(1) Access to Fast Track Security & (2) IRIS at LGW

Hello,

My first post and I have a couple of questions!

1 I am travelling on VS 27 (LGW to MCO) on March 27th. I am flying Premium Economy. Do I have access to fast track security as a PE pax?

2 (a)Has anyone made use of the iris recognition immigration system (IRIS) at Gatwick...and (b) does it actually speed up your arrival in the UK?

I have not registered - but will do so on the morning of March 27th...as per their instructions on the Gatwick and UK Border Agency web sites

Look forward to any comments.

Cheers

[Neil]

Welcome to V-Flyer.

I am pretty certain that PE pax do get Fast Track stickers at LGW, although looking back at some old threads some people haven't, so just ask the check in agent if they don't offer it.

Neil

The IRIS machine is at the far left hand side of the immigration hall in the South Terminal and have used it several times. It might not save you any time if you land during a quiet time but if you land at the same time as everyone else, then it certainly will. I have seen the UK passport queue almost back to the gate (slight exaggeration) on a few occasions.

Registering for IRIS is not compulsory so using it rather depends on how often (a) you fly and (b) from the currently limited number of UK airports that have it (currently LHR, LGW, MAN and Birmingham)

So if this trip is your annual holiday then it's probably not worth doing but if you do lots of regular travel then it probably is.

IRIS can be very quick but some people do seem to have problems using it for the first time.
That can cause delays and some annoyance.

IRIS can be very quick but I do seem to always end up behind the person who does not know which camera to look at despite the flashing lights at the side

IRIS can be very quick but I do seem to always end up behind the person who does not know which camera to look at despite the flashing lights at the side

I always end up behind the person who decides to use it but hasn't registered for it and then starts shouting at the machine when it won't let them through! xx(

I always end up behind the person who decides to use it but hasn't registered for it and then starts shouting at the machine when it won't let them through! xx(

Do they then shout 'Don't you know I'm British?'

I always end up behind the person who decides to use it but hasn't registered for it and then starts shouting at the machine when it won't let them through! xx(

Do they then shout 'Don't you know I'm British?'

Usually until they get told that they need to register for Iris then they shuffle to the back on the passport queue.

Mrs P and I have used IRIS on many an occasion coming into LGW without any issue. To save another 30 seconds ignore the signs pointing you to the IRIS until you are down the ramp in and just before you join the normal queue for passport control follow the arrows (straight ahead and then right at the end) to the IRIS from down there.

Postby denem » 17 Mar 2010, 18:44
IRIS can be very quick but I do seem to always end up behind the person who does not know which camera to look at despite the flashing lights at the side

Sometimes the flashing lights do not work!
Even if you know what your doing and have done it dozen's of times it can still be very difficult to align your eyes correctly, but it's fantastic when you arrive at the same time as another plane and you are the only one using it - boy do you get stared at! y)

I have traveled out of LGW in PE and used the Fast Track line.

I also use the IRIS system, it works well, but in every occassion, had a very long wait while the baggage was delivered.

Unless you travel every 6 months or so, IRIS is not worth registering for. I believe they have shortened the length of time it remains active without it being used. This perception is based on an overhead conversation from an Immigration agent.

Unless you travel every 6 months or so, IRIS is not worth registering for. I believe they have shortened the length of time it remains active without it being used. This perception is based on an overhead conversation from an Immigration agent.

I agree, Iris is most useful if you only have hand baggage.

On the duration it is active, how do you know if it's become inactive if the duration is shortened, do you get rejected from the Iris cubicle?

Yes the machine does reject the request and asks the person to exit . This was the explaination I overheard, and possibly the reason why my wife had some issues last time, as she only travels 2 or 3 times a year.

Unless they have changed in the last month then each time you use the IRS it rolls on to remain active for 2 years - enquired in February when I used it at LHR.

The person who got ejected had used it within the 2 year period, and the drone on the desk said thatit had been shortened.

I'll check atT3 next month, as my wife uses it every 9 months on average, and the last 2 times, she has been rejected, and I suspect it's due to being removed from the system.

Thanks.

Many thanks to all of you for your replies, advice and suggestions....particularly liked tontybears' comment of “Don’t you know I’m British”! (Left me imagining Eddina and Patsie out of Ab Fab and how they would use it!)

I, too, always seem to get stuck in airport queues behind the person/couple/family who have lost their tickets/passports/common sense/brains...and are the sort you can hear John Nettles or Tony Robinson voicing over “The Plonker Family have got a bit of a problem....”

I’ll register with IRIS (makes it sound like a GP’s receptionist) on my outbound – I’m all for anything that speeds up getting through queues when I get back off a flight.

I’m actually flying back Upper Class on VS 16 from MCO on 04/04/10...arr 08:45 05/04 – i.e Easter Monday - so at last I’ll be at the front of the queue from our flight.

As regards tontybear’s other comment about “if this trip is your annual holiday then it's probably not worth doing”, my partner and I are due to fly out from LHR in June, so it could be worth it.

Once again, many thanks for your replies

The person who got ejected had used it within the 2 year period, and the drone on the desk said thatit had been shortened.

I'll check atT3 next month, as my wife uses it every 9 months on average, and the last 2 times, she has been rejected, and I suspect it's due to being removed from the system.

Thanks.

I checked with the IRS people ukcobra and they confirmed the following; taken from their e-mail to me :

'It should have been explained to you both at the time of registration that as a UK/EEA national, your accounts would automatically be extended by a further 2 years each time you successfully crossed through the barrier'

Would be a good idea to check next month on your wife's status on the system.