Crew lane for arriving crew, not!
.....also some of us do not work for QF but are subject to short layovers in Australia and are flying out again to our overseas bases 'soonest'.
If dedicated crew channels is a budgetary problem I hereby volunteer to go to Officeworks, purchase materials and make up a few 'Priority for Crew' signs for AQIS. These are widely used in the rest of the world.
Arriving in MEL in the early mornings, especially if caught behind the other international arrivals is not a pleasant experience for pax or crew. Getting from the baggage carousels to the AQIS checking area is a zoo, the staff can be rude, the 'green stamp' is by no means assured, and the length of time it can take to get from Customs to the crew transport, especially after being awake most of the night, is a disgrace.
If dedicated crew channels is a budgetary problem I hereby volunteer to go to Officeworks, purchase materials and make up a few 'Priority for Crew' signs for AQIS. These are widely used in the rest of the world.
Arriving in MEL in the early mornings, especially if caught behind the other international arrivals is not a pleasant experience for pax or crew. Getting from the baggage carousels to the AQIS checking area is a zoo, the staff can be rude, the 'green stamp' is by no means assured, and the length of time it can take to get from Customs to the crew transport, especially after being awake most of the night, is a disgrace.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Close to home
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where Are We At?
Two months have passed since this discussion.Has anybody had any feedback from the relevant government.Has anybody indeed called the Dept.Nothing is going to change unless we are proactive
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Age: 58
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It wasn't all that long ago that crew bags did come off first in SYD.
Frequent flyers complained to QF management about this "affront" and the policy was changed.
Now we wait.......
Frequent flyers complained to QF management about this "affront" and the policy was changed.
Now we wait.......
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ditch handle is right and it was a well known woman who made that decision....
I was never totally convinced there was an actual complaint made by some over egotistical passengers instead that it was just another attempt by the office to annoy us....
So I made the suggestion that if say passengers bags were coming up on belt A then crew bags would come up on another belt far enough away so the said passengers would not see them....
I think you could imagine the answer....thats why I was never convinced that there were any real complaints from passengers...
I was never totally convinced there was an actual complaint made by some over egotistical passengers instead that it was just another attempt by the office to annoy us....
So I made the suggestion that if say passengers bags were coming up on belt A then crew bags would come up on another belt far enough away so the said passengers would not see them....
I think you could imagine the answer....thats why I was never convinced that there were any real complaints from passengers...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Close to home
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So...Again I ask
Who made a call?
Like so much commentary,criticism on PPrune its followed by very little action.Everyone has a whinge but nobody does anything.
Yes I made a call and I am about to make another.
C'mon help out here
Like so much commentary,criticism on PPrune its followed by very little action.Everyone has a whinge but nobody does anything.
Yes I made a call and I am about to make another.
C'mon help out here
Even though it is not signposted for crew use, in Brisbane I have been told by an AQIS inspector that the express lane IS for crew use as well as those pax wih an express card. This takes you to the head of the queue, where you are directed out (if green stamped) or to the xray or inspection tables as appropriate. Some years ago I asked the government powers that be in BNE if a crew lane could be established for the purpose that the express lane is now, it seems, available for, but after several pages of waffle was informed that to do so would require 'a major policy change'!
The responder seemed to think that my suggestion was that crew bypass all quarantine checks. When I wrote back to clarify my suggestion I received no reply.
I frequently operate into and out of BNE, and have had very few problems with either the passport control people or AQIS, and 9 times out of 10, have had the green stamp within 5 yards of exiting the passport check.
As to crew bags of first, last or in the middle - that surely is an airline broblem - not the airport authority.
What the airport may be responsible for is the last minute - one bag not screened, we need it back before you can go - and that inevitably happens at about the time the last door is closed.
The responder seemed to think that my suggestion was that crew bypass all quarantine checks. When I wrote back to clarify my suggestion I received no reply.
I frequently operate into and out of BNE, and have had very few problems with either the passport control people or AQIS, and 9 times out of 10, have had the green stamp within 5 yards of exiting the passport check.
As to crew bags of first, last or in the middle - that surely is an airline broblem - not the airport authority.
What the airport may be responsible for is the last minute - one bag not screened, we need it back before you can go - and that inevitably happens at about the time the last door is closed.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blackguard,
this has already been done to death, but as 324906 has pointed out, the express lane is for crew that have nothing to declare or have, but have been green stamped.
(for those that haven't been through Sydney in a while, at the express lane there is a sign which displays the documentation allowed through there. This includes express card, pax arrival card with green stamp, and CREW declaration form-no stamp required)
There always has been a crew lane for passport control, even though it is a bit slow lately due to the late implementation of the latest phase of smartgate.
The only issues that remain are
1: that crew with declared items that don't get a green stamp must be processed with passengers, and
2: checked bags come out with pax bags.
Do you really think anyone gives a rats about crew waiting with pax to get their orchids checked?
(or their duty calculated on the pool filter they purchased in JNB, or whatever else they purchased in Costco)
this has already been done to death, but as 324906 has pointed out, the express lane is for crew that have nothing to declare or have, but have been green stamped.
(for those that haven't been through Sydney in a while, at the express lane there is a sign which displays the documentation allowed through there. This includes express card, pax arrival card with green stamp, and CREW declaration form-no stamp required)
There always has been a crew lane for passport control, even though it is a bit slow lately due to the late implementation of the latest phase of smartgate.
The only issues that remain are
1: that crew with declared items that don't get a green stamp must be processed with passengers, and
2: checked bags come out with pax bags.
