Passport checks on departure.

[ExXB]

There are a couple of stories in the BBC today about the forthcoming passport checks on departure from the UK, which is going to be a real pain for all travellers. Knock on effects will include fewer officers to check arrivals as well.

I'm wondering why they have to physically check my passport in the departure hall, why can't they use the existing APIS system to record departing foreigners? ie if I check-in and board I have departed.

Of course they would have to extend APIS to rail and sea arrivals, but that would be a good thing?

The Airlines would have to tweak their system to report pax who have checked in, but didn't board. They already capture this data.

Of course there are ways around this, but any system short of personally escorting someone offshore is going to fail?

[Businesstraveller]

Presumably it will be like the departure lounge passport checks that used to take place for UK flights to the RoI and NI up until a few years ago? Whilst that only ever concerned a minority of passengers at any airport, it did seem to run fairly smoothly - possibly because those concerned knew what to expect and hadn't re-buried their passport under all their clothing, or whatever it is that the travel ignorant seem to like doing at passport control

[Ka6crpe]

We have had to present passports for departure from NZ for years

[ExXB]

Ka6crpe

As we have departing Switzeland for non-Schengen airports.

But implementing this at UK airports is going to be a dog's breakfast and, IMHO, only serves to complicate the lives of honest travellers.

Why not direct the airlines to advise whenever a passenger, who has submitted APIS data, does not depart the UK as originally booked? (I'm not really proposing a solution here, that's for experts) it seems to me that the information they need is already there, they just need to get it from the transport companies to the buerocrats.

And maybe we can do away with our controls too.

[Dryce]

ISTR that we managed exit checks back in the 90s and earlier.

And oher countries seem to manage fine.

Why is it in this country we always wring our hands and say that such normal things cannot be done?

[farci]

As Dryce says, within EU/EEA UK seems to be the exception in not checking departing passengers to non-Schengen destinations.

But - do not worry I have a solution! More of the eGates that are making our arrival checks so much more efficient. Just install another row or two at Departure et voilà problem solved!

Merry Xmas
(ducks to avoid incoming fire)

[ExXB]

farci

I don't believe their are checks on departure ex UK for passengers travelling to any destination.

My arguments are
they'd need more staff, I doubt that the current government would fund this. Having experienced a two hour wait at Gatwick to enter the UK (overnight transfer) I wouldn't want to see fewer staff to check arrivals.

The airlines have the information (and this applies to all countries). Why not use the information that already exists before $pending for the infrastructure etc.

It's pointless, it doesn't support the goal of having people go home when they should be.

[PAXboy]

I agree with all of the above. Unfortunately, this is political posturing because of the UK general election in 2015 and the Tories being frightened of UKIP. I would not be surprised if the implementation date is missed and whether it is actually made to happen will depend on the outcome of the election.

[WHBM]

Nothing worthwhile will be achieved because :

1. There are now a substantial number of travellers with dual nationality, who can use either passport and generally use the one that gives them the less hassle, eg use a UK passport entering Britain to avoid needing a visa, but use a foreign passport when leaving for the same reason arriving at the overseas point. I've never encountered an airline reservation system which handles multiple passport data.

2. As I understand it the new departure checks will not reconcile with what the airline system has, nor with any arrivals detail from the past.

3. The biggest hole in ring-fencing the UK is the land border between Northern Ireland (UK) and Ireland, which is completely unchecked and politically impossible to do anything about. Arrive at Shannon, drive up to Belfast, ferry to Scotland.

[Heathrow Harry]

Hmmm - they DO check teh ferries - but perhaps inconsistently

I was once asked to explain myself to the Special Branch on the Larne - Stranraer ferry

But in general the whole thing is just another knee jerk reaction from that strange lady from Maidenhead..........................

[WHBM]

The Special Branch checks travelling to/from N Ireland, for which generally unmanned desks still exist at the Northern Ireland airports, are something quite separate to immigration checks. With normal civil service jealousies, you can be certain that nothing gathered by staff responsible for criminal security would ever be shared with those separate ones responsible for immigration.

[ExXB]

Which returns me to my original comment. The airlines have the information in their PNRs: The API for the inbound flight and the reservations data for the return. Surely it it is feasible for the airlines to report when paxs holding non-EU passports no-shows or rebooks outside of certain tolerances.

It would be difficult to fake travelling and would provide a list of people for the authorities to follow up with.