Brussels Airport (BRU) infrastructure: future

[PttU]

This e-gate discussion started around

Another 1,5hr queue at Brussels Airport this morning for passport control. The queue actually stretching to the escalators down to A gates. People missing flights left, right and center. Automatic gates .... closed (again)

I can understand there's a shortage in the team responsible for processing the "hits" from the automatic gates, but I think it's strange to close them en let everyone wait. If the e-gates were in use, a big part of those waiting passengers could just move through and catch their flight, while only the (small?) amount of people who triggered the e-gates had to wait.

[luchtzak]

This week I used the automatic e-readers twice, no queue at all! And working!

[Thomaaas]

This week I used the automatic e-readers twice, no queue at all! And working!

Same here, used them Saturday 12/08 for my flight to IAD and no queue or anything.

[sn26567]

This week I used the automatic e-readers twice, no queue at all! And working!

Same here, used them Saturday 12/08 for my flight to IAD and no queue or anything.

It's only a pity that those e-Gates don't accept the most used ID, the national identity card. A little effort, please!

[Stij]

It's only a pity that those e-Gates don't accept the most used ID, the national identity card. A little effort, please!

Do ID cards contain biometric data? I think that's needed for the e-gates...

Stij

[convair]

It's only a pity that those e-Gates don't accept the most used ID, the national identity card. A little effort, please!

That would be nice indeed!

But I think the machine was designed to handle european passports which I believe are all of identical size (doesn't it enter the machine for a couple of seconds? I don't remember now...).

And, btw, which biometric data does it check? The photograph?

[lumumba]

Well, to be honest, your opinion on this is a bit worthless since it is based on false facts...

The airport police in general is very understaffed. Besides the officers manning the border control booths you see at entry, there also have to be officers to process the numerous hits coming from the e-gates, and those officers are not even from the border police but the patrol unit. Both services are understaffed. So it's no union action, nor sabotage, it is a lack of staff.

Is it possible to increase the E gates to lowering the expenses and to hire less Police work force ?
So everybody would be happy.

It would have a contrary result, actually.

In the past, well before the e-gates, people arriving at a control booth were 'selected' by the police officer manning it to undergo an extra 'check' (passing the id-card or the passport through a scanner). In reality many people 'escaped' this ectra check because the officer in front of them didn't deem it necessary to perform this check. With the e-gates no escaping is possible. Every reason, no matter how small, has a hit as a consequence resulting in some police officer having to process the file. And there you have the bottleneck. Contrary to the wet dreams of people like convair, this step in the process can't be replaced by a machine. This is done by the patrol unit. Problem is that virtually nobody wishes to stay at that unit for a variety of reasons and as such they are heavily understaffed while still have to do other things as well. So both major police units at the airport have staffing issues...

Given the shitload of trouble you'd get into when getting caught sabotizing the e-gates I assume it is not realy sabotaging the equipment but shutting it down due to a lack of follow up.

It's anecdotic but today we had or best experience at the border control ever.
We where six arriving in Brussels and the police man was very very sympathetic with a lot of humor...
It's funny because in the plane we where discussing all experience we had my wife and the kids...even if the kids did not had a lot of it ,about the check at the borders around the world
Anyway it's was very pleasant and he was Flemish you could hear it and we where all speaking French ...
So this is said .

[HQ_BRU_Lover]

Any updates about the extension of pier A? About the New terminal at the current DHL place?

[flightlover]

Any updates about the extension of pier A? About the New terminal at the current DHL place?

Make that ex-DHL place, they moved about one month ago.

[Boavida]

I hope they demolish the old DHL/Swissport building ASAP!

[BRUflyer]

This week I used the automatic e-readers twice, no queue at all! And working!

Same here, used them Saturday 12/08 for my flight to IAD and no queue or anything.

It's only a pity that those e-Gates don't accept the most used ID, the national identity card. A little effort, please!

They did accept ID cards when they were first installed. But apparently that led to tons of technical issues. I do believe they're working to allow ID cards again in the future. Still, for most non Schengen destinations you need a passport anyway.

[sn26567]

Still, for most non Schengen destinations you need a passport anyway.

The UK and Ireland are important exceptions.

[luchtzak]

This morning @ Brussels Airport, long queue for terminal B

https://mobile.twitter.com/LuchtzakBelg ... 722536453/

[JOVAN]

This morning @ Brussels Airport, long queue for terminal B

https://mobile.twitter.com/LuchtzakBelg ... 722536453/

IMG_5882.JPG

Strike again ?
The Immigration unhappy this time.


How to kill an airport.

[luchtzak]

This morning @ Brussels Airport, long queue for terminal B

https://mobile.twitter.com/LuchtzakBelg ... 722536453/

IMG_5882.JPG

Strike again ?
The Immigration unhappy this time.


How to kill an airport.

No strike, the extra ID check if you are leaving Schengen: https://www.aviation24.be/airports/brussel ... n-borders/

[sn26567]

This morning @ Brussels Airport, long queue for terminal B

https://mobile.twitter.com/LuchtzakBelg ... 722536453/

IMG_5882.JPG

You think the situation is bad at Brussels Airport? See the complaint of British Airways against the UK Border Force, which operates the same eGates.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/iag/bri ... on-delays/

[flightlover]

I hope they demolish the old DHL/Swissport building ASAP!

They started demolishing the metal porches at the back of the old DHL building, so it might be going fast.

[sean1982]

All good and well to keep adding intercontinental routes. A national airport unworthy

[lumumba]

All good and well to keep adding intercontinental routes. A national airport unworthy

If you are after 10PM it's normal they close it....because they need two police man to keep it open not worthwhile not enough passengers anymore ....

[sn26567]

All good and well to keep adding intercontinental routes. A national airport unworthy

Didn't your employer recently complain about the Border Protection Force in UK airports, especially London LHR?

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/iag/bri ... on-delays/