Do you really think anyone gives a rats about crew waiting with pax to get their orchids checked?
(or their duty calculated on the pool filter they purchased in JNB, or whatever else they purchased in Costco)
Last edited by twiggs; 29th Apr 2009 at 01:31.
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by twiggs
So is this channel for crew only and not for passengers?...
NO it's not..Twiggs...the express lane is for passengers who have nothing to declare or have been green stamped by AQIS....
Crew may be allowed to use the express lane if they have been cleared to do so but there is no sign stating that it is a specific CREW LANE.....this is the point that is being sidestepped.
I was actually travelling through Sydney last Monday and although I did not see a sign which had the crew form on it it is still not a dedicated crew channel....as twiggs would try to have us believe.
Obviously the office doesn't....
But having orchids is not the only reason why crew are looked at and lining up with hundreds of passengers....do crew from LAX,JNB,AKL,etc... have orchids or does every crew member flying in from SIN/BKK or HKG have orchids Twiggs?
Immigration is the first hurdle and the crew channel is a good first step but then it all falls down waiting for your bags....then if you have the temerity as some here believe to have purchased any item(s) then it's your bad luck/fault and you have to deal with it...
Twiggs I take it by your edited post that you have never purchased any items while on a trip because you seem to delight in raising the issue of crew buying goods or is it that you have something against those crew who see something they want to buy overseas!
As I said before this could all be fixed if there was a crew baggage belt so that all crews bags turn up on the same one.I'm sure the passengers have more on their mind than to stand around and watch the other corner of the arrivals hall waiting to see something to complain to QF about.....
This is not about crew purchasing goods and bringing trouble on themselves.
It is about a dedicated crew channel which would mean you don't have to line up with hundreds of passengers who have been sitting down while crew have been working.
All airlines could use this one carousel for crew bags...
the express lane is for crew that have nothing to declare or have, but have been green stamped.
NO it's not..Twiggs...the express lane is for passengers who have nothing to declare or have been green stamped by AQIS....
Crew may be allowed to use the express lane if they have been cleared to do so but there is no sign stating that it is a specific CREW LANE.....this is the point that is being sidestepped.
I was actually travelling through Sydney last Monday and although I did not see a sign which had the crew form on it it is still not a dedicated crew channel....as twiggs would try to have us believe.
Do you really think anyone gives a rats about crew waiting with pax to get their orchids checked?
But having orchids is not the only reason why crew are looked at and lining up with hundreds of passengers....do crew from LAX,JNB,AKL,etc... have orchids or does every crew member flying in from SIN/BKK or HKG have orchids Twiggs?
Immigration is the first hurdle and the crew channel is a good first step but then it all falls down waiting for your bags....then if you have the temerity as some here believe to have purchased any item(s) then it's your bad luck/fault and you have to deal with it...
Twiggs I take it by your edited post that you have never purchased any items while on a trip because you seem to delight in raising the issue of crew buying goods or is it that you have something against those crew who see something they want to buy overseas!
As I said before this could all be fixed if there was a crew baggage belt so that all crews bags turn up on the same one.I'm sure the passengers have more on their mind than to stand around and watch the other corner of the arrivals hall waiting to see something to complain to QF about.....
This is not about crew purchasing goods and bringing trouble on themselves.
It is about a dedicated crew channel which would mean you don't have to line up with hundreds of passengers who have been sitting down while crew have been working.
All airlines could use this one carousel for crew bags...
Last edited by lowerlobe; 29th Apr 2009 at 06:43. Reason: Because of twiggs edit to her post
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where Are We At?
I think from memory it was you who said that the people who posted on PPrune was only a handful of crew....
So the half dozen people here would not have much of an impact...it will and should take the union to make a representation on behalf of it's members to have any positive effect.
Has Pegasus747 posted any comment on this thread?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ICAO Annex 9
"N. Identification and entry of crew and
other aircraft operators’ personnel
other aircraft operators’ personnel
3.66 Contracting States shall establish measures, with the
cooperation of aircraft operators and airport operators, to
expedite the inspection of crew members and their baggage, as
cooperation of aircraft operators and airport operators, to
expedite the inspection of crew members and their baggage, as
required at departure and upon arrival."
Australia has no registered difference to this standard.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
inandout,ICAO is made up of reps from all countries in aviation so it might be a good idea for someone who represents us (union) to contact ICAO and inquire about this matter.That Annex posted by tops1 is about the airlines and the airports working together to allow crew bags to be identified and removed from aircraft so that crew can retrieve them and expedite the customs and quarantine checks as fast as possible.
Does anyone think that is the case now?
I think you're wrong Lobey.It's not that the people in the office don't care.
I think there are some people in the office who have always been jealous of what crew can buy while away on trips.These days most things are just as good to buy at home but every now and again you find a bargain or some flowers for the other half and it looks like some that don't fly are jealous.
That's why they won't lift a finger to help.
Does anyone think that is the case now?
Do you really think anyone gives a rats about crew waiting with pax to get their orchids checked?
(or their duty calculated on the pool filter they purchased in JNB, or whatever else they purchased in Costco)
(or their duty calculated on the pool filter they purchased in JNB, or whatever else they purchased in Costco)
I think there are some people in the office who have always been jealous of what crew can buy while away on trips.These days most things are just as good to buy at home but every now and again you find a bargain or some flowers for the other half and it looks like some that don't fly are jealous.
That's why they won't lift a finger to help.
Last edited by jungle juice; 1st May 2009 at 01:37.
