End of Iris? [effective 17 September 2013]
Aug 15, 2011, 11:16 am
#197
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
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I must have missed a thread ---- is there someplace I can read about "facial recognition barriers for non-EU citizens"? TIA!
Aug 15, 2011, 11:50 am
#198
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,851
Has any such system been officially announced yet?
Aug 15, 2011, 1:13 pm
#200
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
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On the premise that the UK Border Agency is about as functional as 6 meerkats in a goldfish bowl, I wouldn't hold your breath.
There will be at lead 8 Steering Groups, an Overview Group and a High Level Lunch Group before anyone ever thinks about sourcing the funding and the technology :roll eyes:
Sorry, that was harsh. Four meerkats and 5 Steering Groups.
There will be at lead 8 Steering Groups, an Overview Group and a High Level Lunch Group before anyone ever thinks about sourcing the funding and the technology :roll eyes:
Sorry, that was harsh. Four meerkats and 5 Steering Groups.
Aug 15, 2011, 1:43 pm
#201
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Thatcham, UK or Adelaide Australia
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Posts: 3,323
According to this info it is for UK/EU/EEA passports only. Has something else been mentioned?
Aug 15, 2011, 1:53 pm
#202
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,221
As I mentioned up thread. This is not what I was told; but time will tell. I too would be willing to pay a reasonable fee to have some alternative in place. The greatest thing, for me about the IRIS entry point was no stamp in my passport. Pages are a premium in my little blue book.
Aug 15, 2011, 2:51 pm
#203
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tonbridge
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 2,034
According to this info it is for UK/EU/EEA passports only. Has something else been mentioned?
I am only reporting what I was told by the IRIS registration officer, (who I imagine would be fairly reliable!), that these gates would be for non-EU passport holders, be subject to a fee, and when operational would result in the closure of IRIS.
I asked when this might happen, and they said it has not been decided, he speculated 'when testing finished'. The gates have been there some months, so who knows how long it will be?
Just passing on what I heard! At least I credited my source
Aug 15, 2011, 3:06 pm
#204
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I am only reporting what I was told by the IRIS registration officer, (who I imagine would be fairly reliable!), that these gates would be for non-EU passport holders, be subject to a fee, and when operational would result in the closure of IRIS.
I asked when this might happen, and they said it has not been decided, he speculated 'when testing finished'. The gates have been there some months, so who knows how long it will be?
I asked when this might happen, and they said it has not been decided, he speculated 'when testing finished'. The gates have been there some months, so who knows how long it will be?
By the way IRIS was broken a few days ago at LGW North, again. It's broken more often than not there.
Aug 15, 2011, 4:48 pm
#205
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
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I have heard the same some time ago from the IRIS registration officer although not specifically about those ePassport gates at the non-EU end of immigration. He too mentioned the fee, and also did not know the timing.
By the way IRIS was broken a few days ago at LGW North, again. It's broken more often than not there.
By the way IRIS was broken a few days ago at LGW North, again. It's broken more often than not there.
Aug 15, 2011, 5:51 pm
#206
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
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Aug 15, 2011, 6:29 pm
#207
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I find that the ones at T5 have a reasonable chance of working, because there are two there. However, there is only one at LGW North and too many non-registered people are trying to use it, which seems to confuse the machine (only my observation and may not be the cause of their breakdown at all).
Aug 16, 2011, 12:10 am
#208
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA
Posts: 140
Last time at T5, I thought I would try the e-passport gates for a change. Took what felt like a very long time to recognise me, to the point that I was about to give up. Certainly much longer than Iris.
Aug 16, 2011, 12:21 am
#209
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: TLS/London
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 442
Are the new machines actually intelligent? Given they need someone from the Border Agency manning them (albeit looking at 6 machines at a time) and having seen from behind the screen the Border Agency person sees - basically a screen divided into 6 with a copy of the passport photo next to the photo taken live - I'd assumed that (at least currently) the Border Agency person is comparing photos and approving/rejecting. It might just be for an introductory period until they're satisfied it works. The advantage seems to be that they can cut staffing as you now need one person instead of six.
Aug 16, 2011, 12:53 am
#210
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Are the new machines actually intelligent? Given they need someone from the Border Agency manning them (albeit looking at 6 machines at a time) and having seen from behind the screen the Border Agency person sees - basically a screen divided into 6 with a copy of the passport photo next to the photo taken live - I'd assumed that (at least currently) the Border Agency person is comparing photos and approving/rejecting. It might just be for an introductory period until they're satisfied it works. The advantage seems to be that they can cut staffing as you now need one person instead of six.