Express Path Immigration and Quarantine

[Hawkeye]

I don't remember seeing this being posted, but noted on the latest QFF e-mail that BNE / SYD and MEL will have express immigration and AQIS lanes for F, J and WP.

Will commence from 1st November. Baggage limit not including cabin baggage will be 2 bags.

Sounds good to me. I have been suffering listening to all the APEC card holders bragging about express immigration for so long!!

EDIT: to amend info above - is express path through customs and quarantine.

 

[Mal]

I havn't seen the email yet.

The Express path immigration trial was originally for outbound customs and security scanning. If it has been changed to inbound as well, then that's great.

Do you have the link to the Qantas email (normally in the email as a "if you can't read this email click here" type message).

 

[straitman]

I'd better read my email a little more closely.

 

[Hawkeye]

Link removed - thanks Mal!

 

[Mal]

Hawkeye, the particular link you gave is personalised, so It's probably best if you remove it... Normally the links they give are unpersonalised.

Thanks for the link though, the appropriate text is below.

A *very* nice present from Qantas

New fast track through customs Our premium travellers will soon be able to get on their way more quickly. From 1 November 2007, Qantas First, Business and Platinum Frequent Flyers arriving at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane international terminals can take an Express Path lane through customs and quarantine checks. Travellers will be handed an Express Path 'invitation' by cabin staff before disembarkation and will need to present this invitation at customs and quarantine. To qualify to use the Express Path, you must have declared no to questions 1-10 on the inbound passenger card and have only two pieces of checked luggage (not including carry-on).

The Australian Government is trialling inbound express immigration lanes as an extension of the current outbound express immigration trial in Sydney and Melbourne.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I was given as Express Path 'invitation' outbound MEL-AKL last week. Did not use it as the lines were short. Kept it for another time when the lines are long or I am not in business class. Am QF Gold ff now, but often try for upgrades on QF25 MEL-AKL .

 

[Mal]

I was given as Express Path 'invitation' outbound MEL-AKL last week. Did not use it as the lines were short.

I have a couple of spares

I fly back into Australia in mid Nov via Syd, so will be interesting to see if I get offered a fasttrack pass inbound and what it looks like.

It really is about time Qantas (and the other airlines that fly into SYD/MEL/BNE) were able to negotiate special immigration and customs handling for their premium pax.

 

[PPW]

I wonder if JQi will extend such an offer to its Star Class passengers and to WPs slumming it on JQi.

 

[serfty]

I have a couple of spares ...

Me too; you only need to surrender them at the x-ray; only once in my travels since the e implementation has normal x-ray been such that I needed to employ it. I did surrender another one time early on when I was escorted through e emigration to the express x-ray.

Now I think of it, the white BP like cards have DEPARTURE clearly printed on them.

 

[JohnK]

Just my luck that I have tick yes to question 1 due to prescription medication. Maybe next time....

 

[jasonja3]

It will be interesting to see if they use the APEC/Crew counters at immigration. Hopefully they will dedicate a counter for this, otherwise APEC users can possibly expect some larger ques, esp since it includes J PAX.:evil:

Having an express lane through customs will be great, this seems to always be the slowest part of re-entry.

 

[simongr]

I dont care so much about immigration as I tend to use the duty free lane - but express through quarantine would be fantastic. Just makes me wish I was able to fly on QF back from Japan in Nov

 

[Optics]

Congratulations Qantas, the benefits provided to premium pax recently (express immigration line, upgraded Flounges, enhanced F check-in etc) are great . It is these types of benefits that make premium pax feel like they are actually valued. Its always nice to feel like you are being given some form of special treatment. I will get to use this new benefit twice in Nov.

Now, once they get the new domestic J/WP lounges open, things will really be looking up .

 

[cssaus]

Arrived back in Sydney today on UA863 from SFO and was given an Express Clearance Slip.

It certainly proved valuable as at 8.00am the arrivals hall was packed to the rafters with long queues to get through quarantine inspection.

Using the Express lane I was directed around X-Ray and was out of the hall in a matter of minuted.

At the Express Lane there was sign saying "Express Card". Is meant to be what I was given or does it mean something else? Whilst standing in line waiting to go through I asked the guy who was checking to see only eligible got thru if the APEC card provided access to this line and he said no

Anyone heard if there are plans to extend the benefits of the APEC card to the quarantine inspection lines rather than just having it apply to the immigration checking lines?

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

I guess what all this seems to be saying is that F and C/J pax are very trustworthy and would never (even unwittingly) bring anything questionable into the country, whereas those awful people who travel in Y must be given the Spanish Inquisition every time.

Does this make any sense from a security of Australia perspective? I wonder.

 

[winetraveller]

I got an express pass last Thursday at MEL, but it didn't make much difference when my HON tagged bags came out last.

Complete opposite in Bangkok the night before, I was met at the airbridge and escorted through the diplomatic lane, and bags came out one and two.

 

[simongr]

I guess what all this seems to be saying is that F and C/J pax are very trustworthy and would never (even unwittingly) bring anything questionable into the country, whereas those awful people who travel in Y must be given the Spanish Inquisition every time.

Does this make any sense from a security of Australia perspective? I wonder.

All pax are subject to exactly the same screening - the difference i the highly valued F/J/C pax have smaller queues which encourage them to use the airport.

 

[Hawkeye]

Cabin crew on QF176 last week were limiting the Express passes to passengers in the J cabin only. WP's in Y were deemed to be ineligible.

This may have been a symptom of pass shortage, rather than uninformed crew.

 

[Shano]

Cabin crew on QF176 last week were limiting the Express passes to passengers in the J cabin only. WP's in Y were deemed to be ineligible.

This may have been a symptom of pass shortage, rather than uninformed crew.

This has also been my experience on flights from HKG to either SYD or MEL. No pass offered to WP's in the Y cabin and on request have been told that there are no more available.

Next time will try and collect one on departure feom the first class check-in.

 

[adrian]

This isn't exactly a scientific survey, but...

my partner & I entered Sydney approx 3 weeks ago, I went thru the regular immigration (jelly babies from the uk, again!!!), and my partner used then new express form, but i still got out first.