Jun 4, 2019, 6:52 am
Last edit by: stut
ePassport gates, new countries, passport requirements, experience and wait times. Any volunteers?
ePassport Gates Master Thread [was: Opening up the e-Gates to new countries]
Nov 13, 2018, 10:47 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,220
I wish I could do this but on some years I don't meet the trip frequency criteria. After joyoys 4 and change hours in LHR T5 immigration line last year, I'll take egates with a heartbeat.
Nov 13, 2018, 12:14 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Nov 14, 2018, 8:21 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
It won’t go that way at UK airports. The egates currently in use will mainly remain in use and be applicable to at least adult citizens of the UK, EU/Schengen countries, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan; and it will not involve getting any US DHS APC/GE-like printout.
Nov 14, 2018, 11:03 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
Well, I don't think US citizens will be able to use the egates in the same manor as EU citizens now. At a minimum, they will require a stamp. Perhaps they will have dedicated egates so they can stamp and at a minimum do spot interviews. Americans have always been subject to questioning when entering the UK, and I would be very surprised if this changes.
Nov 14, 2018, 11:20 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
I have entered many EU countries with a US passport and the official just silently took the passport and stamped it. That has never been the case in the UK, there was always a question or two.
I guess we will find out - but my strong suspicion is that US passport holders will not get in without some interaction with an immigration officer.
Nov 15, 2018, 1:25 am
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
You have to apply for Registered Traveler and presumably there is some vetting (not to mention that you have to have successfully entered the UK 4 times within the previous 24 months.) Allowing all non-vetted US citizens to enter without an interview is very different.
I have entered many EU countries with a US passport and the official just silently took the passport and stamped it. That has never been the case in the UK, there was always a question or two.
I guess we will find out - but my strong suspicion is that US passport holders will not get in without some interaction with an immigration officer.
I have entered many EU countries with a US passport and the official just silently took the passport and stamped it. That has never been the case in the UK, there was always a question or two.
I guess we will find out - but my strong suspicion is that US passport holders will not get in without some interaction with an immigration officer.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they do away with the stamp for repeat visitors using the egates, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if they route adult US/CANADA/OZ/NZ/JAPAN passport users to a passport stamper right after egate use.
Nov 18, 2018, 1:44 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
As someone who had to spend a fair bit of time talking to the UK Border person last year (even though I was using Fast Track), I would definitely welcome the e-gates. We'll see how they're ultimately implemented in any case.
Nov 21, 2018, 3:48 am
#39
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I have a very strong suspicion, and I’ll ask the relevant one about it, that they don’t want an embarrassing situation to take place whereby a flagged person from say the US gets into the UK via egate and commits a headline-grabbing crime associated to what a flagged person had done in the US. And thus they will need to do more than count on gate receptions and at times may have to suppress egate use by some visitors with passports from say the US.
Nov 21, 2018, 4:18 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I have been subject to some extensive discussions with some of the UK border authorities as an ordinary American tourist or business visitor at times, but I also know that being supposedly enabled to use egates isn’t necessarily going to make all of those questions go away if for some reason the authorities want to ask more. I used to see less questions for myself and my travel party members as ordinary non-EU visitors before the current egates.
I have a very strong suspicion, and I’ll ask the relevant one about it, that they don’t want an embarrassing situation to take place whereby a flagged person from say the US gets into the UK via egate and commits a headline-grabbing crime associated to what a flagged person had done in the US. And thus they will need to do more than count on gate receptions and at times may have to suppress egate use by some visitors with passports from say the US.
I suspect that these countries have access to databases that would block a particular passport from free entry. That when such a passport is scanned at the E-Gate, an alarm will go off and appropriate action taken.
Nov 21, 2018, 4:03 pm
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Given all that, why have other EU countries allowed E-Gate use for unregistered Americans? Not to mention Chinese, Japanese, Australians, Canadians, etc.
I suspect that these countries have access to databases that would block a particular passport from free entry. That when such a passport is scanned at the E-Gate, an alarm will go off and appropriate action taken.
I suspect that these countries have access to databases that would block a particular passport from free entry. That when such a passport is scanned at the E-Gate, an alarm will go off and appropriate action taken.
Nov 22, 2018, 6:47 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,225
I have been subject to some extensive discussions with some of the UK border authorities as an ordinary American tourist or business visitor at times, but I also know that being supposedly enabled to use egates isn’t necessarily going to make all of those questions go away if for some reason the authorities want to ask more. I used to see less questions for myself and my travel party members as ordinary non-EU visitors before the current egates.
I have a very strong suspicion, and I’ll ask the relevant one about it, that they don’t want an embarrassing situation to take place whereby a flagged person from say the US gets into the UK via egate and commits a headline-grabbing crime associated to what a flagged person had done in the US. And thus they will need to do more than count on gate receptions and at times may have to suppress egate use by some visitors with passports from say the US.
Nov 22, 2018, 2:36 pm
#43
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
I don't think that this is an issue. When waiting for the e-gates, I often see people fail to get through them. They are then directed to join a queue to see a Border Force agent. I think usually these are people who can't work the machines, but I have no doubt that people who have issues on their passports will also experience the same. As to US people, the US shares far more with the UK than any EU country does, so it would be a trivial task to program the e-gates accordingly, either globally or relying on the previously transmitted APIS information.
Nov 22, 2018, 11:11 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
I know how to use the e-gates, am in the registered traveler program, and would say that they fail at least half the time on my passport. The agent takes my passport, scans it, and typically shrugs their shoulders to indicate they have no clue why it failed. When they were doing the retinal scan thing, the same was true.
Nov 24, 2018, 7:02 am
#45
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,618
I know how to use the e-gates, am in the registered traveler program, and would say that they fail at least half the time on my passport. The agent takes my passport, scans it, and typically shrugs their shoulders to indicate they have no clue why it failed. When they were doing the retinal scan thing, the same was true.