BritInParis

As announced in today’s Budget the UK’s ePassport gates will be available for general use by Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand and US passport holders starting next summer.

Currently only EU/EEA/Swiss passport holders are able to use them and other nationalities have to be eligible and apply for the Registered Traveller scheme.

chawkins99

Let's hope they add more gates to cope with the increased numbers. Or maybe after Brexit, they'll be unavailable to EU/EEA/Swiss.

BritInParis

In my experience the ones they already have at LHR and LGW are very underused.

chawkins99

There was a long queue at Manchester a few weeks ago. Still quicker than non-EU but took 30 minutes.

christmasoompa

They are indeed, we travel to/from LHR at least 3 times a year and I always look longingly at those using the gates (my youngest isn't yet 12, so can't use them).

BritInParis

I’ve not flown through MAN but that does seem to be a common complaint on the forum.

Zoe Bell

i think they are great in theory but last time i was at Heathrow , the execution left something to be desired.
bank of gates, person managing line up and assisting those who were having issues.
two people in front of me.
first person up to the gate, follows instructions " seek assistance" message flashes up. line up person, takes passport and repeats the steps that I've just seen the first person take
no luck, "you'll have to go over there to the desk"

next person in front of me, same issue, same response

i go in, "seek assistance"
line up drone , proceeds to take my passport and repeat the steps I've just tried
of course no luck
" go to that desk"

I'm just off an 8 hour flight that had been delayed 10.5 hours. I'm not feeling patient and I've observed all the other gates working
"do you not think it might be a problem with the gate" I dare to ask. Indicating to the people who were in front of me

I'm regarded with a blank stare, a grunt and not much else.
I take my passport, see that there is another gate not being used. I enter and within 15 seconds am exiting the other side.

i resist the urge to flip the finger at the line up moron, who probably wouldn't have see me because they are too busy directing people out of the gate, to the desk because it still won't accept anyone's passport

BritInParis

The only time it’s not worked for me first time, both in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, is when I experimented with not removing my glasses as I’m not wearing them in my passport photo. The quality of your passport photo does make a huge difference and I was an absolute stickler when I got my latest one done which appears to be paying dividends.

JaridineHK

The BN(O) passport eligible to apply the Registered Traveller scheme ?
Thanks !

BritInParis

No, although perversely HKSAR passport holders are.

JaridineHK

Very disappointed, although BN(O) is British Nationality but unfortunately not eligible.

BritInParis

Yes, it’s very odd given the long list of other countries that are eligible. Given this recent announcement hopefully BN(O) passports will be included in the final rollout.

BritInParis

The Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed in his Spring Statement today that the rollout will begin in June and will include passport holders from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Paper landing cards are also being scrapped.

Zoe Bell

does that mean that there won't be any advantage to me entering the UK on my British passport.
at the moment i enter on my UK passport and then come back on my Canadian one.

will this mean that it would be just as quick to just use my Canadian one now?

BritInParis

For visits, you are likely to see no practical difference, but if you have a valid British passport then it makes sense to use it as you can still potentially be refused entry whilst travelling on a Canadian passport.