Discussion
For the last 9 years I have not been able to use a negate, every time I get referred to a border official. Having just got a new uk passport I had hoped I could actually use it. However it appears not
I can use it in every country without issue except my own. I did ask the border officer if I’ll ever be able to use the gate and he just said he couldn’t say
I wonder if the passport office can help without making an appointment
I can use it in every country without issue except my own. I did ask the border officer if I’ll ever be able to use the gate and he just said he couldn’t say
I wonder if the passport office can help without making an appointment
Edited by stevemcs on Sunday 8th October 13:58
djc206 said:
Mine doesn’t work either. I get a different reason from them each time when probed but I suspect it’s because I have an extremely common name and somebody with the same name is on a naughty list. Might be wrong but all of the other reasons don’t hold water.
I think that’s what was mentioned a few years ago, but you would have thought with the biometric passport name would almost be irrelevant ecsrobin said:
I’ve never had any luck using them. I’ve spoken to them a few times suggesting would a new passport fix it but they insist that the chip is fine so would be no different.
Yep new passport for me too. It’s just a Uk thing. I love it when you tell someone it won’t work at an egate and they still send you to one, then look all surprised when it doesn’t work.stevemcs said:
Yep new passport for me too. It’s just a Uk thing. I love it when you tell someone it won’t work at an egate and they still send you to one, then look all surprised when it doesn’t work.
Yep had that battle although last time no one stopping you join it but as there was no one at the gate I went for fun to see if any change and nothing. I did suggest they create a sticker they could put on your passport to allow you to bypass them as they must know how many times you’ve been rejected. stevemcs said:
Yep new passport for me too. It’s just a Uk thing. I love it when you tell someone it won’t work at an egate and they still send you to one, then look all surprised when it doesn’t work.
I managed to sneak past that dimwit on my last trip through Heathrow, I wasn’t standing in a 10 minute queue to find out what I already knew. Guy at the desk saw me doing it and just smiled, clearly knew that my passport wasn’t going to let me through.There are a multitude of reasons I suspect passports don't work at the egates, but BF won't tell you why.
Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
CoolHands said:
Hmm interesting point. Maybe you should change your name to Urquhart and see if the problems go away. Legal name doesn’t mean much, you could still go by your normal name for all regular day to day activities!
One can't help wondering if there's a special rubber glove and vaseline queue for people deemed as having "something to hide" by changing their names! 
GT03ROB said:
There are a multitude of reasons I suspect passports don't work at the egates, but BF won't tell you why.
Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
I also have 2 valid passports, both work in e-gates in the UK.Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
There’s an interesting thread on Flyertalk about this, where it’s in all likelihood that your name is similar to someone on some specialist and you’re being flagged, and to a lesser extend dodgy e-gate machines.
If your passport doesn’t work, just tell the person directing folk to the gates that you’ve been informed by BF that your passport has a faulty chip, and you should be send straight to the queue to see a human.
Suspicious_user said:
GT03ROB said:
There are a multitude of reasons I suspect passports don't work at the egates, but BF won't tell you why.
Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
I also have 2 valid passports, both work in e-gates in the UK.Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
There’s an interesting thread on Flyertalk about this, where it’s in all likelihood that your name is similar to someone on some specialist and you’re being flagged, and to a lesser extend dodgy e-gate machines.
If your passport doesn’t work, just tell the person directing folk to the gates that you’ve been informed by BF that your passport has a faulty chip, and you should be send straight to the queue to see a human.
Suspicious_user said:
I also have 2 valid passports, both work in e-gates in the UK.
There’s an interesting thread on Flyertalk about this, where it’s in all likelihood that your name is similar to someone on some specialist and you’re being flagged, and to a lesser extend dodgy e-gate machines.
If your passport doesn’t work, just tell the person directing folk to the gates that you’ve been informed by BF that your passport has a faulty chip, and you should be send straight to the queue to see a human.
I’ve had that conversation with an airport employee on a bare minimum of 2 dozen occasions and that’s never been their reaction. I don’t even engage with them any more, they don’t have authority so it’s not like I need their permission to skip to the seek assistance lane anywayThere’s an interesting thread on Flyertalk about this, where it’s in all likelihood that your name is similar to someone on some specialist and you’re being flagged, and to a lesser extend dodgy e-gate machines.
If your passport doesn’t work, just tell the person directing folk to the gates that you’ve been informed by BF that your passport has a faulty chip, and you should be send straight to the queue to see a human.
Suspicious_user said:
GT03ROB said:
There are a multitude of reasons I suspect passports don't work at the egates, but BF won't tell you why.
Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
I also have 2 valid passports, both work in e-gates in the UK.Historically I've generally had 2 passports. Last time I got the 2nd one, I used it coming back into the Uk when it was barely 10 days old. Nope wouldn't work, neither passport worked. Last year one of my passports expired & didn't get round to renewing it. About a week after it expired I came through on the other & lo & behold it worked in the egates. So I suspect one of the criteria for rejection is having 2 valid passports.
There’s an interesting thread on Flyertalk about this, where it’s in all likelihood that your name is similar to someone on some specialist and you’re being flagged, and to a lesser extend dodgy e-gate machines.
If your passport doesn’t work, just tell the person directing folk to the gates that you’ve been informed by BF that your passport has a faulty chip, and you should be send straight to the queue to see a human.
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