a crowd that had no regard for a line or queue. People were crushing and cutting in front and all sorts of unpleasant. I would pay extra to use the machine! lol.
The American asks, What is a "line''?"
The Russian asks, What is "bread"?"
The Israeli asks, What is "please"?
Jan 18, 2017, 10:06 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
Too true! I have to say I love Israel.
Jan 26, 2017, 12:59 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM, DL MM
Posts: 4,245
It was great on departure to use my biometric US passport in the machine. We avoided a big crowd with no concept of lines.
Now if we could get the same benefit on arrival that would make a huge difference. Last time the passport line getting into Israel was an hour in a crowd that had no regard for a line or queue. People were crushing and cutting in front and all sorts of unpleasant. I would pay extra to use the machine! lol.
Now if we could get the same benefit on arrival that would make a huge difference. Last time the passport line getting into Israel was an hour in a crowd that had no regard for a line or queue. People were crushing and cutting in front and all sorts of unpleasant. I would pay extra to use the machine! lol.
Jul 6, 2017, 6:07 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
This is embarrassing for Israel. A country that asks its citizens to be "ambassadors" when traveling abroad, and this is how we greet foreigners (and those returning "ambassadors")
In the attached link, you can see how anyone without a biometric passport is being treated. The article is in Hebrew but the videos are self-explanatory.
This is ridiculous because lines in the Interior Ministry are oppressively long and they're reminding people who have a valid non-biometric passport not to renew, because of those lines. But when that person gets to the airport, they are told, you should have had a biometric passport to avoid these ridiculous lines. And obviously, there's no help for foreigners.
Why can't they open ALL the passport lines, especially during the summer, so as to help shorten the lines?!תיעוד: תורי ענק בנתב"ג (Watch: [Ridiculously] Long Lines in TLV - Hebrew, Mako/Channel 2)
In the attached link, you can see how anyone without a biometric passport is being treated. The article is in Hebrew but the videos are self-explanatory.
This is ridiculous because lines in the Interior Ministry are oppressively long and they're reminding people who have a valid non-biometric passport not to renew, because of those lines. But when that person gets to the airport, they are told, you should have had a biometric passport to avoid these ridiculous lines. And obviously, there's no help for foreigners.
Why can't they open ALL the passport lines, especially during the summer, so as to help shorten the lines?!תיעוד: תורי ענק בנתב"ג (Watch: [Ridiculously] Long Lines in TLV - Hebrew, Mako/Channel 2)
Jul 6, 2017, 6:32 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,410
This is indeed very bad, but nonetheless it is not unique to TLV.
If you spend some time around the KL/AF forums, you will see exactly the same complains during rush hours.
I'm assuming they do not have enough employees to open all the passport lines all the time, and having no proper queuing system in place doesn't help.
If you spend some time around the KL/AF forums, you will see exactly the same complains during rush hours.
I'm assuming they do not have enough employees to open all the passport lines all the time, and having no proper queuing system in place doesn't help.
Jul 6, 2017, 6:51 am
#37
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This should probably become its own dedicated thread, but I'll add this as well. Interview with the head of security at IAA. Discussing both the terrible lines and the issue with the disreputable taxi drivers taking advantage of tourists.
תיעוד: תורי ענק בנתב"ג - תכנית חיסכון, חדשות 2
תיעוד: תורי ענק בנתב"ג - תכנית חיסכון, חדשות 2
Jul 6, 2017, 6:52 am
#38
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
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Posts: 13,167
This is indeed very bad, but nonetheless it is not unique to TLV.
If you spend some time around the KL/AF forums, you will see exactly the same complains during rush hours.
I'm assuming they do not have enough employees to open all the passport lines all the time, and having no proper queuing system in place doesn't help.
If you spend some time around the KL/AF forums, you will see exactly the same complains during rush hours.
I'm assuming they do not have enough employees to open all the passport lines all the time, and having no proper queuing system in place doesn't help.
Jul 6, 2017, 7:05 am
#39
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,410
TLV airport handled almost 18M pax in 2016.
For comparison, AMS handled about 40M OD pax in 2016, so roughly double, but there is one huge difference, and that is AMS has a lot of Schengen traffic pax who doesn't pass through immigration, so yes maybe the size of the airport is different, but the amount of OD pax going through immigration might not be so different.
For comparison, AMS handled about 40M OD pax in 2016, so roughly double, but there is one huge difference, and that is AMS has a lot of Schengen traffic pax who doesn't pass through immigration, so yes maybe the size of the airport is different, but the amount of OD pax going through immigration might not be so different.
Jul 6, 2017, 8:08 am
#40
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Moderator Note
Please keep on the topic of the actual E-Passport machines.
Thanks,
yosithezet
Moderator, EL AL Forum
Thanks,
yosithezet
Moderator, EL AL Forum
Jul 6, 2017, 11:34 pm
#41
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Israel
Programs: Elal Silver, AirCanada Aeroplan, AA AAdvantage, KLM Flying Blue, Continental OnePass, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 529
Is there an age requirement? My son-in-law is flying back in 10 days with 2 kids aged 4+5 and all have regular Israeli passports. Can they all use these new machines? On one passport, the 4 year old has a passport that was issued when he was 6 months so there is absolutely no resemblance between the passport pix and how he currently looks.
Dec 27, 2017, 2:05 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Posts: 765
Looks like they have rolled out this out for all passports departing. Usually I use the dedicated machines on the side, as I had a biometric passport- but now they have a machine in front of the booths where you used to give over your passport to someone to review, but now- its just some random person who scans your passport on the machine for you- no questions asked.It took like 10 seconds.
Dec 30, 2017, 3:30 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London uk
Programs: *A Gold, BA Silver, Avis President, Hertz President circle
Posts: 2,804
Is there an age requirement? My son-in-law is flying back in 10 days with 2 kids aged 4+5 and all have regular Israeli passports. Can they all use these new machines? On one passport, the 4 year old has a passport that was issued when he was 6 months so there is absolutely no resemblance between the passport pix and how he currently looks.
Looks like they have rolled out this out for all passports departing. Usually I use the dedicated machines on the side, as I had a biometric passport- but now they have a machine in front of the booths where you used to give over your passport to someone to review, but now- its just some random person who scans your passport on the machine for you- no questions asked.It took like 10 seconds.
Mar 19, 2018, 12:22 am
#45
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Yes, obviously the machines are hooked up to PIBA. To say, "if you owe a debt...the Border Patrol will stop you before leaving the country" isn't fully accurate. Under certain circumstances, the court will issue an order barring you from leaving the country. In that case, you cannot leave, irrespective of whether you try to use the kiosks or a manned booth.
