The airport needs to look at the queuing system for the self service passport machines in the immigration hall.
I was on the lunchtime KLM that arrived just after the Emirates with both aircraft disembarking at the same time.
There should be more of these machines.
Also the way the whole area and queuing system is laid out is a joke.
If the airport wants to spend money, improve the immigration hall and make it fit for purpose - and do away with the nickel and dime pay to skip the queue priority lane rubbish.
Immigration Hall
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GeorgeNTravels
- Posts: 597
- Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2021 8:14 pm
Re: Immigration Hall
Below is an extract from a report conducted into Border Force operations at Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports between January and March 2019 that might provide some useful context to the issues, and also provide an insight into Border Forces views as well.
Glasgow Airport layout
6.20 Glasgow Airport has one International Terminal with a single Arrivals Hall, a Baggage Hall, and a
Customs Hall. The latter has split routes for “EU arrivals” and “Nothing to Declare”. Passengers
who wish to declare items are required to seek assistance via a red telephone, situated in the
Baggage Hall, which connects to the Border Force customs office.
6.21 The Arrivals Hall has 9 immigration control desks (PCPs) set out in a line, plus 5 ePassport
gates set at right angles to the PCPs. Of the 9 desks, 2 are generally used for crew or special
assistance passengers,17 who are directed to the front of the immigration queue and to the
designated desks. Where a PCP desk is not in use it should be cordoned off with a tensile
barrier to prevent passengers from breaching the control.
6.22 The Arrivals Hall (the Hall) was expanded in early 2018 to accommodate more passengers and
reduce queuing in the corridor leading to the Hall. The airport operator told inspectors that the
expansion had helped to improve queue management as more passengers were able to see the
controls as they joined the queue and therefore have a better sense of how long they would be
in the queue. However, when more than 3 flights arrive in quick succession, as happens during
the summer peak, it still results in passengers queuing into the corridor.
6.23 Border Force managers agreed that the expansion of the Hall was an improvement. However,
no changes were made to the PCP desks or ePassport gates. Inspectors noted that the PCP
desks looked dated and heavily worn. Border Force officers described the control as “dreadful”
and “poor”. Also, the positioning of the PCP desks offered only limited visibility of the queuing
passengers, restricting the ability of PCP officers to observe any safeguarding or challenging
behaviours before passengers approached the control.
6.24 Meanwhile, the positioning of the Watch-house,18 at the back of the Hall behind a row of
ePassport gates and 2 PCP desks, with no height advantage, meant it was useful only as an
office. In practice, there was no vantage point that gave an unobstructed view of the entire Hall
because of a section of wall, which the airport operator told inspectors could not be removed
for structural reasons.
Full report can be viewed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf
Glasgow Airport layout
6.20 Glasgow Airport has one International Terminal with a single Arrivals Hall, a Baggage Hall, and a
Customs Hall. The latter has split routes for “EU arrivals” and “Nothing to Declare”. Passengers
who wish to declare items are required to seek assistance via a red telephone, situated in the
Baggage Hall, which connects to the Border Force customs office.
6.21 The Arrivals Hall has 9 immigration control desks (PCPs) set out in a line, plus 5 ePassport
gates set at right angles to the PCPs. Of the 9 desks, 2 are generally used for crew or special
assistance passengers,17 who are directed to the front of the immigration queue and to the
designated desks. Where a PCP desk is not in use it should be cordoned off with a tensile
barrier to prevent passengers from breaching the control.
6.22 The Arrivals Hall (the Hall) was expanded in early 2018 to accommodate more passengers and
reduce queuing in the corridor leading to the Hall. The airport operator told inspectors that the
expansion had helped to improve queue management as more passengers were able to see the
controls as they joined the queue and therefore have a better sense of how long they would be
in the queue. However, when more than 3 flights arrive in quick succession, as happens during
the summer peak, it still results in passengers queuing into the corridor.
6.23 Border Force managers agreed that the expansion of the Hall was an improvement. However,
no changes were made to the PCP desks or ePassport gates. Inspectors noted that the PCP
desks looked dated and heavily worn. Border Force officers described the control as “dreadful”
and “poor”. Also, the positioning of the PCP desks offered only limited visibility of the queuing
passengers, restricting the ability of PCP officers to observe any safeguarding or challenging
behaviours before passengers approached the control.
6.24 Meanwhile, the positioning of the Watch-house,18 at the back of the Hall behind a row of
ePassport gates and 2 PCP desks, with no height advantage, meant it was useful only as an
office. In practice, there was no vantage point that gave an unobstructed view of the entire Hall
because of a section of wall, which the airport operator told inspectors could not be removed
for structural reasons.
Full report can be viewed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf
Re: Immigration Hall
Thanks George,
Interesting to see that the Border Force officers have the same impression of the area as the customers, and the lack of interest from the airport.
Interesting to see that the Border Force officers have the same impression of the area as the customers, and the lack of interest from the airport.
Re: Immigration Hall
Speaking of Customs, hardly see any staff there to stop anyone. Do they view the passengers via CCTV?
Re: Immigration Hall
The customs area looks horrendous and is not a welcoming environment for visitors at all. It needs revamped and ripped out. Stuck in the 90's. As is quite a lot of the terminal furnishings. Especially within the international pier.
Re: Immigration
And in the 1990s they patched up a 60s airport so it’s much worse than we all think.