No more express cards for WP pax in Y?

[Hvr]

As I returned to Australia this morning in Y, I asked the CSM for an immigration express card.

This is a listed OneWorld benefit for Emerald (i.e. Qantas Platinum) passengers.

Welcome to the fast lane.
Green means go. If you are a oneworld Emerald frequent flyer, enjoy ‘Fast Track’ or ‘Priority Lane’ access at select airports worldwide.

It is also listed on the Qantas site:

• Express Immigration
  Access express immigration on departure and arrival where available

I was advised that this is now only for J pax (no F on my flight). She said that staff had complained but to no avail. She did slip me a card.

Have other AFFers been affected by this or even heard being mentioned by flight crew?

In the end I didn't need said card but if this is a new Qantas policy it will be an enhancement of the worst kind.

 

[Captain Halliday]

My datapoint is a month old, but express cards were offered on QF36 SIN-MEL to this WP travelling in whY on Jan 26 this year.

 

[opusman]

Note that the OneWorld benefit is only at certain airports.

 

[wingtip626]

No Express Cards were provided to me (WP) on QF2 SIN-SYD 2 Feb travelling in W.

 

[justinbrett]

There's no date on those cards and they don't change the design often - I have a stack of them because I often don't need to use them. I wonder if they could tell if I brought out an old one? They don't seem to look very hard at them.

 

[La Mouette]

Express cards weren't handed out in F on QF2 earlier this week, only immigration cards. I asked (twice) and managed to secure one. Maybe this is part of their paper reduction strategy? I ended up not using it anyway, as the express lane wasn't open.

 

[Himeno]

SYD doesn't use inbound express cards.
They do not give express cards for SYD arrivals because there is no express lane at SYD.

 

[justinbrett]

SYD doesn't use inbound express cards.
They do not give express cards for SYD arrivals because there is no express lane at SYD.

I got one in September last year. You can use them for customs.

 

[maccaisking]

There's no date on those cards and they don't change the design often - I have a stack of them because I often don't need to use them. I wonder if they could tell if I brought out an old one? They don't seem to look very hard at them.

I keep a stack of express departure cards, only have one arrival card though. I’ve never been called out for using them (only tried in MEL) when not entitled. TBH I’m amazed they aren’t collected after use. A couple of weeks ago in SYD though flying SQ J the Express Lane invitation was printed on the boarding pass. Hopefully paper ones are still accepted for a while

 

[Mattg]

SYD doesn't use inbound express cards.
They do not give express cards for SYD arrivals because there is no express lane at SYD.

I was able to use one of these cards at SYD coming off QF28 as I needed to go to a counter for manual processing (to show a yellow fever certificate). Most of the other passengers on this flight needed to do the same thing, so having access to the express path actually saved a lot of time. Is this no longer offered?

 

[justinbrett]

A couple of weeks ago in SYD though flying SQ J the Express Lane invitation was printed on the boarding pass. Hopefully paper ones are still accepted for a while

Well considering Qantas are ditching those too, that’s not an option

 

[TomVexille]

We had to argue for one 12 months ago. Was initially told they had none, then J only. Both were WP at the time so certainly were entitled to them under OW rules.

 

[calmelb]

Note that the OneWorld benefit is only at certain airports.

Which includes Sydney and Melbourne (and possibly brisbane) which at least those two cover the busy airports.

I usually get the express cards though I have to ask and the run and check the manifest. (Whereas on a recent BA flight flying intraEurope in Y I just had to ask and they gave them out, without checking if I was OWE)

 

[RooFlyer]

SYD doesn't use inbound express cards.
They do not give express cards for SYD arrivals because there is no express lane at SYD.

Sure they do ... as of a few months ago at least.

 

[mrsterryn]

I never make the criteria for express lane coming home.
Always way too much shopping

 

[sudoer]

Definitely still an Express Path lane in Sydney as of one week ago..

 

[Berlin]

SYD doesn't use inbound express cards.
They do not give express cards for SYD arrivals because there is no express lane at SYD.

Not true. Sydney only has the inbound Express line open during absolute peak which is usual in the early mornings. But then, when it's really needed, then you need it BADLY.

At least on trans-Tasman, they still tend to hand them out to WP pax in Y prior to arrival into SYD. As many others do, I have a whole stack of them at home because outside the early morning hours, they indeed tend to not bother with the extra line. And no, never had anyone bother to check whether it's an old or a new card or whether I'm even traveling on the airline which issued the card.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

SYD still has express lane on arrivals. I always use this (most recently within the past week) because smartgate never works for me in Australia. On my last visit there was someone checking the people using express lane had an express card and moving those without a card to other longer lines.

I keep a stack of express departure cards, only have one arrival card though. I’ve never been called out for using them (only tried in MEL) when not entitled. TBH I’m amazed they aren’t collected after use. A couple of weeks ago in SYD though flying SQ J the Express Lane invitation was printed on the boarding pass. Hopefully paper ones are still accepted for a while

Yes they are, and they don't even worry if have from the wrong airline.

 

[Hvr]

I got a survey about my flight and mentioned this issue. Be interesting to see if there is a response.

 

[Himeno]

Sure they do ... as of a few months ago at least.

Definitely still an Express Path lane in Sydney as of one week ago..

There was no cards given out, nor any express lane at SYD when arriving on QF26 Monday (25th) morning.