Why does T5 immigration have to be such a joke?
#16
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Gold/HH Diamond/IC Plat Amba
Posts: 5,992
It can be just as fun for returning residents believe me. Considering they let everybody in the end anyway I don't understand the hostility either.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
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The only time I have been required to have a secondary screen was at YYZ and yes I was a single male travelling alone.
No Idea why I had been selected as none of my answers was particularly controversial.
The secondary screen was basically another guy asking me the exact same questions to which I gave the same answers - there for 6 days, tourism (with specific examples of places I wanted to visit and not just the usual tourist haunts) and an assurance I had a hotel and cash. He then apologised for the inconvenience as he had no idea why I had been picked out. I guess I was lucky that this extra screen only took 5 minutes.
No Idea why I had been selected as none of my answers was particularly controversial.
The secondary screen was basically another guy asking me the exact same questions to which I gave the same answers - there for 6 days, tourism (with specific examples of places I wanted to visit and not just the usual tourist haunts) and an assurance I had a hotel and cash. He then apologised for the inconvenience as he had no idea why I had been picked out. I guess I was lucky that this extra screen only took 5 minutes.
#18
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: DXB
Programs: BAEC Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 222
The e-passport gates have never worked for me in the 4 times that I have used them and every time I've been sent to a desk afterwards, there has been a queue of people for just one desk for the people who failed to get through the e-gates.
I personally prefer immigration at home in Newcastle - despite being such a small airport in comparison we will have 6 desks and they are always all staffed - never have I been stood still in a line - at least not since they added desks - always moving on.
I personally prefer immigration at home in Newcastle - despite being such a small airport in comparison we will have 6 desks and they are always all staffed - never have I been stood still in a line - at least not since they added desks - always moving on.
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,646
Originally Posted by FlyingB1975
I believe the UK used to do this prior to the current government deciding that limited resources should be used for scanning passports rather than searching for drugs and weapons.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
#22
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,646
One experience does not qualify as an opinion and to say that a network of 26 nations are failing to secure the borders of those countries... It is at best a hugely ignorant, and to defend that... well!
#26
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
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I think it's all got worse since the endless showing of TV reality shows of customs and border patrol from around the world and they all think they are auditioning for Hollywood.
#27
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
This conversation has veered off the issue of "convenience for travellers to T5" into more of a debate about the border policy so it has been moved to its appropriate home.
LTN Phobia
Moderator: BA forum
LTN Phobia
Moderator: BA forum
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
Now do we have enough data for an opinion?
#29
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Well, aside from the Schengen question, why not just buy 10 or 20 e-passport kiosks (and maintain them so they work) and speed people up?
I have no idea how much they cost but let's say £50k apiece, I'm sure that's offset by any salary savings, especially over a multi-year period.
I have no idea how much they cost but let's say £50k apiece, I'm sure that's offset by any salary savings, especially over a multi-year period.
Have you noticed that the handful of kiosks require two passport officers to sit at the desk behind and babysit them, plus at least one LHR person to stand in front and babysit the queue?
Three completely automatic gates requiring only three full-time humans for them to work.
Isn't technology amazing?
#30
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,235
Salary savings?
Have you noticed that the handful of kiosks require two passport officers to sit at the desk behind and babysit them, plus at least one LHR person to stand in front and babysit the queue?
Three completely automatic gates requiring only three full-time humans for them to work.
Isn't technology amazing?
Have you noticed that the handful of kiosks require two passport officers to sit at the desk behind and babysit them, plus at least one LHR person to stand in front and babysit the queue?
Three completely automatic gates requiring only three full-time humans for them to work.
Isn't technology amazing?