Biometric Kiosks @ MCO

[mickg7dyd]

If they work it will hopefully speed things up..!

http://www.orlandoairports.net/press/2014/20140207.htm

 

[2Tiggies]

I really hope these are operational by beginning of summer at the latest. I posted somewhere else in the last few weeks, coincidentally, asking whatever had become of this idea which should have been rolled out at MCO last summer already.

I'm pleased to see they are going ahead with this. As long as they don't cut down on too many staff at the original desks. This would be helpful in addition to those, not instead of.

 

[Disneymad]

I really hope these are operational by beginning of summer at the latest. I posted somewhere else in the last few weeks, coincidentally, asking whatever had become of this idea which should have been rolled out at MCO last summer already.

I'm pleased to see they are going ahead with this. As long as they don't cut down on too many staff at the original desks. This would be helpful in addition to those, not instead of.

They are already operational, went live a week or so back. You use the kiosk, but still have to go through to a regular Immigration Officer to verify everything but it's still obviously quicker because you don't have to do all the fingerprint/photo stuff.

 

[2Tiggies]

They are already operational, went live a week or so back. You use the kiosk, but still have to go through to a regular Immigration Officer to verify everything but it's still obviously quicker because you don't have to do all the fingerprint/photo stuff.

That's great news. Do the kiosks feed the passengers into a different line then for the shorter checks at a desk?

ETA: Who are the exceptions/persons who cannot use these? Just thinking DD will be 12 at the time and wonder if minors who do not do the biometric scans can go through the self check

 

[wayneg]

Might have to try this in July.

 

[Elise79]

That's great news. Do the kiosks feed the passengers into a different line then for the shorter checks at a desk?

ETA: Who are the exceptions/persons who cannot use these? Just thinking DD will be 12 at the time and wonder if minors who do not do the biometric scans can go through the self check

Last I heard was that there was no age restrictions but you had to have entered the US before (within 2 years I think) but whether that's the final rules I have no idea.

I was wondering if we were going to be able to use them as DD has a new passport but we will be OK as we are flying into JFK in April before we do MCO in July

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

If this is the case I will be able to use them as I'm taking my students to NYC in April, and my MIL will as she was in Florida in 2012, but the rest of our group will need to use the regular line!

 

[2Tiggies]

Last I heard was that there was no age restrictions but you had to have entered the US before (within 2 years I think) but whether that's the final rules I have no idea.

I was wondering if we were going to be able to use them as DD has a new passport but we will be OK as we are flying into JFK in April before we do MCO in July

My DD will also have a new passport when we travel. On MCO's FAQ page they say that children can use them. There is no mention of restrictions or conditions for children. I think the accompanying adult traveling with then would need to be eligible to use it possibly, but no note of a restriction.

 

[Disneymad]

That's great news. Do the kiosks feed the passengers into a different line then for the shorter checks at a desk?

ETA: Who are the exceptions/persons who cannot use these? Just thinking DD will be 12 at the time and wonder if minors who do not do the biometric scans can go through the self check

From what I've heard there are initially 2 lines - one for kiosk's and one for the regular line and then they all ultimately head to the same Immigration Officers - however it sounds like the Kiosk passengers do take a higher priority (presumably because they're quicker to process) and so the line moves quicker.

In short, it sounds a bit like how FastPass works when they recombine their lines - when they let a higher % through from FP and deliberately hold the line back for Standby, just letting a few trickle through here and there unless it's empty.

I've not done it myself, just going from what I've heard (saw someone complaining that they joined the normal Immigration line with not many people in it only to have it move very slowly because the kiosk people were getting priority), however it's still so knew I wouldn't be surprised if they tweaked it anyhow.

Looking forward to trying this in April!

 

[2Tiggies]

MCO have posted the following on their Facebook Page, in response to some of the questions on there:


Orlando International Airport (MCO): These new self-service kiosks can only be used by U.S. citizens, Canadians and citizens of the 37 countries in the U.S. visa waiver program. The next phase of these kioks would be to process those arriving the US with visas but that program start has yet to start testing and no target date given.




FB User: What if not all members of the family have biometric passports, ie hue ad has wife doesn't. Also we both have B2 visas.


Orlando International Airport (MCO): Qualifications to use these self service kiosks - passenger must have previously entered the U.S. once since 2006 and have ESTA travel approval.

