IRIS thoughts and opinions?
Mar 20, 2010, 2:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
IRIS thoughts and opinions?
I wonder what people's latest thoughts are on IRIS? It seems that it's easy enough to register, but
(a) is it easy to use once registered? (e.g. are there times when it doesn't recognise you even though you're registered? do you find that you're standing too close/too far away and so it doesn't work properly? other problems with its use?)
(b) is it usually open (there are lots of reports of the IRIS machines being shut, but is this now a thing of the past)?
(c) is it generally quicker than waiting in the ordinary passport queue (I have a British passport)?
I have several trips coming up in the next two or three weeks, so all thoughts about these questions or anything else IRIS-related welcome!
Mar 20, 2010, 2:31 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,605
Can't answer a) because of b) and I rarely find anyway that a British passport holder takes a long time to get through passport control - I've certainly never had an occasion where it took so long to get through passport control that my luggage was waiting for me.
Mar 20, 2010, 4:55 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
Incredibly. It's very straightforward and there's no feeling in the world like sailing past a group of people all sullenly waiting for their turn in the queue when you've just cleared passport control in 4 seconds.
Never in my experience.
It tells you if you are standing too close or too far away. There are also little "eye" symbols on the mirrored screen that you look into and it's really easy to line your eyes up with them.
None in my experience.
Always.
There were reports of some closures at the beginning. The only time a booth has been closed in my 50+ instances of using the service was returning into LHR from the US three days after the pants bomber this past Christmas. I still wonder if it was a coincidence.
Always.
Signing up was the best ten minutes I have ever spent. It has literally saved me hours in the immigration queues (as you surely know, even for EEA nationals they can take an eternity sometimes). Do it; you will not be sorry, I promise you.
None in my experience.
Always.
Signing up was the best ten minutes I have ever spent. It has literally saved me hours in the immigration queues (as you surely know, even for EEA nationals they can take an eternity sometimes). Do it; you will not be sorry, I promise you.
Mar 20, 2010, 6:38 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,413
Do it. It is not always quicker - but 95% of the time it will be. Closures still happen from time to time (a T3 closure last year was very inconvenient) but overall the service is great. Long may it continue.
Mar 20, 2010, 10:38 am
#5
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,844
I have seen it closed but when it's open, it's invariably faster for non-British citizens. I wish we had it in the U.S. and also wish they had it at Eurostar.
Mar 20, 2010, 1:26 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,655
You are more likely to have a problem with a G4S "line keeper" insisting that you are supposed to fill out a landing card for IRIS or that a non-EU citizen cannot use the service than you are to actually have problems with the system.
Mar 21, 2010, 12:17 am
#7
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,844
Never had this problem when using IRIS.
Mar 21, 2010, 2:42 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
This would indicate to me that you will likely never have problems with the system.
Mar 21, 2010, 3:09 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
In at leat 80% of my trips through LHR and LGW, IRIS has made for a speedy arrival. T1, T3 and LGW North hardly have any queues. Most registered pax go through T5. I have seen nightmare queues for EU passport holders at terminals other than T5.
The only problem is IRIS is that certain individuals cannot follow audio instructions like move closer (ie move your head closer to the screen), or move back (ie move your head away from the screen). I hear the instructions staying in the queue and can see the no visible movement in the individual placement of head - and then they complain IRIS does not work and wonder why it does work for other pax.
IRIS is a god-send for me.
The only problem is IRIS is that certain individuals cannot follow audio instructions like move closer (ie move your head closer to the screen), or move back (ie move your head away from the screen). I hear the instructions staying in the queue and can see the no visible movement in the individual placement of head - and then they complain IRIS does not work and wonder why it does work for other pax.
IRIS is a god-send for me.
