[MartinP]

Originally Posted by ecco66

Not always. The H/W suites get hijacked by the FCO more often than people realise (thank heavens the Hounslow's gone, what a dump) and those who really, really want VIP treatment now have another option

Northolt?

Originally Posted by ecco66

Shiny cards work, but they are lower down the pecking order than £££

I'll let you know when I have a Prem.... i.e. never!

[ecco66]

Originally Posted by MartinP

Northolt?

Northolt's only VIP if you own/can charter your own jet

I'll let you know when I have a Prem.... i.e. never!

I feel your pain

[psionic]

Originally Posted by Biffo the Bear

Apparently the government is working on having fast-track passport checks for rich people at British airports so they won't have to queue with normal people.

It is suggested that this will help remind the world that 'Britain is open for business' because, obviously, when rich people have to wait in line with normal people, the only possible conclusion they could draw is that Britain is not open for business at all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/se...assport-checks

Here's a radical idea. Why not just radically increase staff, and everyone will get through quickly

[Phil 2804]

Originally Posted by Biffo the Bear

Apparently the government is working on having fast-track passport checks for rich people at British airports so they won't have to queue with normal people.

It is suggested that this will help remind the world that 'Britain is open for business' because, obviously, when rich people have to wait in line with normal people, the only possible conclusion they could draw is that Britain is not open for business at all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/se...assport-checks

Already happens at passenger security with VIP departure lounges located far away from even first and business class ones. Hell if they are willing to pay they can even use the Royal Suite. Next time your at Heathrow T5 see if you can spot the fleet of black BMW's and ask who they might be for...?

[TimCypher]

There is already a fast track lane at Heathrow for arriving first and business class passengers and has been for years. I've used it myself on a handful of occasions when the EU line is particularly bad, but, for a UK resident, it's not normally of much benefit.

Regards,

Cypher

[TimCypher]

Originally Posted by smudges dad

I'm sure there was a fast track arrival lane at LHR T3 a few years ago (on the extreme right of the arrivals hall).

That's the one...

In T1, the fast-track lane is sandwiched between the EU and the non-EU immigration lanes. It's mainly of benefit if you're a non-EU passenger, but I always grab the invite card that the airline crew hand out just before landing just in case it turns out to be of benefit.

Which, more often than not, it isn't.

Regards,

Cypher

[stairway]

Originally Posted by WhiteFang

Is the class system coming back.

Coming back???... It's never been away

[Majlis]

so another non-story then..

[ecco66]

Originally Posted by Majlis

so another non-story then..

Welcome to the vacuous world of government opponents

[Neil_Staton]

Originally Posted by northantsgirl

Fast track passport control, freedom to put up conservatories. That's what impresses me about this government, they really know how to get to the nub of making Britain 'open for business'.

That because politicians (any of them) dont know how to deal with major issues so they mess around with silly little things hoping it makes them look competant.

[trevgo]

If it meant I could avoid the stag parties necking pints first thing in the morning, on their way to ruin the weekend in any given East European city, I'd happily pay whatever they charge.

Separate plane would be nice too.

[whitecliffe]

Originally Posted by stairway

Coming back???... It's never been away

Class doesn't equal money though.

[Kiko H Fan]

Originally Posted by smudges dad

When I fly business class I go through fast track check-in and security checks. Nothing to do with how rich I am, just with how much my company paid for the ticket.

I pay for my own business class tickets and the fast track is usually busier than the normal passport queue, normally with whinging business travellers.

[ItJustMyOpinion]

Originally Posted by Biffo the Bear

Apparently the government is working on having fast-track passport checks for rich people at British airports so they won't have to queue with normal people.

It is suggested that this will help remind the world that 'Britain is open for business' because, obviously, when rich people have to wait in line with normal people, the only possible conclusion they could draw is that Britain is not open for business at all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/se...assport-checks

Just for balance here's the Daily Mails take on it.

Originally Posted by DM

Fast lane to give business people 'priority treatment' at Heathrow border control

Border officials have announced plans for fast-track passport lanes allowing rich travellers 'priority treatment' in queueing at Heathrow and other British airports.