Also to use the kiosks passengers must be between the ages of 14-79. Families arriving with younger children - qualified parents should still utilize the self service kiosks then will be directed to a dedicated lane afterwards to process your young travelers.
[/QUOTE]

 

[2Tiggies]

MCO have posted the following on their Facebook Page, in response to some of the questions on there:

Orlando International Airport (MCO): These new self-service kiosks can only be used by U.S. citizens, Canadians and citizens of the 37 countries in the U.S. visa waiver program. The next phase of these kioks would be to process those arriving the US with visas but that program start has yet to start testing and no target date given.




FB User: What if not all members of the family have biometric passports, ie hue ad has wife doesn't. Also we both have B2 visas.


Orlando International Airport (MCO): Qualifications to use these self service kiosks - passenger must have previously entered the U.S. once since 2006 and have ESTA travel approval.

Also to use the kiosks passengers must be between the ages of 14-79. Families arriving with younger children - qualified parents should still utilize the self service kiosks then will be directed to a dedicated lane afterwards to process your young travelers.

 

[Elise79]

MCO have posted the following on their Facebook Page, in response to some of the questions on there:

Well found Lee! That means we can use them - yay!

It makes sense about the 14 minimum age as that is when they start with finger prints and photos as we asked last time as Chloe wanted to know when she would have hers done!

 

[BudgieMama]

Am I reading this right? You don't need a Biometric passport to go into the kiosks? As long as you've been into the US since 2006 and have your ESTA? (DH has a biometric passport, but I don't let as mine is up for renewal next year)

 

[wayneg]

Am I reading this right? You don't need a Biometric passport to go into the kiosks? As long as you've been into the US since 2006 and have your ESTA? (DH has a biometric passport, but I don't let as mine is up for renewal next year)

Thats how its reading, although doesn't matter to us, I am the last in the family to get a Biometric passport, should be here any day now.

 

[CousinB]

Two questions:

What is a biometric passport?

I'm outside the qualifying age bracket (81) What do I do?

 

[wayneg]

Two questions:

What is a biometric passport?

I'm outside the qualifying age bracket (81) What do I do?

Biometric passports have been issued in the UK since Mar 2006, More info here if you want to read https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...a/file/118598/biometric-passports-readers.pdf
They have a chip inside which stores all your info.

Age 81 I suspect you have to stay in the regular immigration line. I don't think you have the same security checks, when we took DMIL a couple of years ago (in her 70's) we had all the usual checks, fingerprints, looking into camera but none at all for her.

 

[2Tiggies]

Not sure if I'm interpreting the MCO comments correctly, but I read it that if you are an adult in the age range who qualifies, you can go through self check. If the adults in your family all qualify and you have children with you, you can also go through self check and then proceed to a manned desk to complete the process with the children. However, I read it that if you are a family and one person does not meet the qualifying criteria, you all go through the regular line together. Or am I misinterpreting this?

For any of you who do not have a Facebook account, if you want a question posted on their page, I'm happy to post on there and report back on the response. They seem to man their page quite well.

 

[Linda67]

Not sure if I'm interpreting the MCO comments correctly, but I read it that if you are an adult in the age range who qualifies, you can go through self check. If the adults in your family all qualify and you have children with you, you can also go through self check and then proceed to a manned desk to complete the process with the children. However, I read it that if you are a family and one person does not meet the qualifying criteria, you all go through the regular line together. Or am I misinterpreting this? For any of you who do not have a Facebook account, if you want a question posted on their page, I'm happy to post on there and report back on the response. They seem to man their page quite well.

I think you are interpreting it correctly
I assume it would be the same set up as the self service kiosks in UK airports. For example: DH has a biometric passport but I do not, he can use the self service kiosks but I can't go through with him, I still have to use the regular line - I'm guessing it's going to be the same in the US

 

[cliveywolves]

It's getting confusing now... We have a mix of passports and DD is 8 so god knows wether this will be any quicker for us to use.. Guess we need a live update from anybody who uses this system

 

[2Tiggies]

It's getting confusing now... We have a mix of passports and DD is 8 so god knows wether this will be any quicker for us to use.. Guess we need a live update from anybody who uses this system

You still have the option of going straight through the regular line. I think the mere presence of the self serve kiosks will speed up the overall process by part processing passengers and cutting the time that officials have to spend at the desks with those who cleared through the kiosks first. The benefits should be felt by everyone, as long as they are still manning the desks with the same number of officials as previously, the line should mover faster. I think if you are traveling as a family and have used one customs declaration form, you have to all go through wherever together. If you are splitting your party, the way I understand it, you should complete a Declaration for each group that is going through together, if more than one.