Melbourne VA Lounge becoming airside from August 2022

[simmomelb]

Are you suggesting that the older equipment was not doing an adequate job? I've not heard of an incident where a weapon has passed through undetected?
My feeling is that the new equipment is a solution for a problem that didn't exist. When I've asked about it I've been told it is meant to make the process "more streamlined"; accompanied with a look to the heavens and raised eyebrows.

It was doing the job, but the new scanning tech is much more advanced, lessening the chance of anything slipping through the net. Plenty of articles on this can be found online.
Have you been through the body scanning tech yet? They can literally see underneath your clothes, meaning they don't have to send you back through over and over just because you have a belt on or some coins left in your pocket.
My silly old dad (bless him) left a pocket knife in his pocket (from a regional area and uses it for fishing) and managed to make it through around 3 years ago, I was shocked that happened and I'm not sure how.
Also, keep in mind, unfortunately, as times have changed, not all weapons are made of metal, guns and knives can be made from 3D printers. This can be seen on body scanners, not the old metal-only detectors.

3D body scanners at Australian airports: what are they and how do they work?

Sydney airport has started using new scanners in its Qantas domestic terminal as part of the shift away from metal detectors

www.theguardian.com

 

[nutwood]

It was doing the job, but the new scanning tech is much more advanced, lessening the chance of anything slipping through the net. Plenty of articles on this can be found online.
Have you been through the body scanning tech yet? They can literally see underneath your clothes, meaning they don't have to send you back through over and over just because you have a belt on or some coins left in your pocket.
My silly old dad (bless him) left a pocket knife in his pocket (from a regional area and uses it for fishing) and managed to make it through around 3 years ago, I was shocked that happened and I'm not sure how.
Also, keep in mind, unfortunately, as times have changed, not all weapons are made of metal, guns and knives can be made from 3D printers. This can be seen on body scanners, not the old metal-only detectors.

3D body scanners at Australian airports: what are they and how do they work?

Sydney airport has started using new scanners in its Qantas domestic terminal as part of the shift away from metal detectors

www.theguardian.com

I have most certainly been through the body scanning. It looks under my clothes and discovers that I have knee reinforcement patches and it gets all excited. I then have to be taken aside and patted down. Every time!
Meanwhile, I'm also maneuvering to stop those same trousers falling down because they made me remove my belt (lightweight buckle that doesn't upset metal detectors). If they did fall down, it would at least provide some entertainment to the people standing there waiting because the person patting me down is the same one who ushers victims through the scanner and the whole process has stopped.

 

[simmomelb]

I have most certainly been through the body scanning. It looks under my clothes and discovers that I have knee reinforcement patches and it gets all excited. I then have to be taken aside and patted down. Every time!
Meanwhile, I'm also maneuvering to stop those same trousers falling down because they made me remove my belt (lightweight buckle that doesn't upset metal detectors). If they did fall down, it would at least provide some entertainment to the people standing there waiting because the person patting me down is the same one who ushers victims through the scanner and the whole process has stopped.

Hahaha. Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, or should I? That was quite the story!

 

[nutwood]

Hahaha. Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, or should I? That was quite the story!

Please feel free. I like to bring a little sunshine into people's life. Preferably with my trousers on though!

 

[bullerdude]

I’ve experienced some slow downs due to staff obviously not being super familiar with the equipment but I’m sure this will improve with time.

Personally, not having to unpack my backpack when carrying a laptop, iPad and aerosol is a great! The large tubs also means that rather than needing to line up 3-4 trays for everything it generally all goes into the one tub.

In time it won’t surprise me if we go the way of the US with ticket and id checks before domestic security.

 

[clifford]

Well, I went through T4 security around 2 pm today, and it was a breeze (as there were very few pax entering at that stage).

However, I did get a pat down (expected) and one of my items was sent for secondary screening (expected), but, surprise, surprise, nothing was found. And the secondary just resulted in "it's OK".

If it had've been busy, it could've been a s... fight.

Well, I Subsequently went through PER T4 and MEL T1 security, and it was a breeze compared with MEL T4. Same bag, but no false positives, no nothing.

So much for spending up big at MEL T4 (and annoying the cr..p out of pax).

 

[straitman]

Personally, not having to unpack my backpack when carrying a laptop, iPad and aerosol is a great! The large tubs also means that rather than needing to line up 3-4 trays for everything it generally all goes into the one tub.

Unfortunately it was one bag per tub last Monday night and initially one item and then they picked what could be combined.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

While they are patting us down, who is watching our HLO.
So easy for someone to pinch a bag.
Same with int travel, while getting pat down, items can easily go walkies.
No, I am not handsome.
Something bulky the guy said.

 

[jakeseven7]

I went through Security around 6.00am yesterday and there was no priority screening lane. My bag got flagged (as did most others), but they didn't really check it much and gave it straight back to me.

The new security ‘tub’ machines in the budget terminal (T4/T3) are a PITA, went through this week.

