Smart Gate - how popular is it?

[docjames]

and wrinkles

No wrinkles (yet).

 

[SeaWolf]

I've used it a few times, since I only recently got a chipped passport. It's worked for me every time, but I wish they'd do it for leaving the country as well as coming in.

 

[williamsf1]

This is the best thing ever … use it quite often when coming home.

A little trick when flying home from AKL, they actually have a AU machine in the food court area where you can “ pre clear” AU customs. It gives you the card to insert into the gate on arrival in AU

I do not understand why people do not use it more often, these types of AU passports have been around for 5 yrs or so

 

[elbarto]

It's great. I once came off the plane, probably in the middle, went to the mens room, bought some duty free used the smart gate and was still one of the first at baggage claim.

Now when I use it with my partner who has a British passport, I usually have our bags ready to go through quarantine before she gets through the passport line.

 

[samh004]

Haven't travelled internationally since I got my chipped passport...

 

[RB]

I am another who uses it & haven't had any hassles

 

[serfty]

...
A little trick when flying home from AKL, they actually have a AU machine in the food court area where you can “ pre clear” AU customs. It gives you the card to insert into the gate on arrival in AU
...

They had gone when I came through back in November ... this included the one up near the QF/NZ/EK lounges.

 

[jetlagger]

I still have the 'analogue" passport & look forward to the apparent streamlined protocol of using Smart Gate when my new passport arrives.

 

[tuapekastar]

I've used it ever since it became available and I got a chipped passport. Had a couple of occasions whee for whatever reason it 'didn't work' and I was ushered through an empty immi line next to it. I imagine it is a combination of people who don't know it exists (or rather don't know what it is when they see the signs) and people who don't yet have chipped passports. I believe there are also certain exclusions depending on your answers to certain questions.

I still use premium checkin and pre-clearance when departing AKL.

 

[ALH]

Use it all the time and the only problem I have is when I remove my glasses, I can't see when it has finished scanning my face (short sighted). Can't use it when I take my grandchildren away

 

[here2go]

I used it for the first time coming back from Bali into DRW at 3am (oh I yearn for a carrier other than JQ on that run if they can do it at a reasonable hour). I can't say it was much faster as it seemed slow, but it was easy enough. It would be interesting to see how they perform in the event of a good storm - we get more lightning than any other city in the world meaning that comms often fall out.

 

[Heleigh]

I also use smart gate and have had an issue where it didn't work but was told to use the lane next to it.

Serfty I'm disappoint if they have taken machine out of AKL it was handy.

 

[whatmeworry]

Same limited experience.

I guess my face doesnt look like my photo (according to the computer).

I have had that issue with my licence and passport with bouncers/cops/border patrol... I met a guy I had not meet for over a decade and he tells me I still look the same... lol

 

[dot]

I've been using the Smartgates since 2004 when the pilot program was opened to QF WP pax (and QF aircrew). In the early days of the pilot, there were quite a few outages where the gates were not operational or failed the facial recognition (during the pilot, Immigration took separate photos for the facial recognition rather than using your passport photo). Since the production system came in in 2007, (and I got my first biometric passport in 2008) I had a forced break in using Smartgate as pilot users could not use the production smartgates until they had a chipped passport. Since late 2008 I have used the smartgates over 75 times and never had a problem.

PS. As a result of using the Sartgates, I have a very large collection of Express passes since I get one on almost every inbound flight, but only ever actually use them at SYD (at the customs fastlane)

 

[ChasingDaylight]

I use SmartGate regularly when crossing the Tasman, except for the odd occasion when I feel like getting a stamp on the NZ side. Very quick normally.

Only issues I have had with the chipped passport has been at DRW after coming back from XCH; crashed two of the Customs computers and was told if it crashed the third one I'd get deported for being a sheer nusiance.

 

[Mal]

Yeah have been on smartgate since it opened up to wps (actually I used an f boarding pass Sydney to mel) for registration.

Good scheme generally.

 

[serfty]

I managed to enroll in the trial as an SG in early 2005. This was before e-passports were available.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-faster-way-clear-customs-5171.html#post61325

 

[optimisticTraveller]

I passed through on my way back into Brissie recently to find the Smart Gate queue was longer than normal queue! It also seemed like no one knew what they were doing. It was less 'smart gate' and more 'sheep gate'. Oh well, at least those people will be quicker next time.... :/

 

[richie9x]

Yeah a few times at Brisbane especially early in the morning when several wide bodies arrive together the queue for the smart gates can get a very long. It can also get confusing as there are multiple lines for the kiosks and just one line for the smart gates. I have seen a few people join the end of the gate queue thinking they were queuing for the kiosks.

 

[under the radar]

I passed through on my way back into Brissie recently to find the Smart Gate queue was longer than normal queue! It also seemed like no one knew what they were doing. It was less 'smart gate' and more 'sheep gate'. Oh well, at least those people will be quicker next time.... :/

as is anything in life...the first time can be challenging