Iris scanning - do it!

Bob63

I had a little time to spare at Heathrow last Saturday so I signed up for iris scanning. It took about 5 minutes as the office (in Heathrow T4 just past gate 1) was empty. This Saturday arriving home from Denver I sailed through immigration as there was just one person waiting for the iris scanner. It is so much faster than queueing to have your passport checked. Highly recommended.

littlestar1981

Is it free?

Bob63

littlestar1981 wrote: »

Is it free?

Yes. Make a change for Brown to give something away for free doesn't it?

b.t.w. The scheme operates at:

• all five Heathrow terminals;
• Manchester terminals 1 and 2;
• Birmingham terminal 1; and
• Gatwick North and South terminals.

More details - http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/technology/iris/

richardw

On a bank holiday Monday return flight to LGW-North terminal, the queue for the Iris was very long and it was quicker to go though the manual desks.

mummyyummy_2

what is it? xmyx

angel

I usually fly from Gatwick and I've wanted to get mine scanned the past few times that I've travelled but the desk is never open as I usually have to get early flights.

Having said that I've often seen bigger queues at the Iris than at the usual passport desk too, maybe they need to open more Iris queues to speed it up?.

rbulph

Are there any privacy issues in this? i.e. might the government one day use your iris data to track you with surveillance cameras as you walk around town?

Sam_Bee

rbulph wrote: »

Are there any privacy issues in this? i.e. might the government one day use your iris data to track you with surveillance cameras as you walk around town?

I'd say that's very much a personal matter dependent on the individuals level of paranoia vs the benefits of quicker immigration queue's.

It does feel a bit uncomfortable but I got over myself.

duchy

No more so than all the other data they have on you already-tax, national insurance, council tax, tv licence tc etc but then to me it doesn't matter as I don't do anything that would make the government feel the need to track me over and above anyone else
(Or maybe I'm just not important enough or not paranoid enough!!)

phatbear

rbulph wrote: »

Are there any privacy issues in this? i.e. might the government one day use your iris data to track you with surveillance cameras as you walk around town?

You should be more worried about id chips being put in new born babies!!, nah just kidding, cctv can barely make out a persons face let alone someones iris, anyway only the guilty have something to fear about being tracked by surveillance cameras.

all the best

the bear

Lady_S

Only the guilty have something to be scared of, until you are accused of something you didn't do.