[Mal]

I have seen something briefly posted about this at one of the forums I visit, but don't recall it being posted here... and not really sure where I saw it. Apologies if already posted somewhere else!

Sydney, Melbourne and a third International Airport (BNE? ADL?) are participating in a Fast Track (Outbound) immigration/Security Screening trial.

For Qantas, it appears to apply to WP/CL/First pax at least, but I assume more people as well. Can't find online references to it anywhere. Other airlines are also participating and would have their own criteria.

It's a slip of paper given to you at check-in. A couple of exerpts:

"As a valued customer, we invite you to use Express Path to speed you through immigration and security queuing."

"Note: The Australian Government is supporting an industry trial of "Express paths" for defined passengers at three Australian Airports"

"The trial will be evaluated by the Government to determine whether these arrangements continue".

Using the Express path, you basically go through the "Diplomatic/Flight Crew/Apec/D Sticker" queue for outgoing immigration, and at Security screening, they have a specially set up lane just for crew/Express path customers.

Nothing appears set up yet at inbound immigration. Maybe in the future. The card is collected at security screening. I'm not sure whether Customs stamps the form or not when you present it.

PS, the slips aren't dated... remind anyone of similar schemes overseas

[simongr]

Hmm - another reason to consider getting WP as well as EXP on the BEHEMOTH and SOB before September...

[Mal]

Originally Posted by simongr

Hmm - another reason to consider getting WP as well as EXP on the BEHEMOTH and SOB before September...

Of course I may just have a couple of spare vouchers

The trial could be for Gold's and Business class well. Don't really know, and didn't have the time to ask about it.

They may also give them out to OWE/OWS's.

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by Mal

Of course I may just have a couple of spare vouchers

Could be worth putting them up on coupon connection.

Originally Posted by Mal

The trial could be for Gold's and Business class well. Don't really know, and didn't have the time to ask about it.

There was 3 people travelling today and the 2 Platinums got one but the Gold did not!

[Mal]

Does anyone know which airport is the third airport in this trial?

MEL, SYD, ???

Curious to know if it's BNE, ADL, DRW or PER. (Presume BNE, but not really sure. Hope I havn't missed out any other regularly scheduled INTL airports)

[d15.in.oz]

Originally Posted by Mal

Does anyone know which airport is the third airport in this trial?

With no responses so far, I will respond that at BNE International there is an "e" ribbon logo on the APEC, crew, group & domestic lanes on the left. I was not in that lane "due to being a WP", the other day, so can not confirm access based on status. However, I would be willing to guess (given the logo use) it is available (if not to priority QF customers, at least other airlines' priority customers). I certainly saw people escorted past me in the queue, who were not crew! (Not that status gets queue jump privileges, but class might.)

[dot]

In my past two trips (over the past three weeks) - one SQ F and one SQ J out of MEL, I got a voucher for fast access through Immigration control and the security check. Actually - on the first flight (F class) I refused the voucher since I have an APEC card, only to have the security checkpoint staff advise me that I should have taken it to use the priority security checkpoint - they let me use the lane, but I got the feeling that if they were busier, they would have forced me to use the other busier lanes - despite having a APEC card which IMO should allow me to use the "proirity" security.

I am QF PLat, so I guess I will get the priority vouchers in the future on any OW flight... and with one more SQ flight, I will be SQ Elite Gold, so that should get me the same on any *A flights too...

[RTWFF]

Originally Posted by dot

... despite having a APEC card which IMO should allow me to use the "proirity" security

I agree, but for some reason APEC BTC cardholders (at least in the UA/NZ terminal at Sydney) don't get Priority security although they do get priority immigration. It makes no sense ... but then, what does these days?

[serfty]

Originally Posted by d15.in.oz

... I was not in that lane "due to being a WP", the other day, so can not confirm access based on status. However, I would be willing to guess (given the logo use) it is available (if not to priority QF customers, at least other airlines' priority customers). ...

Are you saying you were not eligible for this lane for being a WP or did you omit a "not" from "due to being a WP"?

As a QF WP last time I travelled I was given an e voucher.

[d15.in.oz]

I must try NOT to use a double negative… It did not occur to me to get an “e” pass in BNE, as I was not checked in for my international flight at BNE... Therefore I couldn’t confirm (as you now have) that BNE was participating in the express clearance program for Qantas priority customers.

However, I was trying to add that the lanes had the “e” logo present, so BNE was likely to be “the other airport” questioned in the original post. (Only want to put a proviso that, as I wasn't in the lane "officially" as a WP, I couldn't personally confirm access for that reason.)