[simongr]

Hi all

Checking in at SYD yesterdat a OWE in F I was handed (without prompting this time) a express outbound immigration card. Now this in itself was no cause for excitement. However I was also handed an inbound express immigration card - something quite new to me.

My wonder now is whether it is worthwhile using it - I assume it only covers immigration and not quarantine? I tend to use the Duty Free lane at SYD as it is a good opportunity to stock up and I then get through pretty quickly - is there going to be much advantage using this express lane?

Cheers

S

[Mr_Gimlet]

This was flagged to start on 1st November, but it wasn't ready when I flew back from Auckland on 1st November.

What it is supposed to be (and I honestly don't know how far they have got) is fast-track passport and AQIS. If you look in the arrivals hall, there is a new machine set up on the right hand side, this is going to be for the fast track.

Qantas J, F and plats will definitely be able to use it but I don't know if they have agreements with other airlines as wel or whether it's a home crowd advantage.

Look forward to a report.

[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.

[Shano]

As I posted elsewhere, the Y cabin crew on QF128 on the weekend new nothing of this so I missed out on the inbound express immigration card. Must remember to ask at the F check-in next time.

Delays through customs/quarantine were horrendous on Sunday morning so will be interesting to see how the trial works.

[simongr]

Tthe card was handed to me by check in staff so the cabin crew are probably not involved perhaps - not sure how it works if you fly out of SYD on a carrier other than QF...

[Shano]

I assume that it looks different to the outbound express card? I was handed one of these (outbound) but did not use it as queues were very short plus I had the APEC card.

[Mr_Gimlet]

Originally Posted by simongr

Tthe card was handed to me by check in staff so the cabin crew are probably not involved perhaps - not sure how it works if you fly out of SYD on a carrier other than QF...

The plan is that they will hand them out with landing cards, but I suspect it's still a bit wobbly at the moment..

[Va Bene]

This has also been setup in MEL at the right hand side near baggage services for AQIS and was operational on 3rd Nov. I used Smartgate for customs
I'm not sure what the inbound card looks like and I just waved the outbound card that I did not use at security on the way out and managed to also hang onto it after the inbound scan.

Often when I come back from AKL with only hand luggage, they simply wave you through the exit doors and not through AQIS so maybe this has now stopped.
There was still a queue through this 'express' X-Ray machine scanning.

[simongr]

The card looks identical to the outbound card with inbound written on it. I am glad to have gotten one now as I am flying back with JL...

[serfty]

Landed with one in MEL a week ago - with Smartgate I was through in 3 minutes (from plane to arrivals landside).

Conditions for use:

-No more than two pieces of checked luggage (Amount of carry-on not relevant) &
-Nothing to declare (You must have answered no to questions 1-10 on incoming PAX card)

Interesting situation on arrival in SYD on Sunday; we had food to declare which we knew would be ok after being checked (chockies etc), so were ineligible for the express.

However, we were intercepted on the way to the x-ray queue and queried about the food.

Our incoming PAX documents were then stamped and we were directed straight out the express queue - at no stage did we produce our express slips. ^