New Skywards Cards and e-gate?
Jun 22, 2016, 11:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
New Skywards Cards and e-gate?
I just noticed that the new Skywards cards (or maybe just the Plat card) says: "supports Smartgate functionality at Dubai airports" rather than "e-gate functionality" as it did before.
Has anyone registered a new card for smartgate and does it still work on departure e-gate, or do the new cards only work on entry to Dubai/UAE?
Has anyone registered a new card for smartgate and does it still work on departure e-gate, or do the new cards only work on entry to Dubai/UAE?
Jun 22, 2016, 1:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Marginally related: I don't qualify for e-gate in Dubai allegedly (South Africa passport) but in Abu Dhabi an immigration official pointed me to an automated emigration gate to scan my passport and exit the UAE. Do the Emirates have different immigration facilities or is this different to the Dubai e-gate?
Jun 22, 2016, 6:31 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
Jun 23, 2016, 11:27 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Lisboa, PT
Programs: QRPC Silver, BA Silver
Posts: 243
eternaltransit
New Skywards Cards and e-gate?
I just noticed that the new Skywards cards (or maybe just the Plat card) says: "supports Smartgate functionality at Dubai airports" rather than "e-gate functionality" as it did before.
Has anyone registered a new card for smartgate and does it still work on departure e-gate, or do the new cards only work on entry to Dubai/UAE?
New Skywards Cards and e-gate?
I just noticed that the new Skywards cards (or maybe just the Plat card) says: "supports Smartgate functionality at Dubai airports" rather than "e-gate functionality" as it did before.
Has anyone registered a new card for smartgate and does it still work on departure e-gate, or do the new cards only work on entry to Dubai/UAE?
Jun 24, 2016, 3:09 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
I know - I think we're talking at cross-purposes.
I was asking if the new wording on the new Skywards cards which were previously bona-fide e-gate cards have now been replaced with some sort of smartgate only card.
Given that there are only smartgates on arrival into the UAE (that also accept e-gate cards) and e-gate on departure, that would have meant that EK had given us an "enhancement".
But it seems like it's just a different wording on the cards, so all is well
I was asking if the new wording on the new Skywards cards which were previously bona-fide e-gate cards have now been replaced with some sort of smartgate only card.
Given that there are only smartgates on arrival into the UAE (that also accept e-gate cards) and e-gate on departure, that would have meant that EK had given us an "enhancement".
But it seems like it's just a different wording on the cards, so all is well
Jun 25, 2016, 1:58 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 104
Noticed the wording had changed when I received my new card back in March, but the pack contained the same leaflet as last year stating that I could register the card for e-Gate functionality. Registered new card at the Dnata office on SZR and have since used it at the e-Gates on arrival and departure without issue.
Aug 20, 2016, 2:26 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 2
As of 08/2016, only Terminal 3 (Emirates flights) arrivals and departures has the passport scan enabled smart gates installed (similar to the UK smart gates).
The departure part is tricky as the gates installed on the right side (only one gate), as you go towards immigration, are enabled with passport scan departure.
I've activated my skywards blue card last week but I have not had a chance to use it. As of now, terminal 1 (all other airlines) and terminal 2 (fly Dubai) have only egate (smart card) facilities for arrival and departure.
It's highly advisable to have both passport and skywards card registration because it literally takes 10 seconds to go through immigration.
The departure part is tricky as the gates installed on the right side (only one gate), as you go towards immigration, are enabled with passport scan departure.
I've activated my skywards blue card last week but I have not had a chance to use it. As of now, terminal 1 (all other airlines) and terminal 2 (fly Dubai) have only egate (smart card) facilities for arrival and departure.
It's highly advisable to have both passport and skywards card registration because it literally takes 10 seconds to go through immigration.