'e' of e gate is not for 'early'
I travel regularly into LHR from HKG and, with arrival times from 5-30 ish onwards (various carriers BA CX VA), we are always among the first flights in.
On several occasions there has been 'intelligent life' at the manned immigration desks but the e gates are not yet open. They seem to come to life at 6-30am. I had assumed that was because they require some trained supervisor sitting at a remote terminal to oversee their operation, and that they get to have a lie-in.
Last time through (5-30 arrival, so queued for the manned desks) I struck up conversation with the officer and asked why the e gates don't wake up earlier. His reply suggested that the airlines (with the early arrivals) have to pay [more] for the privilege and hence the e gates are shut until 6-30...
Anyone else heard similar or different?