Express Path. Is it operating?

[dmgale1960]

Hi just a question - Is Express Path operating again? I believe its been - or will be - rebranded to Priority Lane.
Any updates? Do Express Pass cards still work? I have a couple I was using in 2020 (sigh) and I'd love to be able to use them now.

 

[henrus]

Hi just a question - Is Express Path operating again? I believe its been - or will be - rebranded to Priority Lane.

Assuming you're talking about Sydney? If so yes it's been rebranded as the Priorty Lane with access meant to be for first and business class only. There is talk of opening it to selected frequent flyers and there have been some reports of those with top tier status sometimes receiving a fast track stamp.

Any updates? Do Express Pass cards still work? I have a couple I was using in 2020 (sigh) and I'd love to be able to use them now.

Nope, nationally the physical express pass cards appear to be dead.

 

[dmgale1960]

Assuming you're talking about Sydney? If so yes it's been rebranded as the Priorty Lane with access meant to be for first and business class only. There is talk of opening it to selected frequent flyers and there have been some reports of those with top tier status sometimes receiving a fast track stamp.


Nope, nationally the physical express pass cards appear to be dead.

Well thats disappointing!! Thank you for the update.

 

[henrus]

Well thats disappointing!! Thank you for the update.

Personally I think it's good they've moved towards a boarding pass based system, prior to covid you could find hundreds of listings for the cards on ebay and a quick search reveals someone is still trying to sell them

 

[Ade]

Do Express Pass cards still work?

Hmmm ... they sort of ... depends on the security watching the Priority Lane. Last year, September, I was able to flash an Express Path card issued by QF and get into the Priority Lane. But last year in August, I was not able to.

fast track stamp.

These stamps are given by two ;

1. For pax departing SYD - the airline check in desk if the queue is lengthier than usual and if you have less time to make the flight
2. For connecting pax, the security person at the beginning of the queue to passport control affixes a green sticker to your BP if your connection time is less than 60 mins, at the time of entering the passport queue.

Nope, nationally the physical express pass cards appear to be dead.

Agree. However, QF staff still keep these cards behind the F/J check-in counters and will hand one if asked nicely with a warning that these cards might not work. So it's just luck. So, I wouldn't be relying on the EP card to help in any way ...

 

[Ade]

selected frequent flyers

That'd be awesome. The only catch being, those connecting at SYD/MEL, having departed at other AU ports (eg: CBR) may not get the fast track sticker ... unless QF rolled this out as a thing rather than the airports

 

[AIRwin]

However, QF staff still keep these cards behind the F/J check-in counters and will hand one if asked nicely with a warning that these cards might not work.

I was given one recently in January but didn't end up using it...

 

[Ade]

I was given one recently in January but didn't end up using it...

I'm assuming that you began your trip at SYD? I have asked in CBR (where I usually commence my trips) and the staff here don't have EPs

 

[AIRwin]

I'm assuming that you began your trip at SYD? I have asked in CBR (where I usually commence my trips) and the staff here don't have EPs

No I checked-in at BNE for a connecting flight to SYD...

 

[daft009]

tried to use the priority lane last year in Sept 2022 on a family trip and no go, as its all self serve and therefore not for young kids
had to line up in the family/assistance queue which was dog slow

 

[SYD]

Departures at SYD T1 is still F or J BP only. There is some Papal dispensation for those on immanent departures but the criteria is unclear.

There’s rumours that the pre-Covid “Express Path” is returning - and not soon enough.

Personally I think it's good they've moved towards a boarding pass based system, prior to covid you could find hundreds of listings for the cards on ebay and a quick search reveals someone is still trying to sell them

But the reality is that on any one day, the number of these actually used would be very close to zero.

 

[henrus]

But the reality is that on any one day, the number of these actually used would be very close to zero.

100% true but there was still a chance. Personally I'd like them to replace the express pass entry with gates similar to what you get in Europe and then boarding passes could be hard coded with a fast track entry.

Technically then it'd be limited to just F/J plus Oneworld Emerald, Star Alliance Gold and Skyteam Elite Plus (and then maybe a few unaligned airlines with their top tier FFs). Before anyone complains about not being able to bring along family/friends - pre covid Air NZ would print an express pass logo on the entire bookings boarding passes as long as there was at least one *G in the booking.

 

[DrJ]

Doing the Dom- Int transfer at SYD for the first time post covid early tomorrow morning, was wondering if the pre covid express path has now been reintroduced- if so, do I need to ask for a card on checking in at PER tonight (WP traveling J)

Also, has the airside QF transfer bus returned to its pre covid levels of frequency?

 

[TonyD]

Hi just a question - Is Express Path operating again? I believe its been - or will be - rebranded to Priority Lane.
Any updates? Do Express Pass cards still work? I have a couple I was using in 2020 (sigh) and I'd love to be able to use them now.

My wife used it or similar in Auckland yesterday - and again this morning in Brisbane

 

[dajop]

Departure Express Path at MEL is definitely available. No card, instead printed on BP, at least flying SQ …

 

[whughes3]

Doing the Dom- Int transfer at SYD for the first time post covid early tomorrow morning, was wondering if the pre covid express path has now been reintroduced- if so, do I need to ask for a card on checking in at PER tonight (WP traveling J)

Also, has the airside QF transfer bus returned to its pre covid levels of frequency?

Did this yesterday and the express line at T1 is still strictly J/F pax only (just flash your BP). And yes, the transfer bus does appear to be running more frequently: now appears that there are 2 coaches in use instead of just 1 as was the case earlier.

 

[henrus]

I've found that in both BNE/MEL it's operating both inbound and outbound but SYD is just J/F and only outbound.

 

[dajop]

And at ADL everyone gets express path, just by virtue of the fact they're flying out of ADL

 

[DrJ]

Can report that while there is no ref to express path on the paper BP, or any other card, at SYD there is a J/F channel for both outbound immi and security, which was pretty strictly enforced this morning. Seems that there are no priority lines for status per se, unless there is something unwritten for P1/ CL.
As it was, the fastest passage to Int airside in living memory - from the transfer bus to FLounge in less than 10 mins!

 

[SYD]

Can report that while there is no ref to express path on the paper BP, or any other card, at SYD there is a J/F channel for both outbound immi and security, which was pretty strictly enforced this morning. Seems that there are no priority lines for status per se, unless there is something unwritten for P1/ CL.
As it was, the fastest passage to Int airside in living memory - from the transfer bus to FLounge in less than 10 mins!

The passport control “FastTrack” is a bit of a joke when they wave everyone else over to the same eGates but the security check lines are enforced with BP. But at least they have a lot more stations operating compared to last year. That was horrible. Two recent departures (in J have been pretty quick also).