Crew lane for arriving crew, not!
 

I guess it’s a hoary chestnut, but why doesn’t AQIS provide a “crew lane” for arriving crew?
At the end of long back of the clock flight wouldn’t it be nice to clear customs & quarantine with a minimum of fuss?
Any AQIS staff out there care to comment?

.... because this is Australia, and we can't be seen to be helping those pompous overpaid glorified crew who spend their lives swanning around the world.

There is in Sydney, but haven't noticed one anywhere else.
The only way to expedite your exit at other ports is to be given a green stamp from one of the AQIS staff in the baggage collection area.
Be careful though, you won't get one if you approach them.

The Sydney one is only a recent half-arsed attempt at a crew lane. It is a combined express card passenger lane and only for nothing to declare...or green stamped.

Most other Aussie ports have a purely dedicated crew lane. Sydney appears to be the only exception to this (unless it has changed in the last 3 weeks).

Perth has one for outgoing crew

inbound no

Perth has a inbound crew passport line ...on the RHS...which then comes back to center.

There is also a dedicated quarantine/customs lane on the RHS of the raceway - you wouldnt know it - but there are little white signs on the top of the raceway (Crew or assisted pax). An officer stands there to let you through to the xray....or directs you to quarantine - the raceway usually puts you in front of the pax.

Haven't passed through YBBN as crew in some time, so it may have changed, but Brisbane AQIS staff when I was last there seemed to go out of their way to ensure crew "knew their place" - at the back of the very long queue. There was certainly no dedicated crew lane.

There is a way to get through, if youve had the 'education'...
(and no I'm not talking bribery!!! :E)

There's a few little words one can write on the crew immigration form, if you have the right people on duty (read: not autonomous robot variety who follow everything to the last detail) that will get you into the right lane for processing quickly, but of course there's no way I'm repeating it here or everyone will use it!!! :}

The crew lane in Perth is a bit hit and miss, sometimes if they're really busy you still get shunted to the back of the queue, and yes after an all-nighter (flight that is :E) it's the straw that breaks the camel's back!

Wiley, I came through Brisbane International last week and it's just as bad as you remember. The crew lane for immigration is mixed with the 'Assisted Passengers' and Express Lane so be prepared for a looooooonnnng wait.
The 3 Jumbos worth of passengers were through the normal lanes long before any of the crew had got near the front. In the end they moved us all over to the vacant normal lanes. Reminded me why I try to avoid Brisbane. :ugh:

I'm sure your passengers (who have been sitting in the 30 inch seat pitch) are thinking exactly the same thing!:hmm:

I doubt the pax go through the process as regularly as the crew. :ok:

Customs and AQIS are flat out staffing the pax lanes, let alone an extra crew lane. You'll be searching your own bag and reading yourself the 'Declare everything' lecture if current trends continue. :ouch:

IIRC, management in Canberra were against the idea. BNE had an informal crew lane for a while that was stomped on by the fearless leaders as soon as they found out about it.

Lobby the Ministers!


Worrals

What , the pax that have been drinking booze, watching videos and sleeping for the last few hours ? :yuk:
Don't forget, we all travel as pax from time to time and don't expect any favours then.

I say again, in the 30 inch seat pitch!:E
So you've never expected an upgrade then?

Rather than mere passengers, perhaps you should start looking at them as customers! You know as in the customer comes first!:ooh:

Baggage handlers
 

Who cares how fast you get through if you wait 45+ minutes for the bags to arrive.
It's a game of F* U with our baggage handlers & customs/quarantine, certainly doesn't happen overseas and no I'm not just being precious.

Perhaps if we push the company to adjust our stand down town this issue could suddenly move into line with the rest of the world:\

I say again DRINKING BOOZE!
Besides 30 inches is not a problem for most normal sized people.

No I have never EXPECTED an upgrade.

The customer came first in the aircraft and when we reach the customs queue I become a customer with lots of frequent flyer points (for lack of a better description).:}

Mr Hughes,
When we depart on a trip, we use a dedicated crew channel, then after the passport/GD check we are permitted to go straight to the front of the queue at the x-ray machines, security staff will hold pax to allow us through.
At the end of a flight, again, crew have a dedicated channel for passport/DG checks.
I fail to see why this theme can't migrate to AQIS. AQIS do not have to roster a quarantine officer just for crew. They need only simply allow us through the tape when they see us waiting. It can't be that hard.