The controversial scheme has been disclosed as the UK Border Agency attempt to prevent a repeat of the two-hour queues which plagued travellers this year.

The plans would see 'high value' people considered valuable by airlines or to the British economy given priority access at immigration control ahead of normal travellers.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz26uclZGJr

It doesn't surprise me. Immigration is all about selectivity now, its what the public wants. Mass immigration is just what the employers, university's and chain migration marriage supporters want.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/robe...b_1890638.html

Originally Posted by Huffington Post

The British View of Immigration: Scepticism, Polarisation, but Also Pragmatism

Our results support the conventional wisdom that the British would like to see immigration reduced: 75% agree with this, and 51% want to see migration reduced "a lot". This figure is largely the same as previous surveys in 2003 and 2008, despite large shifts in both economic conditions and migration policy over the past decade. Neither the great recession, nor the tougher Coalition approach on migration, appear to have had much impact on attitudes to date.
Numbers, however, are not the whole story.

The British are thus more downbeat about the effect migration has had on their society. But this overall pattern also masks a second interesting development: growing social polarisation. Many groups in British society - university graduates, middle class and high income voters, and those with migrant heritage themselves (including those who were born here, but to parents born abroad) were on the whole positive about migration in 2002, and remained so in 2011. The increase in anxiety over immigration has been concentrated among those parts of the population who were already most worried about migrants in 2002 - in particular poorer, less educated and less economically secure voters. The result is a society divided over immigration: relaxed views among the economically comfortable and socially cosmopolitan, intense anxiety among struggling, white working class voters.

We can sum up the British view of migration as "fewer, but better". It is clear that the British would like less migration, but it is also clear that they do not regard all migrants as cause for concern. Given voter concerns about numbers and about qualifications, clear and well enforced rules make sense, but given voter pragmatism about particular migrant flows, a more disaggregated and flexible approach makes sense as well.

So I suppose the public would be very much in favour of fast tracking valuable foreigners and keeping the low value ones without any tangible benefit to the UK waiting as long as possible. In fact they don't want them here in the first place.

[Nick1966]

Originally Posted by ItJustMyOpinion

So I suppose the public would be very much in favour of fast tracking valuable foreigners and keeping the low value ones without any tangible benefit to the UK waiting as long as possible. In fact they don't want them here in the first place.

From the list below, identify a low value foreigner ? You may wish to value your choices on a scale of 1-10 (1 lowest value, 10 highest value)

• A couple from France about to a enjoy a weekend in London
• An Estonian 25 year old who been invited by Travelodge UK for work experience
• A Brazilian footballer who's just signed up with EP football club
• A wealthy Belarus businessmen who has meetings with like minded UK businessmen
• A Somoli refugee family including an 8 year old son with prosects of becoming a great athelete in the 5,000m and 10,000m
• An Arengentian nurse

[Rastus Pieface]

Originally Posted by Majlis

so another non-story then..

yep. another non story. you can even fast track at alton towers. just pay a bit more and go to the front of the queue.

still, it gives some people to have another go at the government. must be a slow news day.

[Craigywageybaby]

Originally Posted by Biffo the Bear

Apparently the government is working on having fast-track passport checks for rich people at British airports so they won't have to queue with normal people.

It is suggested that this will help remind the world that 'Britain is open for business' because, obviously, when rich people have to wait in line with normal people, the only possible conclusion they could draw is that Britain is not open for business at all.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/se...assport-checks

There is a fast track already set up a Leeds Bradford to get you through security. It costs £1.50.

[WindWalker]

What's wrong with cattle class anyway? You get a far better class of person in there anyway.

