SYD Express immigration

Homer · #11 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simongr

Thanks - well if it is AQIS as well I will definitely be using it

I will grab mu Bombay Sapphire and head back to the express queue. I will report back next week.

Coming back into SYD from HKG last Monday in F I received the express "invitation" on board along with the arrivals card. I think it is the same as LHR where premium passengers (the airline's terminology, not mine) in J or F receive this on board before arrival.

Anyway I still have mine. That's because the express lane was the same as the duty free lane and I had a couple of bottles under my arm from duty free. Still if you didn't stop at duty free and you were one of the first out then you would be at the front of the queue for your flight, though of course other recent arrivals may be in front of you.

I didn't see an express lane at AQIS.

Maca44 · #12 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 07:22 AM

If you are given one of these 'express invitations' on board (or even prior to leaving SYD) for a return flight back to SYD, and don't use it and for example use the duty free lane. Do these invitations have an expiry date on them so you can use them on another flight if say flying Y.

Shano · #13 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 08:13 AM

There is no expiry date on the outbound express cards so perhaps a good chance that the inbound are also undated.

Reports are though that this is only a trial at this stage, so probably best to use the invitation at the earliest opportunity in case the trial is scrapped.

serfty · #14 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homer

Coming back into SYD ...

... I didn't see an express lane at AQIS.

It certainly existed in SYD T1 (Pier A/B) 8pm on Sunday 11th.

About 40 metres along to the right of the AQIS X-Ray entry.

Homer · #15 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serfty

It certainly existed in SYD T1 (Pier A/B) 8pm on Sunday 11th.

About 40 metres along to the right of the AQIS X-Ray entry.

Doh! I should have looked harder for it because, as we all know, the AQIS queue is the worst.

Homer · #16 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shano

There is no expiry date on the outbound express cards so perhaps a good chance that the inbound are also undated.

Reports are though that this is only a trial at this stage, so probably best to use the invitation at the earliest opportunity in case the trial is scrapped.

I don't recall seeing an expiry on the inbound card. I'd check but I can't locate my unused card now...

JohnK · #17 (**permalink**) 15th November 2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homer

....as we all know, the AQIS queue is the worst.

That really depends on the arrival time. Arriving into SYD just after 5:00pm the other day and there was 1 person before me in the duty free lane, my bag had already arrived on another flight and there was 1 other person in front of me in the quarantine queue and I was waved through.

Now if I can get all my international flights to arrive at that time.

QF009 · #18 (**permalink**) 17th November 2007, 12:07 AM

SQ has also been handing the invitation cards out for Inbound Express CIQ. Those flying R, F, C or holding *G status are eligible for this service:

I hope I also get one flying NZ J in about 2 weeks.

vt01 · #19 (**permalink**) 17th November 2007, 07:00 AM

The one I received yesterday does not have a date.. I couldn't use it as I had food to declare.
Slightly OT but I had to replace my passport a couple of weeks before. My previous passport was registered for smartgate. tried my new one and it wouldn't work. I asked the immigration officer and he said that it hadn't been registered. Although he didn't tell me how to re-register.
Now that I'm not a WP, I wonder if I can still register..

But I will be hanging on to me express card in case I have an opportunity to use it in the future.. :-)

Mal · #20 (**permalink**) 17th November 2007, 01:56 PM

Flying back from Narita today, I was not given an Express Immigration card by the cabin crew. When I asked for one, the staffer knew about it, but ran off to ask the CSM or someone else. It never turned up.

Bad form Qantas! Trying to decide whether to send feedback to them or not about it.

Customs let me use the priority queue anyway once I explained that I was eligible.

While waiting for my bag, AQIS questioned me about my travels, then stamped my card with a green stamp. This then gave me the same access to the Express Quarantine scan line as the eExpress card would have anyway.