Heathrow Terminal 5 Tip

[Dos_Box]

Well, Shaun and I arrived back from Philadelphia this morning and I was awaiting the usual 40 minuite wait to clear immigration (in my own country!!) at terminal 5 when I was waved onto a new system. The digital clearance system. If you have a passport with a chip in (the newer ones) you can simply go to this new facility, pop your passport in a reader that scans your photo whilst looking into a camera. Once it has matched the 2 you are cleared to enter. It took less than a minute. Pure bliss. The new line is just beyond the huge queue for normal passport control, so you'll have to look for it.

We shall have a full write up on ISTE 2011 on the site next week, but I'll let you know something now. Neither Shaun or I have ever worked so hard at an event or conference as we did last week. Imaging a busy 2 and a half days on the BETT stand with just 2 people and mad setup/take down days (circa 8 hours each) and you are getting close!

[laserblazer]

We've been using the auto ones at Faro for a while but they can be hit and miss. Once, I go through but the missus didn't and she had to go to the back of the queue.

[AngryTechnician]

They are good, but unfortunately the only reason the queue is so short is because so few people are using them. Once everybody starts using them the queue will be just as long as the normal ones.

 

Same thing happened with self-service check-in, 5 years ago you could use the kiosk and then walk straight down the bag drop, but now everybody and his brother is using it.

[FN-GM]

Well, Shaun and I arrived back from Philadelphia this morning and I was awaiting the usual 40 minuite wait to clear immigration (in my own country!!) at terminal 5 when I was waved onto a new system. The digital clearance system. If you have a passport with a chip in (the newer ones) you can simply go to this new facility, pop your passport in a reader that scans your photo whilst looking into a camera. Once it has matched the 2 you are cleared to enter. It took less than a minute. Pure bliss. The new line is just beyond the huge queue for normal passport control, so you'll have to look for it.

We shall have a full write up on ISTE 2011 on the site next week, but I'll let you know something now. Neither Shaun or I have ever worked so hard at an event or conference as we did last week. Imaging a busy 2 and a half days on the BETT stand with just 2 people and mad setup/take down days (circa 8 hours each) and you are getting close!

 

They have them at T2 Manchester. I used it when i came back from Singapore in January this year.

[RabbieBurns]

Ive got a great tip for Terminal 5.

 

Avoid BA and aviod T5.

 

Even better.. Avoid London and you avoid heathrow!!

 

I was due to fly back to scotland last christmas via Schipol, an 8 hour stopover was due to be the icing on the cake to round off a long trip.. but all that snow routed me through heathrow.. Arrived at 6am and my flight out they put me on wasnt till 3pm.

 

Thank god for the BMI lounge and being able to blag it in there. Cornflakes and champagne never tasted so good. (6am was 3pm really for me so it was acceptable!)

[AngryTechnician]

Cornflakes and champagne never tasted so good.

I prefer mine with milk, but each to their own.

[RabbieBurns]

but when it is free, one has to try every combination of food and beverage. Its rude not to.

[RabbieBurns]

Well, Shaun and I arrived back from Philadelphia this morning and I was awaiting the usual 40 minuite wait to clear immigration (in my own country!!)

 

Just to tag onto this.. Im just wondering, did @ZeroHour, have to show his passport again to board a flight to Scotland or was his connection with a proper airline?

[somabc]

Thumbs up for Schipol!

[glennda]

Yeah there has been one at Gatwick for over a year now - although it tends to be closed quite often!

[laserblazer]

Thumbs up for Schipol!

 

The only airport I know of with an Art Gallery.

[rad]

next year, take me! Problem solved, I'll be a trainee to make your day easier!