[ItJustMyOpinion]

Originally Posted by Nick1966

From the list below, identify a low value foreigner ? You may wish to value your choices on a scale of 1-10 (1 lowest value, 10 highest value)

• A couple from France about to a enjoy a weekend in London
• An Estonian 25 year old who been invited by Travelodge UK for work experience
• A Brazilian footballer who's just signed up with EP football club
• A wealthy Belarus businessmen who has meetings with like minded UK businessmen
• A Somoli refugee family including an 8 year old son with prosects of becoming a great athelete in the 5,000m and 10,000m
• An Arengentian nurse

Well as you composed the list, what's the chances that you have no just rigged it with examples to support your point of view.

Footballers would earn so much they would probably come in under Tier 1 anyway. Let their club pay £1800 for the executive service.

If you are referring to Mo Farrow, was his talent obvious at that age? Did he run around the airport to impress border officials? For every Mo Farrow, there will be many others who are just a drain on our society.

Again the wealthy businessman will pay £1800 for the executive service.

Tourists and workers from the EU queue at a separate channel anyway.

The key is to hire more staff for premium and first class service, so they are not taken from the standard queue. People fly in different classes, so why not queue in different classes. The airline could include it in the price of the ticket and pay UKBA.

[cloudymountain]

What do they mean by high-value?

Hope that covers business class, as I almost never fly economy anymore except for European short-haul. Certainly wouldn't mind getting through customs faster.

[jmclaugh]

Sounds a bit like those airline Executive Card holders who get to board flights ahead of the rest though quite how you identify these 'valuable passengers' is somewhat unclear though no doubt MPs and MEPs on their way to Brussels will be included.

[LostFool]

Originally Posted by jmclaugh

Sounds a bit like those airline Executive Card holders who get to board flights ahead of the rest though quite how you identify these 'valuable passengers' is somewhat unclear though no doubt MPs and MEPs on their way to Brussels will be included.

I have a BA Exec Card (though Silver only, I'm not important enough to get Gold) and the advantage is not being able to board *before* you (who want to spend any time extra on a plane than is necessary), but being able to board when I want without standing around in a queue.

The Silver card also give fast track security when leaving Heathrow (though often it's not much faster), lounge access (which is the big bonus) as well as priority seating etc.

However I don't get priority immigration on the way into the country as that's a Home Office service rather than a BA or BAA one. There is a fast track line but it's only for premium cabin passengers on non-EU passports. Apparently the reason it's non-EU only is that as a public body, the Home Office cannot discriminate between EU passengers.

[ecco66]

Originally Posted by jmclaugh

Sounds a bit like those airline Executive Card holders who get to board flights ahead of the rest though quite how you identify these 'valuable passengers' is somewhat unclear though no doubt MPs and MEPs on their way to Brussels will be included.

Most, if not all, frequent flyer plans award points or miles based on mileage and class of travel. Very cheap flights are usually excluded. To work your way up the tier to priority boarding etc, you need either to have paid to be in that class or have accrued sufficient miles/points.

Either way, you're generally a higher spender. Except of course for those mileage give aways and mileage run obsessives. US airlines do this quite a lot, but then again travelling in First Class on a US domestic flight pretty much just guarantees you a bigger seat and some pretty average, small meal (if the flight is deemed long enough and takes place during 'meal times').

[Nick1966]

Originally Posted by ItJustMyOpinion

Well as you composed the list, what's the chances that you have no just rigged it with examples to support your point of view.

My list has one thing in common. Those on the list are all foreigeners. Just wondering which on the list you consider to be of 'low value'.

[Majlis]

Originally Posted by Nick1966

From the list below, identify a low value foreigner ? You may wish to value your choices on a scale of 1-10 (1 lowest value, 10 highest value)

• A couple from France about to a enjoy a weekend in London
• An Estonian 25 year old who been invited by Travelodge UK for work experience
• A Brazilian footballer who's just signed up with EP football club
• A wealthy Belarus businessmen who has meetings with like minded UK businessmen
• A Somoli refugee family including an 8 year old son with prosects of becoming a great athelete in the 5,000m and 10,000m
• An Arengentian nurse

Well the businessman and footballer would be at the top. The french couple next, then the argentinian nurse, the estonian and lastly the refugees.

Based simply on their contribution to the economy and their costs.