Express Path. Is it operating?

[Forg]

Much the same last Wednesday (11/10).

A mate of mine had the same last Friday, I think he said they got there about 3pm.

In fact he said it was always like that, in his experience, at SYD.

Until his role at work morphed a little he probably travelled OS twice a month, and for the last 15 years.
Whereas I've only used the international terminal maybe 10 times in my life, and I've been in 90 minute queues twice in the last 4-5 times I was there!

 

[aaa99]

So, this morning at the Qantas international connection checkin at MEL, we were given an express path card without prompting.

I assumed it would be useful for Sydney.
Apparently not, I was almost laughed at for presenting it.

Then I saw this forum. Which begs the question, why were we given them in the first place?

 

[henrus]

Which begs the question, why were we given them in the first place?

They are still used in Brisbane and Melbourne, likely the staff are unaware Sydney has done their own thing now.

 

[tdimdad]

And who's currently eligible for the express path in MEL and BNE? Or how does one score access to it?

 

[henrus]

And who's currently eligible for the express path in MEL and BNE? Or how does one score access to it?

That is up to the airlines. For example Qantas gives it to platinum/oneworld emerald/business and first class. Some airlines like Virgin and Singapore airlines give it to gold status holders as well.

 

[Himeno]

I got given an express card for MEL arrivals in Jan. Nothing for SYD.

 

[SYD]

I got given an express card for MEL arrivals in Jan. Nothing for SYD.

“Arrivals” Express “Lanes” at SYD pretty much went the way of the dodo even before Covid. Immigration, it was quicker to use a kiosk but for ineligible PPs there was a priority lane between the large manual processing cattle run (decades since I went there) and the Smartgates. I don’t recall seeing that a few weeks ago but they were in the middle of rolling out new kiosks and signage.

The “Express” lane at customs were invariably closed leading up to Covid, never to return. Not sure why….that was useful during busy times.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They are still used in Brisbane and Melbourne, likely the staff are unaware Sydney has done their own thing now.

We didn’t get one for MEL earlier this year. We were in business, but the express lane was marked ‘first/busimess class’ rather than ‘express’.

The only benefit however was a slightly shorter walk from check-in to security. At 11pm everything was wide open, express or regular.