e gates - get though passport control quickly

LutonGirl

It all depends whether UKBF has the staff available to "man" the e-gates. Not all staff are trained in their use so there may be times when the gates aren't in use. A bit like the self service tills at supermarkets - they still need to be supervised.

prowla

An apparently shorter queue for the e-Passports doesn't necessarily mean you'll get through quicker than just standing in line for the manned booths.

Sometimes they are faster but sometimes they aren't.

littlereddevil

Where are all these egates I've never seen them?

allacrossthesand

Used them a number of times at Heathrow and once at Gatwick I think. Always been fast, even when arriving just ahead of the start of the 2012 games.

The main problem is that they need a clued up member of staff or two manning them. Came in from India and tried to use it. Sadly about 100 clueless Indian O.A.P's had the same idea due to seeing the shorter clue. The woman in question was great quickly checking they all had passports that couldn't be used and moving them on. Equally someone at the front to make sure people know what to do.


As for failures seen it happen a few times but most people seem to get though now. The bigger issue is the time it takes to get the people to process themselves. The informations all clearly shown a number of times as you approach, yet you see so many people stroll up completely unprepared and just generally wave their passport in the air and expect the gate to open. If they've even got their passport out.


Its a great system and when the masses get better knowledge of it, its going to speed things up. Sure like cashpoints you'll still get the odd person that is so slow you wonder how they take so long, but overall its a winner