Mar 21, 2010, 5:20 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK, TLV, USA
Programs: LY Plat, BMI DC Gold, VS Gold, Hertz #1 Club Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 345
+10 ^^
Definately amazing, and a real time saver. As ajax says - being able to clear Passport Control in 4 seconds is an amazing feeling
I've never seen it closed (I mostly use LHR T1 and T3), and the only time I ever had problems with it was when the person in front managed to put his bag in the way of the door, so when it closed, it jammed it. However, within about 30 seconds, someone from UKBA came over, opened up a dedicated desk for all of the people in the IRIS line, and simply just swiped us all through on the 'regular' computer system
Definately amazing, and a real time saver. As ajax says - being able to clear Passport Control in 4 seconds is an amazing feeling
I've never seen it closed (I mostly use LHR T1 and T3), and the only time I ever had problems with it was when the person in front managed to put his bag in the way of the door, so when it closed, it jammed it. However, within about 30 seconds, someone from UKBA came over, opened up a dedicated desk for all of the people in the IRIS line, and simply just swiped us all through on the 'regular' computer system
Mar 21, 2010, 9:21 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,362
There were frequent closures in the early days but it has become much more reliable now.
Not to mention those who think they can use it even though they have never registered for it (fewer of these too, it seems to me,thank god).
On the audio instructions, I tend to find it easier and faster in any event to follow the visual clues to align your eyes with the virtual glasses on the screen.
On the audio instructions, I tend to find it easier and faster in any event to follow the visual clues to align your eyes with the virtual glasses on the screen.
Mar 21, 2010, 9:28 am
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: Star Alliance, KLM Flying Blue
Posts: 670
I find using IRIS fast and very simple. However unless you only have carry on or 'priority luggage' with the airline you flew with you could end up kicking your heels waiting for your bags to show up on the luggage carousel. So if you are an EU passport holder you might not get out of arrivals any quicker if you are waiting for hold luggage. If you are NON EU then it is most definitely worth it.
Mar 21, 2010, 10:51 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK, TLV, USA
Programs: LY Plat, BMI DC Gold, VS Gold, Hertz #1 Club Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 345
It's a good point about waiting for luggage.
However, even if you might be waiting for checked luggage, using the IRIS system when the regular channels are totally full (I've been in LHR when there have been well over 1500 people waiting to clear UKBA) makes a lot of sense
The annoying thing is that they don't have it at Luton (yet)
The following link shows the up-to-date status of all IRIS stations in the UK, and where to find them
However, even if you might be waiting for checked luggage, using the IRIS system when the regular channels are totally full (I've been in LHR when there have been well over 1500 people waiting to clear UKBA) makes a lot of sense
The annoying thing is that they don't have it at Luton (yet)
The following link shows the up-to-date status of all IRIS stations in the UK, and where to find them
Code:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/technology/iris/howenterwithiris/
Mar 21, 2010, 1:59 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 318
It's a good point about waiting for luggage.
However, even if you might be waiting for checked luggage, using the IRIS system when the regular channels are totally full (I've been in LHR when there have been well over 1500 people waiting to clear UKBA) makes a lot of sense
The annoying thing is that they don't have it at Luton (yet)
The following link shows the up-to-date status of all IRIS stations in the UK, and where to find them
However, even if you might be waiting for checked luggage, using the IRIS system when the regular channels are totally full (I've been in LHR when there have been well over 1500 people waiting to clear UKBA) makes a lot of sense
The annoying thing is that they don't have it at Luton (yet)
The following link shows the up-to-date status of all IRIS stations in the UK, and where to find them
Code:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/technology/iris/howenterwithiris/
As for the OP's questions:
a) I have had problems at the Terminal 1 IRIS (there is only one unit and it has 'rejected' me at least twice (it obtains a successful scan but then states something only the lines that it can't find me in the database). I have checked at the IRIS office and they don't know what would be causing the problem. Their advise was to go to another machine if one rejects me. Unfortunately, there is only 1 machine at Terminal 1.
b) Always open.
c) Definitely worth using, especially if you only have carry on but there are also times of the day when the lines can be long.