Yes a little one sided I know - but without the crew the majority of customs officers and quarantine officers would be unemployed. Like all industries one job tends to lead to other jobs and the flow on continues.


We are merely going through customs/AQIS as a matter of course for our employment. I don't believe we should be excluded from random screening, but as the customs/AQIS is a necessary part of us getting to or from work, I think a dedicated crew lane is essential. Why does Australia find it so hard to do - rest of the world does - are we a little behind the times here?

Hey if we get slowed down - I don't mind - as long as my company pays me for my time, and my company bills customs/aqis.

The people who'd be offended.. they'd be the same ones who are offended by crew going to the head of the queue at the outbound security checks, I suppose. So incredibly thick that they'd rather their flight departed late than see "them crews" get preferental treatment. Bogans.

Anyone who believes that someone who's been on his or her butt for the last eight to fifteen hours, even in a 30" pitch seat, is as in need to get to bed as a crewmember who, in the case of cabin crew, have walked for most of that time, is too thick to have his opinion considered.

Qanchor the problem is the airlines would have arrangements with Customs et al for an expeditious departure but there is nothing benefitting them having you out quickly at the other end.

Hey Mr.Hughes
 

Lets cancel the outbound crew line as well.
The next time your aircraft departs late(and you miss your connection) because the Tech and Cabin Crew were held up at the security checkpoint perhaps you will reconsider your assinine point of view.
You cant have it both ways Howie

I don't think Mr Hughes is an airline pilot- GA in a Beech 200.....

I think if you read Back Seat Driver's post you will be close to the mark as to the reason for all of this....

In the Good Old Day's there was a dedicated Customs channel for Crew in Sydney.Then remember when crew for a short while had their own carousel for baggage...for a short while until ....and this is only a rumour....sheer nylon or Winnie had it shut down.Their argument was that it gave the pax the wrong idea that crew were being given preferential treatment....and anyone who has flown for more than one trip and read the post by HH will understand the jealousy that most pax have about crew and what they receive.

However, I think the real issue is that whichever group owns the airport will want money for providing a separate crew channel ...and the company will never be interested in paying that unless....both crew unions insist that crew pay includes time spent in terminals and does not stop until you have cleared customs and immigration....

Good Luck with that one but don't hold your breath.

Your post was quite informative until this point Ka Boom, so I will look past the attempt at an insult and give you the benefit of the doubt, it is probably fair to asume that you just completed a long tour! As Virgin driver has quite correctly pointed out I am not an airline pilot, however my family has been involved in the airline business for over 60 years, with experience in BEA, BA, AN, TN, KA & QF and I have a thorough understanding of the machinations of an airline!;)

Now to Mr Qanchor and others who can construct a valid argument. My suggestion would be that if there were to be a dedicated crew line (both inbound and outbound) that it be totally seperate from the passengers, with a simplified procedure. Those of you who have read my previous comments on crew screening at domestic ports will understand why!

Outbound a quick retina scan and stamp the passport. Inbound a quick retina scan, stamp the passport, pick up your bags, through the AQIS X-Ray machine, all totally out of sight of the passengers. Of course there would be random checks by sniffer dogs and the occasional random screening but otherwise a very simplified procedure. :ok:

May I be so bold to ask how it is done elsewhere? Do all foreign ports have a dedicated crew line for inbound crew, or only outbound?

Now back to my issue with the 30" seat pitch! To all those who are defending the comfort of the 30" seat pitch and God forbid the 29", I would purport that you have never completed an ultra long haul light in one of those seats!:E

It is no coincidence that the rise in the appearance of DVT's in airline passenegers, coincides with the reduction of seat pitch below 32"...:ooh:

Howard Hughes
 

Considering that you have been associated with airlines for 60 years it is surprising that you are unaware of how foreign airports handle crew both in and outbound.
Every foreign airport has a dedicated crew line.
It has come to the point where a large number of Crew dont take a case with them any more due to the rubbish they are subjected to on arrival into Australia.
Your suggestion regarding retina scans etc is simplistic.
You ignore the cost of such a scheme...who pays?
Australia is becoming a third world country in regard to Airport infastructure.
Asian airports make Australian airports look like tin sheds.
As far as 30" pitch is concerned..start another thread...this is about crew channels

I'm struggling to think of somewhere else in the world that there is a dedicated lane for crew to clear customs/quarantine.
I have waited in long lines in LAX together with pax, LHR we go out airside, FRA rarely has a long line but it is the same for pax and crew, SIN is the same.
NRT has a dedicated crew lane and is the only one I can think of at the moment.

