Iris Scan At Immigration

[Pegasus928]

I have just been reading on the Virgin Atlantic site about the Iris scan at immigration. At the moment it is a voluntary option to help speed you through immigration on your return to the UK.
All you do to register is go to the designated area of the departure lounge and have your iris pattern and passport details stored on the immigration database. Takes about 5 minutes apparently. It also says that it is 'at present is completely free' - which I interpret to mean that it won't be before to long.
Has anybody done this and can confirm that it is that quick to get registered?
Does it really make getting through immigration easier?

Kenny

[Robert5988]

"speed you through immigration on your return to the UK."

Not understood! Unless it is intended for non UK citizens residing in the UK or foreign visitors.

Immigration in UK for UK citizens is no more than a quick look at your passport.

[ShirleyD]

It is brilliant and yes it takes about 5 minutes to register and have your eyes scanned. They do expect you to travel at least 2 or 3 times a year though, but you can just say yes if asked!!!

On return to the UK you just walk pass that queue of tired people and head for the IRIS machine, the doors open, you look into the screen, it goes click and the other door opens and there you go, no need to show your passport or anything. My understanding is that any nationality who doesn't require a visa can use it once registered, but don't tell everyone, or there may be a queue there next time I get back [msnwink]

Robert, I often find at Heathrow and Gatwick when the longhaul flights arrive first thing, that you can wait in line (or should I say in the scrum)for at least 20 minutes [msnsad]

[Katys Grandad]

Are these machines in place at all UK airports? I've never had a problem with delays at immigration at Manchester. As noted above, presumably if everybody takes this option, there will be a queue just as long but in another place.

I assume that the condition about travelling 2 or 3 times a year is aimed at helping more frequent travellers to get through a bit quicker. Quite right too!

Heathrow T4 is a nightmare if you land early but as Katys Grandad says its never a problem at Manchester[msnwink]

[Pegasus928]

Robert
I agree that it is a quick look at the passport for UK residents but, as we can all probably testify due to experience, if most of the passengers on the flight are UK residents, then waiting in a line of 100+ people, all of whom are waiting for someone to have a 'quick look', can take a while. And if you are last off the plane with 2 tired kids in tow it seems to take even longer.
If there is an option whereby you can bypass those people and pop straight through an unmanned gate within a matter of seconds then I say 'Sign Me Up'
I just wanted to know if anyone had already tried and if it was as easy as it sounded so thank you Shirley for your reply.
Katys Grandad
At the moment the Iris Scanners are situated at
Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3,+ 4
Gatwick North Terminal (South from mid-April)
Manchester Terminals 1+2
Birmingham Terminal 1

Kenny

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pegasus928
Katys Grandad
At the moment the Iris Scanners are situated at
Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3,+ 4
Gatwick North Terminal (South from mid-April)
Manchester Terminals 1+2
Birmingham Terminal 1

Kenny
[/quote]

Thanks - I almost always arrive at MAN T3.

[Robert5988]

Like Katys Grandad I almost always arrive at T3 at Manchester these days. However I must have been lucky on my infrequent trips via LHR and Gatwick as I have never had a delay.

However I agree that it will be a great system if it remains 'select' and you don't get a queue at the machine.

[Cruella DeVilla]

I walked straight through and into the IRIS machine at the weekend at Manchester with no problems at vall beating the immigration queue! I was the only person to use it as well.

[ShirleyD]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Cruella DeVilla
I walked straight through and into the IRIS machine at the weekend at Manchester with no problems at vall beating the immigration queue! I was the only person to use it as well.
[/quote]
My daughter and I were the only ones using it at Gatwick Friday Evening ....... I love queue jumping