Bizarre problems with the passport control at Singapore
Apr 30, 2019, 12:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
Bizarre problems with the passport control at Singapore
Wondering if anyone else has come up against this.
Been through Singapore several times in the last two weeks - and EVERY TIME (on both exit and entry) their fingerprint (make that, thumb print) reader has failed to either record (or then on exit read) my thumb prints.
It's meant I have ended up taking about 20 mins waiting on both entry and exit while they fiddle around with their machine and keep asking me to "try again".
Hong Kong has no problem with my thumb, which has been letting me in and out for 12 years now with only one machine failure in that whole time...
so what gives? Anyone else experiencing this?
Been through Singapore several times in the last two weeks - and EVERY TIME (on both exit and entry) their fingerprint (make that, thumb print) reader has failed to either record (or then on exit read) my thumb prints.
It's meant I have ended up taking about 20 mins waiting on both entry and exit while they fiddle around with their machine and keep asking me to "try again".
Hong Kong has no problem with my thumb, which has been letting me in and out for 12 years now with only one machine failure in that whole time...
so what gives? Anyone else experiencing this?
May 1, 2019, 7:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Singapore - the hot, little red dot
Programs: BA, SQ
Posts: 861
Nope, never had any issues in the numerous times I go in and out at various terminals.
Could it possibly be the first time your thumbprint was recorded it wasn't actually that representative, so subsequent times it flags as an error.
Did they try and make a new reference thumbprint?
Could it possibly be the first time your thumbprint was recorded it wasn't actually that representative, so subsequent times it flags as an error.
Did they try and make a new reference thumbprint?
May 1, 2019, 7:57 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
A trick to try with fingerprint readers is to wipe your fingers on your forehead before using the machine. Sometimes the lack of oils on your fingers causes problems, especially if you've washed your hands recently. This tends to work beautifully with the GE machines and also with CLEAR readers, including those for admission to DL airport lounges.
May 6, 2019, 7:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,677
Wondering if anyone else has come up against this.
Been through Singapore several times in the last two weeks - and EVERY TIME (on both exit and entry) their fingerprint (make that, thumb print) reader has failed to either record (or then on exit read) my thumb prints.
It's meant I have ended up taking about 20 mins waiting on both entry and exit while they fiddle around with their machine and keep asking me to "try again".
Hong Kong has no problem with my thumb, which has been letting me in and out for 12 years now with only one machine failure in that whole time...
so what gives? Anyone else experiencing this?
Been through Singapore several times in the last two weeks - and EVERY TIME (on both exit and entry) their fingerprint (make that, thumb print) reader has failed to either record (or then on exit read) my thumb prints.
It's meant I have ended up taking about 20 mins waiting on both entry and exit while they fiddle around with their machine and keep asking me to "try again".
Hong Kong has no problem with my thumb, which has been letting me in and out for 12 years now with only one machine failure in that whole time...
so what gives? Anyone else experiencing this?
A trick to try with fingerprint readers is to wipe your fingers on your forehead before using the machine. Sometimes the lack of oils on your fingers causes problems, especially if you've washed your hands recently. This tends to work beautifully with the GE machines and also with CLEAR readers, including those for admission to DL airport lounges.
May 7, 2019, 9:54 am
#5
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Stupider thing about SIN immigration; getting stamped (and fingerprinted, whatev) on arrival, but (as of late) not on departure. They make you scan your fingerprint and go through an e-channel instead. I hate to say it but, here's an extremely rare +1 for US departure formalities...from a USC standpoint.
Though, the current Singapore way still isn't as bad as those pointless chits Hong Kong and the RoK give now.
Though, the current Singapore way still isn't as bad as those pointless chits Hong Kong and the RoK give now.
May 8, 2019, 5:31 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,677
Stupider thing about SIN immigration; getting stamped (and fingerprinted, whatev) on arrival, but (as of late) not on departure. They make you scan your fingerprint and go through an e-channel instead. I hate to say it but, here's an extremely rare +1 for US departure formalities...from a USC standpoint.
Though, the current Singapore way still isn't as bad as those pointless chits Hong Kong and the RoK give now.
Though, the current Singapore way still isn't as bad as those pointless chits Hong Kong and the RoK give now.
I flew from JFK last year and if I hadn't got a business ticket, I would have been stuck using the massive massive queue. I still had to queue for a bit, but because I had set my expectations so low, I was happy to only be waiting 20 minutes.
I recently flew out of Changi and had to queue behind two people at the (dreaded) e-gates and must have waited 2-3 minutes for them, and I was frustrated LOL
May 12, 2019, 12:13 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Living in SIN™
Programs: TK/SQ Gold, QR Plat, Marriott/Accor Plat, IC Dia Amb, HH Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,706
My experience the last few weeks at T2 and T3 is that the fingerprint scanners have been taking much longer than usual. Was fine upto about 1st week of March.