Outgoing Passenger Cards (OPC) to be phased out

[Pushka]

I must be naive because I have always been honest in my answers. In another forum, many posters indicated that they have regularly written false/joke occupations on the form-makes me question the usefulness of some of the data gathered.

I don't have a job title. And frequently spend time in multiple countries. How are you supposed to answer 'country spent most time in' when for me there is no winner. Incorrect data is much worse than no data.

 

[AisleSeat]

And to think the last time I left the country I made sure to grab a stack to pre-fill at home for the next time I departed. Oh well...

 

[Pushka]

And to think the last time I left the country I made sure to grab a stack to pre-fill at home for the next time I departed. Oh well...

Murphys Law in full force.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

How are you supposed to answer 'country spent most time in' when for me there is no winner.

Add up the days in each country during that trip. Most likely one will be more than any others.

 

[Pushka]

Add up the days in each country during that trip. Most likely one will be more than any others.

Well, it's my upcoming trip that has made me think about this. I'm spending just three days in multiple countries. This is what happens when you do a cruise.

 

[Atleastonce]

Well, it's my upcoming trip that has made me think about this. I'm spending just three days in multiple countries. This is what happens when you do a cruise.

I always wonder what my profile is like after filling out the forms. I don't put incorrect information but I do put my work email when travelling for business and my personal email when travelling for personal trips. Along with other information that has changed over the years for me such as address and phone numbers etc.... they must have a large link chart for me let alone every other single traveller. An analysts nightmare.

 

[harvyk]

Add up the days in each country during that trip. Most likely one will be more than any others.

That doesn't always work, so my normal strategy is to put fown the country which makes most sense for my next / previous flight. So if my next flight is AU-USA I'll pit down USA. If my previous flight was UK-AU I'll put down UK.

What really confused customs once was flying SIN-BNE, but then catching QF8 from BNE-SYD. No one was quite sure what I should have put on my card.

 

[Pushka]

That doesn't always work, so my normal strategy is to put fown the country which makes most sense for my next / previous flight. So if my next flight is AU-USA I'll pit down USA. If my previous flight was UK-AU I'll put down UK.

What really confused customs once was flying SIN-BNE, but then catching QF8 from BNE-SYD. No one was quite sure what I should have put on my card.

Or put down the country that raises the least alarm bells I guess.

 

[JohnK]

I don't have a job title.

Make one up that sounds right. Co-ordinator. Planner. Executive.

 

[TonyHancock]

Make one up that sounds right. Co-ordinator. Planner. Executive.

I just put DYKWIA on mine.

 

[Pushka]

Make one up that sounds right. Co-ordinator. Planner. Executive.

Yes. That's what I do but each time I forget what I wrote last time.

 

[JohnK]

I just put DYKWIA on mine.

But they already expect that from you.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I don't have a job title.

I write Ontologist on my departure card every time. No one has every said anything.

 

[Melburnian1]

About time!

I asked about this in mid 2016 (not through AFF) and was informed that the intention was to discontinue the outwards passenger cards in 2016. Apart from legislative and regulatory drafting priorities, I am unsure why the further delay in ending their use.

 

[juddles]

In general I feel manual cards are getting out of date. But I do love some ironies / inconsistencies / utter nightmares for data processing.

For example, it is a common set of questions on many such passenger incoming cards: 1.- what carrier? 2.- Flight number? 3.- In which country did you board this flight? (or similar)

There must be some very athletic individuals out there that are able to board a flight in a country other than from which the flight took off from.....

 

[TonyHancock]

There must be some very athletic individuals out there that are able to board a flight in a country other than from which the flight took off from.....

To be fair, as an example, BA15 could be the UK or Singapore.

 

[kevrosmith]

There must be some very athletic individuals out there that are able to board a flight in a country other than from which the flight took off from.....

To be fair, as an example, BA15 could be the UK or Singapore.

And it's also a generic card which is used for Passenger Cruise ships, so you may have boarded the ship in another country from which you have just most recently traveled.

 

[Himeno]

In general I feel manual cards are getting out of date. But I do love some ironies / inconsistencies / utter nightmares for data processing.

Japan's arrivals card had a departure section which was detached from the card and attached to your passport next to the JP entry sticker. The departure section was then removed when the sticker was scanned at departure.
The departure section was removed and the arrivals card reviewed early last year.

The first time I went to Spain, there was a departure section kept with the passport after entry which was meant to be collected upon departure. When I left, no one was interested in collecting it.

Of those places I've been to that still have arrival and/or departure cards, 90% of what the cards ask for is already known.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes. That's what I do but each time I forget what I wrote last time.

I used to have that problem, but then I decided to start using my most important title - mother. .

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Well, it's my upcoming trip that has made me think about this. I'm spending just three days in multiple countries. This is what happens when you do a cruise.

A cruise is a good example of where it might be an issue. An answer like "Multiple - Cruise" would neatly explain the situation.

Or put down the country that raises the least alarm bells I guess.

That could well cause issues if you encounter the additional random scrutiny that they dole out from time to time.