The one time I travelled on AA J class (one way using miles to upgrade before they instituted the damn co-pay, and the other direction with my first op-up) I was given a "Fast Track" pass to use in the UK for immigration. Since this was useless since I'm an EU citizen, I passed it on to an American friend for their next trip.

My question: why didn't I get a similar "Fast Track" pass at the other end for use in the USA where I would have really appreciated it, not being an American?

And another thought: is this whole fast-track pass thing just a British class-snobbery thing, or do other airports elsewhere also use them? What are people's experiences on AA with this generally when flying to foreign countries?

Australia and some other APEC countries provide a fast track immigration service to those that have applied for and received APEC cards

The fast track security and immigration services are a great feature, imo, of the london airports

Dave

What does APEC stand for?

I am counting down the time when this thread gets moved/closed due to, in part, the title of this thread.

The only reason that I can think of as to why the US does not have a "Fast Track" is because of security.

The fast track struck me as odd too the first time I saw it--I always thought that government services should be equally available to all. However, it's less a class thing than a money thing: I believe that the airlines pay BAA (the airport operator for LHR, LGW, etc.) something like 20 pounds per person who uses the fast track facility.

Asia Pacific Economic Community

The USA is a member but doesn't participate in the APEC card scheme

Dave

How can security be an issue? All the arriving passengers are in the immigration hall anyway, how could having dedicated desks for premium class travellers be a security issue?

Dave

In this case, they will be, it's just that some have to wait longer.
Good point. I imagine that's how TG and LH are able to offer the service at BKK to their First Class and HON passengers, respectively. It makes me wonder why at least some airports in the US haven't been able or willing to configure their immigration queues to be able to collect such fees.

http://apec.org/

the us used to have a really sweet system called inspass (i think it still works at lax, actually, though i haven't immigrated there in over a year) that anyone could snag via a 15 minute application (all the standard info plus fingerprints).

i liked it and still have my card.

And they are not class snobbery, just good capitalist business sense.

Premium passengers are the most likely to spend the most in the duty free shops. And the airports operators want them shopping for as long as possible, not waiting in line for security.

So fast track is a ploy by BAA who runs the terminals to get high value clientele in the shops and spending for longer.

The airlines pay for the space required for the fast track immigration line - and BAA makes surprise surprise more money for offering this facility.

So it is pure capitalism driving this, not snobbery.

Hang on, I think matters are getting a little confused here.

There are two types of Fast track in operation in LON.

1. The Fast Track immigration line at arrivals, which the OP was asking about. AFAIK the US doesn't have anything like this (aside from the late INSPass).

2. Fast Track security lines at departures, which apudme is referring to. Many US airports have these, and in fact go further than the UK by making them available to high status FFs as well as premium cabin pax.

OK, so it's off the AA topic in some ways, but what I think we're all saying is that it would be GREAT if AA extended a similar program to elites and/or passengers based on fare class.

But heck, I'd go for a queue in the US for US Citizens WITH a passport and US Citizens WITHOUT a passport.

Does anyone else get annoyed with this: people traveling with birth certificates, letters from ex-spouses, copies of pages from family Bibles, pictures of mom carrying baby home from the hospital, etc?

They get to the immigration officer and start breaking out envelopes with all this paper and no passports - and I have a meeting to get to!

I think I have heard this is coming to an end, though, and passports will be mandatory.

I see this every time I arrive in the US: besides the lines being often huge ("welcome to the US--after your 18 hour travel we'll stick you for a 90 minutes line, so next time you know that you should spend your hard earned money in a different country, you dummies!), they discriminate on people based on nationality.

I can't recall a worse airport than MAD (Madrid, Spain) about 3 years ago. Euro passport holders zipped through, but those of us from the US had to wait in long lines while the airport allowed PEOPLE TO STAND AROUND SMOKING!!! EWwwww!
Welcome to Europe!!