Australia has the most thorough inbound screening of anywhere in the world so it really is no surprise that it is a longer process for us, and really means that comapring us with other countries is like apples and oranges.

Most Australian ports have improved a lot, especially Sydney with the dedicated lane for crew with nothing to declare. Even if you have something to declare and you get a green stamp you are straight out anyway.

I think the main delay when arriving into Australia for most crew is waiting for checked baggage.
Before and after that, it is pretty good.

Thanks for that balanced view Twiggs, it would appear that things are not all bad!:ok:

Harry, simple is what it should be! If retina scans are too expensive then fingerprint scans, this technology is not only affordable, but readily available!

As many have pointed out, where the system falls down is waiting for baggage, might I suggest not putting a crew tag on your bag...;)

Twiggs...I know it's a while since I flew but I'm not the only one however, in one terminal in LAX at least there was a dedicated channel for crew immigration...might have changed since but it was there once.You then picked up your bag and pretty much walked out the door...Immigration was the biggest hold up but your bags were usually there quickly.

Singapore like Frankfurt is so well organised it doesn't take long unless there is a blitz on that day....and that can happen anywhere so you don't need a separate crew channel there.

London is a point where crew do not go through with the rest of the pax and go direct by bus...

Hong Kong had a dedicated crew channel.....

Narita has a separate crew channel....

Rome in the days when we used to fly there had a dedicated crew channel....

Amsterdam did as well from memory.....

San Francisco ....I think it did anyway it's a new airport there now anyway so it could be different.

BKK had a separate crew channel....for diplomats as well but there was never any delay unless you were being checked.

Bahrain did have a separate channel....

Bombay has or did ...at least in the old terminal

I can't remember YVR....too long ago or too many beers ago.

DPS from memory had a separate crew channel as did CGK..

JFK did....until the company and the union gave it away...

Sydney used to have a separate crew channel in the old days but that has been taken away as I said as has the crew baggage carousel and that was at the instigation of someone in the office...

So Howard it's not exactly as balanced as Twiggs has suggested.
Yep,I agree with you that before is was OK but after collecting bags and trying to get through AQIS and Customs was a nightmare at times in Sydney as well as Brisbane.
Howard..now I now you don't know what you are talking about....The company does that for a good reason which is obvious..however,you are right in a way and that I have often thought that it sometimes has a negative affect on where your bags end up....and not only in Sydney.However,that does not solve the issue about clearing customs and immigration..as well as quarantine

The bottom line is that the company has no say in airports around the world but at home seems not interested in a crew channel for a reason known only to themselves....probably money.

must agree, with lowerlobe
 

twiggsy, been sprung again. when are youy going to give up possing as crew?:yuk:
Howard here is the drill from a current bun tosser,
LAX-dedicated crew lane inbound/outbound
AKL-no dedicated lane but you can get through always by invitation from customs/quarantine
HGK- dedicated crew channel in/outbound
SIN-dedicated icrew channel n-outbound
FRA- dedicated crew channel lane in-outbound
PVG-dedicated crew channel in/outbound
PEK- dedicated in/outbound crew channel
BOM- dedicated in/outbound crew channel
SFO- dedicated in-outbound crew channel
NRT- dedicated in/outbound crew channel
LHR i havent been in years.

yes here in Oz it is a problem all around. and Howard we dont get a stamp in the passport otherwise we be changing passports every few months.
this is a national issue which the respective AIPA/FAAA excecutives should take up with the Minister/Airports/Airlines.etc.
that would mean they would have to get of their butts.................
thats another story all together:E

mrpaxing, I think you are confusing passport control with customs/quarantine, and the latter is what the original post was about.
Australia definitely has a crew lane for passport control at all airports in and out.