1) Every second bag ‘diverted’ for no rhyme or reason
2) Staff clearly frustrated with this and snappy and rude, yelling at passengers - even though all they were doing was waiting for their diverted bags
2a) Only one bag per tub was being strictly enforced which slowed things down even more
3) People getting separated from their tubs because many people need multiple tubs, and the injectors mean your tubs get separated - people then wait to make sure their tub goes through before walking through causing a jam on airside
4) If the tubs aren’t aligned perfectly they jam the return feeder (happened twice) = no tubs = cranky rude staff huffing down to unblock!

Like others have said:

Make sure you get in the tub #1 position right next to the start of the belt or you get jammed behind loads of people shoving their tubs in before you and your stuff gets separated…

I literally waited until that position became available, because you can hold other peoples tubs back to get yours to go through together…

Thank you for that tip up thread!

Also there was no priority queue for anyone when I flew, maybe it only operates at some times of the day.

 

[Edge]

I flew MEL-BNE on Friday and the new security screening was an absolute breeze.

Big, big fan of leaving everything in the bag.

 

[straitman]

I flew MEL-BNE on Friday and the new security screening was an absolute breeze.

Big, big fan of leaving everything in the bag.

I am getting the drift here that it often works well but falls apart when very busy.

I’ll try it again next Thursday afternoon.

 

[jakeseven7]

I am getting the drift here that it often works well but falls apart when very busy.

Agree when it’s quiet it’s easy.
The wheels fall off when it starts getting busy.
Just make sure you get in pole position with the injectors!
And fingers crossed the premium lane is open for you.

 

[flyingfan]

Just came through this new setup for the first time. Not crowded or busy. I didn't see a priority lane but didn't need it - things moved very quickly. Staff were efficient and very pleasant.

Not sure how it'd go at peak times, and walking back and forth is a bit silly (until we're distracted by a shopping arcade perhaps?) but at least there's much more room and it's not so claustrophobic any more.

And at long last, the VA lounge is in sync with just about every other domestic lounge in being airside - hallelujah!

 

[kerfuffle]

Staff were efficient and very pleasant.

I just went through half an hour ago (so about an hour after you) and got the exact opposite, especially past the screening gate. My left lower leg also triggered security for a pat down for some reason.

 

[jakeseven7]

I just went through half an hour ago (so about an hour after you) and got the exact opposite

As with anything human related I guess its dependent on who you encounter and under what circumstances you encounter them

I found the staff on my two pass throughs really screamy and rude too.

I suspect they are struggling with the new system and taking it out on us poor pax!

 

[SJF211]

Just passed through for the first time. HLO so got dropped off at T4. Was moving at an okay pace with the occasional stop. The security guy checking bags was being rude so perhaps we got the same one. I think the system is okay, it just takes some adjustments for people. The biggest issue I saw was several workers responding to the same issue meaning no one else could be scanned. As an example today I managed to pick the line with, and mind my language, Jetstar bogans. The same gentlemen infront of me managed to 1) not take his wallet out and refused to be patted down, 2) after finding his wallet refused to have it x-rayed, 3) tried to get over the glass to retrieve his bag that had been flagged which had a pocket knife in it. Because of this 3 security where all fawning over him trying to calm him down and explain what was happening while my leg got flagged meaning I needed to be patted down. However as the three officers were busy the and the person screening was female I had to wait about 5 mins for someone to frisk me holding the rest of the queue up. Oh well I’m sure the kinks will work themselves out.

 

[Saab34]

They also require you to take off heavy coats/jackets, so do that before and put the bag/pack on top of it in the tub. Twice now my North Face Jacket, in a seperate tub due size, has set off the scanner and gets pushed down the inspection lane. Since putting it in the bottom of the tub, with bag onto, not once has it been pushed aside.

No idea how the logic works.

 

[kerfuffle]

They also require you to take off heavy coats/jackets, so do that before and put the bag/pack on top of it in the tub. Twice now my North Face Jacket, in a seperate tub due size, has set off the scanner and gets pushed down the inspection lane. Since putting it in the bottom of the tub, with bag onto, not once has it been pushed aside.

No idea how the logic works.

Yep; they weren’t happy that I didn’t take mine off. I pointed out I wasn’t told to nor were there signs saying to take them off and then they started cracking the coughs …

Hopefully a more pleasant experience when I pass through again in October

 

[nutwood]

Yep; they weren’t happy that I didn’t take mine off. I pointed out I wasn’t told to nor were there signs saying to take them off and then they started cracking the coughs …

Hopefully a more pleasant experience when I pass through again in October

That's the point though. A whole bunch of problems for what purpose? Were the previous security arrangements deficient?

 

[jakeseven7]

I went through Security around 6.00am yesterday and there was no priority screening lane. My bag got flagged (as did most others).

Ok so apparently the priority screening is only open 5am - 10am, weekdays only.

Which of course is a downgrade for us status VA2 customers