ADP (Paris Airport management) invests in faster border controls
Nov 19, 2016, 8:00 pm
#16
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Indeed, the current machines are a shame. They are often out of order and sometimes don't work with long lines forming behind them. I might be wrong but I remember them being acclaimed as "new" technology developed by a wonderful French company. And it took years to work badly. In theory, any French with biometric passport (most) can use them, but there are so few of them operational... I compare to Hong Kong where there are so many of those and they work well and fast.
Nov 19, 2016, 8:04 pm
#17
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Registration is not needed for French biometric passport, but it is required for other EU nationals. I believe that is because Parafe use fingerprint recognition rather than face recognition that can be directly used on any EU biometric passport.
Many European airports have installed e-gates with facial recognition for all EU biometric passports. LHR now has them for a year, so it is not restricted to UK nationals (was when Iris was the system), AMS, FRA but also smaller airports like BRU, LIS, ...
France will be years late.
Face recognition still requires an agent to be ready to deal with problems. Typically, there is one agent for 4 e-gates. That still helps the staffing issue dramatically. But maintenance , which is not a French strong point, has to be performed efficiently.
Many European airports have installed e-gates with facial recognition for all EU biometric passports. LHR now has them for a year, so it is not restricted to UK nationals (was when Iris was the system), AMS, FRA but also smaller airports like BRU, LIS, ...
France will be years late.
Face recognition still requires an agent to be ready to deal with problems. Typically, there is one agent for 4 e-gates. That still helps the staffing issue dramatically. But maintenance , which is not a French strong point, has to be performed efficiently.
Nov 19, 2016, 9:25 pm
#18
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Actually the US has improved dramatically with the new automated systems and the mobile app. Even if you can't use those, there are less agents processing Americans and American residents so the non-citizen lines are moving faster now.
Last edited by stimpy; Nov 19, 2016 at 10:04 pm
Nov 19, 2016, 9:56 pm
#19
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Also the automatic link to ESTA when scanning passports speeds up the process.
BTW: Just looking at the length of the line is not always a good indicator. If the waiting line is served by a large number of immigration agents with fast procedure (like in Hong Kong and even now the US), it will flow much faster than at CDG where they only open a few desks and control takes a very long time.
Nov 20, 2016, 7:50 am
#20
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That and Global Entry. Since it exists, it usually takes something between 7 and 12 minutes from aircraft door to UBER door even at major airports like LAX or ORD. Lovin' it ^
Nov 20, 2016, 8:18 am
#21
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Connecting from 2E to 2F a couple of saturdays ago, 6pm, there was one security lane open for Skypriority and three for other pax. It took 20 minutes to get through security as the Skypriority queue was full. In facf the standard queue moved faster as three lanes were open there.
Then about ten minutes wait for immigration; two police checking passports, one of which was dealing with the priority line. Now, at least here priority moved a lot faster than the other line. But still, I was very surprised to see only two staff on duty...
Then about ten minutes wait for immigration; two police checking passports, one of which was dealing with the priority line. Now, at least here priority moved a lot faster than the other line. But still, I was very surprised to see only two staff on duty...
Nov 20, 2016, 12:55 pm
#22
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Nov 20, 2016, 1:18 pm
#23
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Indeed, and the same with the mobile app which is sadly reserved to US and Canadian citizens, although we can hope that things will change sooner rather than later -- well, election results notwithstanding...
Nov 21, 2016, 4:39 am
#24
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Indeed.
Also the automatic link to ESTA when scanning passports speeds up the process.
BTW: Just looking at the length of the line is not always a good indicator. If the waiting line is served by a large number of immigration agents with fast procedure (like in Hong Kong and even now the US), it will flow much faster than at CDG where they only open a few desks and control takes a very long time.
Also the automatic link to ESTA when scanning passports speeds up the process.
BTW: Just looking at the length of the line is not always a good indicator. If the waiting line is served by a large number of immigration agents with fast procedure (like in Hong Kong and even now the US), it will flow much faster than at CDG where they only open a few desks and control takes a very long time.
Nov 21, 2016, 5:27 am
#25
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I might have been unlucky, but it took me 2h at JFK two weeks ago (having been among the first ones to deplane) as a returning ESTA. The previous times this year took me ~45m, which was slightly, not dramatically, below my average previous experience (which would be 45-60m).
Nov 21, 2016, 7:29 am
#26
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As far as I could see, only a LH A333 and an AM B738; the queue wasn't huge, but it took very long. But, as I mentioned, I might have been unlucky. In any case, the point was only comparing immigration at CDG and at US airports. And if CDG has worsened and, eg, JFK has improved, the average waiting times are probably similar these days.
Nov 21, 2016, 7:46 am
#27
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Err... yes. So? The point I was trying to make is that the US has upgraded its airports and places like T5 in Chicago or TBIT in Los Angeles or Intl. Arrivals in Miami's AA terminal, all of which where notorious for very long lines at immigration, have added between 25 and 50 GE kiosks. Which as written further up by another poster, takes pressure of "the system".
Last edited by San Gottardo; Nov 21, 2016 at 9:57 am
Nov 21, 2016, 7:47 am
#28
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As far as I could see, only a LH A333 and an AM B738; the queue wasn't huge, but it took very long. But, as I mentioned, I might have been unlucky. In any case, the point was only comparing immigration at CDG and at US airports. And if CDG has worsened and, eg, JFK has improved, the average waiting times are probably similar these days.
Of course there is another difference, which is that there is nothing like a priority line at US airports, unlike CDG.
Nov 21, 2016, 8:01 am
#29
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I've noticed that the Exit immigration control has become slower as well. On a Saturday afternoon, during non-vacation period, it took me at least half an hour through the SkyPriority line. The reason was understaffing. For my arrival flight, it took me at least 45 minutes to clear immigration (7:00 am, same time as Goldorak), the issue here was that the officers were asking a lot of questions to visitors (even those excempt from visa were being questioned about their lenght of stay and Financial resources).
Nov 21, 2016, 12:41 pm
#30
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There is if you fly AF P! At least at IAD I witnessed it. Driven to immigration in a private Mercedes and escorted to the front of the line. And bags arrived first before any others. Clearly AF pays the airport authority for the good service.