Singapore quarantine is irrelivant, you are never stopped, however we are all required to exit via the RED channel, where if there are passengers waiting you are waved to the front and out the door (unless they're in the mood for checking)

Hong Kong has its own Quarantine exit.

Los Angeles - Queue up with passengers but its a 2 minute wait then on your way.

Frankfurt - Never been stopped for Quarantine (so never been delayed by lack of crew channel), but its possible.

For me, the issue isn't that we don't have a dedicated crew lane... its that we don't have a way of exiting the airport in a timely fashion. I'm more than happy to stand in a 5 minute queue with the passengers. I'm NOT, however, happy to stand in a 1.5hr queue in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne having just done SYD - CHC - SYD and having not even stepped foot off the aircraft!

If they just sorted out AQIS, and put on some more staff so that the desks were actually manned on ALL days, not just the ones that the Border Security crew are there, we wouldn't have a need for a crew channel (and we'd have happier visitors to Australia!)

E Passports
 

The Smartgate and Epassport facilities have not been available for over 6 weeks.
Dont take checked luggage and the Customs process is much faster.
As for Customs lines overseas it is pretty much a non event simply because the airports are far more effcicent than Australian Airports.
All inbound crews to Australia are subject to the same nonsense.
Heard one SingAir hostie descibe it as Farking ridiculous
Twiggsy you need to get out a bit more.

Miss Twiggs,yes sprung again as mrpaxing said.
The thread is about a lane for arriving crew as distinct from the passengers.
That means passport and then clearing customs/quarantine not just the latter.You might have trouble thinking which but that does not mean they don't exist.

There are a number of other international airports which want to distinguish between passengers and operating crew but those in Australia do not seem to be interested.
As DEFCON4 said you need to get out more.

In all honesty,are there any other airports other than ours that we fly to which are more difficult to clear.

As has already been mentioned, crew have a dedicated lane for passport control at all Australian ports inbound and outbound which function adequately, especially with the option of Smartgate or E-Passport.
The issue is only about not having dedicated lanes at all airports for customs/quarantine clearance, and perhaps baggage collection.

From my experience, Sydney is fine if you have nothing to declare because you can use the dedicated express lane.
If you have items to declare there may be a wait, but for most crew who don't have anything to declare, you are straight out after x-ray following baggage collection.

Twiggs is spot on here. The original thread was about AQIS. AQIS is 'Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service' NOT Immigration. Seperate but similar issues which make it hard to compare us against other countries. Australian dedicated crew immigration queues definately exist (some better than others), not so with AQIS.

MS Twiggs,as said before I think you need to get out a bit more.

Sydney is a nightmare at times whether you have something to declare or not.If AQIS is in full swing and several aircraft have arrived at the same time it is not a lot of fun.Waiting for you turn at the X-ray is a pain when you have just done a long TOD.
Sydney is also only one of 3 main Australian airports that can be very testing on your patience with ADL & PER increasing in size every year.

As Lobey said other countries have separate crew channels for customs,why can't we?
So Ms Twiggs answer my question.

No problem JJ, LAX has equally as many issues. If SYD and LAX are both busy, they have similar delays, except SYD has the advantage of the express lane, so it wins.

Now a question for you, JJ.
Is there any other country in the world that has stricter quarantine and customs regulations than Australia?
When you answer no, then maybe you will realise that our airports are doing pretty well now.
(It may not have been the case a couple of years ago , but most certainly is now.)

I've never seen LAX slow at Quarantine at all. You must be unlucky! (Or me very lucky!)

I'd say that NZ has stricter Quarantine requirements than Aus.

As I watch the crew jump the line I do think 'Ya bastards'

But understand they have a job to do etc. etc. (as others have mentioned) so its fair enough.

Unfortunately there have been continually decreasing seat pitches for years! I would be happy to pay a little extra, for a little extra room without resorting to JC or FC. I think QF and others that offer 'premium economy' are certainly on to something!:ok:
But what about the crew rest?:E

PS: For optimum survivabilty shouldn't your seat be rearwards facing?;)