Uk Passport Control

[cameliaheartfelt]

When arriving back in the UK, can you choose whether you go in the queue to show your passport at a manned desk or in the chip recognition queue? When i came back from holiday, the passport queue official was syphoning off so many to each option. He then closed the desk line pulling the chord across. I get very panicky within the cubicle going through the chip reader and had to explain and almost plead to go up to the desk. He let me go through but didn't like it. Surely i have a choice even though i have a chip in my passport.

[chelle7272]

At Bristol airport the last time I went through the chipped passport queue it took forever and it didn't work well. I agree it needs to be easier and more reliable. I tend to avoid it if I can.

[New Judge]

“The entire idea of the 'chip' passports is to speed up the process.”

Well if that’s the aim, Eddie, they singularly fail to succeed. I’ve used the new booths and quite simply they don’t work properly. They don’t work at all if you are under five feet tall (unless you carry an orange box with you). If you are of regulation height they frequently fail, necessitating manual intervention from an official (rather like the do-it-yourself checkouts at supermarkets). They need to become a lot more slick and user friendly before they can hope to speed up the process.

I have made a careful study of this on my returns to Gatwick (which I make five or six times a year). On every occasion without exception those using the manual queue get through immigration far quicker than those using the new type. A lot more work required.

As sunny-dave relates, the main achievement of Border Control gates (whether manual or automatic) seems to be to cause unnecessary delay for passengers. The very first change that is needed is that there should be separate gates for UK passport holders here in the UK. Most other countries I have visited (certainly those outside the wretched EU) seem to provide dedicated gates for returning citizens to avoid them having to queue up behind the world and his wife.

[Zacs-Master]

My experiences of using these gates is very similar to yourself NJ

[Bazile]

What type of rays do these machines use, to scan ?

[sunny-dave]

It's not just the new gates (although they are mainly a load of carp, as NJ says) - it's the bland, unsmiling inefficiency of the UKBA at major airports.

Last time I came through Stansted (see above at 13:01) it was a quiet evening - everything had landed on time - there were 'no surprises or incidents' (I asked) - so why was it so difficult to match supply to perfectly predictable demand?

They rely on the fact that (once you eventually are allowed back into your own country), the last thing you are going to risk is upsetting the tinpot hitlers who could make your life a misery on every subsequent trip.

[Zacs-Master]

'Our study has shown that there is clearly scope for a better designed system with a more
intuitive interface, which will enhance the usability and increase the overall appeal of e-gates for passengers.'
https://www.fastpass-project.eu/sites/default/files/IHCI.pdf

[Prudie]

They are not cubicles at all, even with he gates shut it's only waist height. If you find those claustrophobic you must get in a right state if you need to use a plane toilet :-)

[237SJ]

It`s the way of the world. If the powers that be can get people to go through automated systems then the border agencies can reduce their staff and save money

[cameliaheartfelt]

This was at Birmingham. When i go through security it isnt enclosed just an archway to walk through. As for the passport chip reader, It is a sort of stall where you walk through and 2 barriers then close behind you and you're stuck til your chip works. Ive had to ask for help both times and in Heathrow too. I once got stuck in the glass one in Heathrow and ever since then i have been dreadful and panic. I hate it that you are on your own. My husband was next to me showing me what to do and his was placed faced down differently to mine it turned out. I hate Birmingham airport at the best of times. Twice we have arrived back early, once was around midnight and all of us were sent up steps to walk in terminal and the doors were locked. We couldn't get into our own country. We must have been knocking and banging on the door for at least 5 minutes in the freezing cold trying to attract their attention. We decided to go thouugh the chip reader in Las Vegas and that then led us to the manual desk after it so had to wait twice as long, God knows why, never again!

[Zacs-Master]

I think it was Birmingham were we were made to wait 15 minutes at the 'automatic' gates whilst one shift of passport staff were swapped for another at silly o clock in the morning.

[Khandro]

We seem to be living in an age where the slightest delay in our travel plans is seen as some sort of outrageous assault on out rights to move around the planet effortlessly.