Possibility of avoiding passport control e-gates.

[gabrielhj07]

I’ve just enjoyed 20 minutes or so queueing for the e-gates at Stansted. As usual there were 2 options:

1. E-gates for UK/EU etc. passports, or;
2. See an officer in person for any other passports.

I was travelling on a UK passport so queued appropriately, but so did everyone else, such that the queue for the e-gates was miles long, whereas that for the ‘in person’ queue only had 10 or so people.

Could one take a UK passport to the ‘non UK’ queue to bypass the long wait, or would you be sent back to square 1?

 

[Khxds]

Surely they always need to have officers for UK passports also, for when E-gates just won't accept a passport for whatever reason. I haven't used Stansted yet, but they always have one or two at Gatwick and Heathrow. Worse case scenario is you get to the front of the ‘non UK’ queue and they then direct you to walk down further to the officers closer to the E-gates who handle those rejections.

 

[gabrielhj07]

Surely they always need to have officers for UK passports also, for when E-gates just won't accept a passport for whatever reason. I haven't used Stansted yet, but they always have one or two at Gatwick and Heathrow. Worse case scenario is you get to the front of the ‘non UK’ queue and they then direct you to walk down further to the officers closer to the E-gates who handle those rejections.

A shame that this thought only occurred to me after I’d gone through!

 

[cactustwirly]

I’ve just enjoyed 20 minutes or so queueing for the e-gates at Stansted. As usual there were 2 options:

1. E-gates for UK/EU etc. passports, or;
2. See an officer in person for any other passports.

I was travelling on a UK passport so queued appropriately, but so did everyone else, such that the queue for the e-gates was miles long, whereas that for the ‘in person’ queue only had 10 or so people.

Could one take a UK passport to the ‘non UK’ queue to bypass the long wait, or would you be sent back to square 1?

Normally the E-gates are the fastest, as there's normally lots of them and they process people a lot quicker

 

[Bald Rick]

AIUI children under 12 can’t use the e gates so have to go to the desks. Therefore U.K. passports can be used at said desks, and therefore you should just be able to use them.

 

[class68fan]

Surely they always need to have officers for UK passports also, for when E-gates just won't accept a passport for whatever reason. I haven't used Stansted yet, but they always have one or two at Gatwick and Heathrow. Worse case scenario is you get to the front of the ‘non UK’ queue and they then direct you to walk down further to the officers closer to the E-gates who handle those rejections.

General the reject E-gate people our direct to a person who only accessed from E-gate line.

 

[mchunt]

AIUI children under 12 can’t use the e gates so have to go to the desks. Therefore U.K. passports can be used at said desks, and therefore you should just be able to use them.

The age limit has been reduced, It was 10 when we flew in April via Stansted - not easy getting through troublesome gates with an autistic child. Wish we had gone to the desks instead.

 

[Kumquat]

The age limit has been reduced, It was 10 when we flew in April via Stansted - not easy getting through troublesome gates with an autistic child. Wish we had gone to the desks instead.

In contrast, my family arrived at Gatwick in April, with tired autistic kids, and geared up to join the queues for desks - about 100 people in front of us. Two ladies asked how old my youngest was, and beckoned us over to the totally deserted row of e-gates.

So we could take our time. All the children managed fine - the reminder to put glasses back on is really helpful! Took a few goes for spouse and sister to get through. But still quicker than being checked by a person, and avoided yet more standing in a crowd.

Having enough people and machines will be critical.

 

[Jamiescott1]

My passport never works at e gates as my name apparently matches someone wanted. Travelling numerous times a year this is frustrating..the staff still make me queue for e gates, use e gates, get rejected and queue again for a manual check. This is at Luton, Stansted, lgw and lhr.
The uk needs a redress system like in the states

 

[Howardh]

Manchester airport fast track takes you down a lane where you are met by an officer at the desk. Couple of trips ago I arrived with my passport and he asked me "why didn't you use the e-gates?" and I replied simply "fast track"!

Interesting that the officer asks me where I have been and how long for, yet the e-gate doesn't!