IRIS Immigration System now in operational pilot

[mitchja]

I read last week that the face recognition system at MAN isn't working quite as planned as it's letting more than one person though at once [:0]

You also have to have a biometric passport with that system which mine isn't, so I cant use it.

I do agree though that the same system needs to be adopted at all UK airports.

Regards

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Now that I have got a new passport does it mean I have to reregister or do they just update the Passport number on the system?

Nope, you do not have to re-register. Your new passport details should be in the system. I got a new passport last month and have had no issues using IRIS.

When we registered at LHR T1 in July there was a sign saying that 170,000 registrations had been made to date. If that means there is too much demand for IRIS use, then they should put more booths in.

Yes, I do agree. They really need to add more IRIS booths at all airports so we can make proper use of the facility but until they do I would like to see some form of restrictions on those they allow through in order to speed up the process. While I am sure IRIS is there to save staff time it does ultimately help the seasoned traveller to get through immigration quickly but with 170k users to just two booths at T3?

Thanks,
Sarah

Often when i come through T3, I find that the left hand machine is out of order.

However, after 2 years of using them, I never have had to wait behind more than 2 people.

If however, there were 30 people waiting, then I'd agree they need more booths. Currently, I see no need to deploy more. However, this is based upon my limited travel pattern.

Mark

[preiffer]

I'd agree with that Mark. I'm through there still around once a month-ish, and I've NEVER had to wait behind more than 2 people.

No need to expand just yet. Remember, 170k passengers out of the millions and millions and millions who go through LHR every year is hardly a significant percentage.

[HighFlyer]

Well I have had a different experience through T1 and T5 where I have been behind long queues of users (around 15-20+), though as i said previously, many of these passengers didnt feel (to me) to be regular travellers but were obviously registered as the booth showed green. Perhaps this shows a difference between long haul and short haul? These incidents have been in the last 2 months (flights ex Prague and Madrid).

I personally find that the IRIS queues are getting bigger, but then I have been registered for several years so have seen the uptake. The early morning flight ex-USA often have short queues but past that I find I'm queueing for longer than I ever used to.

Thanks,
Sarah

Came through T3 at LHR yesterday after NRT flight, and there was a queue of around 15 people waiting for the two IRIS machines. For the first time since I signed up, using the regular queue was quicker. Shame, as I normally prefer the IRIS machines

The Home Office website says that there are 10 terminals with IRIS, so there are at least 11 booths (T3 has 2). If 170k users travel back into the UK, say, 5 times a year, then that's 850k (what? uses/goes/entrances). That's an average of 77,272 per booth, or 212 per day. At 40 seconds per user (The Home Office suggests 20 seconds!), that's just 140 minutes each. Seemingly, not very well utilised.
And if 1% of travellers have registered, to have 20 people in front of you implies 2000 UK people in the Immigration hall. So it seems, Sarah, that you have just been extremely unlucky.
e&oe

Originally posted by Ian
For information, IRIS recognition is now restricted to adults of 18 years old and over. Unfortunately, this means that a family's speed of re-entry into the UK will be restricted to that of the usual channels.
However, my tip is for parents to enter through IRIS control first, and when little Johnnie cannot get through, then the kind immigration officer standing just nearby will take him to the adjacent desk for his passport to be checked. And, hey presto, you're through.

This for us is a real pain.Being able to use IRIS booths with Dragonbaby over the past couple of years has made a big difference in the LHR immigration hall,including one occasion where Mr DL had yomped off (and was long gone) with DB's passport in his laptop bag. Mercifully the machines were operational that day (in and out in 30 secs).
Anyone know if she'll need to re-register at 18 (just over 2 yrs time) or will her registration re-activate automatically?
Max queue I've encountered has been two at T3 (when only one booth was operational).

She will have to re-register upon attaining the age of 18, because all children have been dis(?)-enrolled.

For info IRIS was empty at LGW North yesterday morning at 07:30. I was first to deplane (wow, I was first off outbound and return). It really p!ssed off a guy on my flight who was determined to get past me and the B&S brigade, only to find there was a line at immigration as I sailed through IRIS. Thing was, he had no hand baggage, so I'm sure he'd have to sit waiting by the carousel for his bags anyway.

H