Fast track immigration T3 issues
Feb 20, 2017, 3:49 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, TK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 396
If the minor HAL functionary (who actually works for OmniServ) allows you to go through, the immigration officer would send you back without the voucher anyway. Perhaps you people should get informed before you travel? They are only doing their job, the minor functionaries.
Last edited by umbyboy; Feb 20, 2017 at 3:56 am
Feb 20, 2017, 3:51 am
#47
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, TK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 396
It is for non-EU only and vouchers, apparently, should be collected by passengers onboard the aircraft before disembarking.
Feb 20, 2017, 4:28 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Tampere
Programs: BA EC Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,234
If the minor HAL functionary (who actually works for OmniServ) allows you to go through, the immigration officer would send you back without the voucher anyway. Perhaps you people should get informed before you travel? They are only doing their job, the minor functionaries.
Feb 20, 2017, 5:05 am
#51
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, TK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 396
Feb 20, 2017, 6:05 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
The simple explanation is that
T5: Only used by BA and IB, so BA just pay HAL a fixed rate for all Fast Track. There's no marginal cost per passenger and it's effectively up to BA to police the queue.
T3: Shared with other airlines. You need a way of tracking how many people used Fast Track per operating airline, because each operating airline pays HAL for each passenger who uses FT. Distributing voucher and counting how many are collected by the gatekeeper is - by far - the most convenient option, as opposed to faffing about with recording passenger, airline and FFP details at the queue. So that's what they have settled on.
It has been this way for as far back as I can remember (i.e. 10+ years) at T3 (and operates the same way at T4 (and T2?)).
T5: Only used by BA and IB, so BA just pay HAL a fixed rate for all Fast Track. There's no marginal cost per passenger and it's effectively up to BA to police the queue.
T3: Shared with other airlines. You need a way of tracking how many people used Fast Track per operating airline, because each operating airline pays HAL for each passenger who uses FT. Distributing voucher and counting how many are collected by the gatekeeper is - by far - the most convenient option, as opposed to faffing about with recording passenger, airline and FFP details at the queue. So that's what they have settled on.
It has been this way for as far back as I can remember (i.e. 10+ years) at T3 (and operates the same way at T4 (and T2?)).
Feb 20, 2017, 6:36 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (and other non-status plastic)
Posts: 1,889
It's been really hit and miss for me on my T3 arrivals in both club and economy. I don't complain because I carry my own stash, but my parents have now got status, and they're waaaay too timid to fight with a crew member who uses words like:
Feb 20, 2017, 6:44 am
#55
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,760
Well give your parents some assertiveness training, I do it all the time. (Doesn't seem to work though). But they are customers, not on military service transport convoys.
Feb 20, 2017, 6:49 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,086
Is there no SOP for this? A manual for crew or something?
It's been really hit and miss for me on my T3 arrivals in both club and economy. I don't complain because I carry my own stash, but my parents have now got status, and they're waaaay too timid to fight with a crew member who uses words like:
It's been really hit and miss for me on my T3 arrivals in both club and economy. I don't complain because I carry my own stash, but my parents have now got status, and they're waaaay too timid to fight with a crew member who uses words like:
Feb 20, 2017, 9:10 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
In any case, the term "fast" is relative to the time non-EU passport holders might take using the regular lines. Relative to UK passenger and E-gates, the special lines would be "slow track".
Jun 2, 2017, 1:21 pm
#58
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 223
The simple explanation is that
T5: Only used by BA and IB, so BA just pay HAL a fixed rate for all Fast Track. There's no marginal cost per passenger and it's effectively up to BA to police the queue.
T3: Shared with other airlines. You need a way of tracking how many people used Fast Track per operating airline, because each operating airline pays HAL for each passenger who uses FT. Distributing voucher and counting how many are collected by the gatekeeper is - by far - the most convenient option, as opposed to faffing about with recording passenger, airline and FFP details at the queue. So that's what they have settled on.
It has been this way for as far back as I can remember (i.e. 10+ years) at T3 (and operates the same way at T4 (and T2?)).
T5: Only used by BA and IB, so BA just pay HAL a fixed rate for all Fast Track. There's no marginal cost per passenger and it's effectively up to BA to police the queue.
T3: Shared with other airlines. You need a way of tracking how many people used Fast Track per operating airline, because each operating airline pays HAL for each passenger who uses FT. Distributing voucher and counting how many are collected by the gatekeeper is - by far - the most convenient option, as opposed to faffing about with recording passenger, airline and FFP details at the queue. So that's what they have settled on.
It has been this way for as far back as I can remember (i.e. 10+ years) at T3 (and operates the same way at T4 (and T2?)).
We are flying in to LHR on Oct 4th from PRG in CE. I wasn't sure if there was Fast Track for CE, so I emailed YouFirst to ask about Fast Track and the general process for entering LHR. Two agents from YouFirst have not responded saying there is not Fast Track. Please see below where I have pasted the second rep's response. Is this something new? Is Fast Track no longer offered? I searched for and found on BA's website information about Fast Track being available in T3, but two YouFirst reps have now told me there is no Fast Track immigration at LHR. As always, thanks so much for your help.
From YouFirst:
I can confirm that my colleague Craig is correct and that there is no fast track through immigration for any passenger no matter what class of travel they book.
Immigration is the same for every passenger.
However as Craig has mentioned you will be disembarking before the World Traveller passengers so you should be able to make your way quickly to immigration.
Please feel free to let us know if we can help you with anything else.
Kind regards
Vicky
British Airways You First
We're here to help you
Jun 2, 2017, 1:27 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Oh dear Vicky and Craig do not have a clue.
There is fast track for immigration for all non European customers travelling in First and CW plus Gold and Silver, Emerald and Samphire Oneworld cardholders.
There is fast track for immigration for all non European customers travelling in First and CW plus Gold and Silver, Emerald and Samphire Oneworld cardholders.
Jun 2, 2017, 1:32 pm
#60
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 223
That is what I thought, but then after Vicky "confirmed" that Craig was right, I thought maybe LHR had initiated new rules / procedures. Is there anyway to let BA know without getting them in trouble? I'd just like to see Vicky and Craig get more training.