Does anyone know why UK folk are having extra passport checks?

Posted by wildeaboutoscar@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 17 comments

Just got back from a trip to Scandinavia and a lot of UK folk (myself included) have had to have their 'passport details updated' on their system. Just curious if anyone knows why? I didn't want to sound unhelpful (and it took like 1 min so wasn't an issue, just curious!) but am wondering what that actually means. Assuming it's another B word 'benefit' of some kind but I could be wrong. I know there's some new EU legislation coming in relatively soon but I don't think it was related to that

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17 Comments

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sausageface1@reddit

Border force officers don’t “update passport details” at ports of entry

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wildeaboutoscar@reddit (OP)

No it wasn't border force, it was the airline staff at the gate

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Solkatria@reddit

Then that’s an airline computer issue and nothing to do with the country - airline staff don’t control the border

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steerpike1971@reddit

Probably just some quirk of that airline then. Maybe they had a computer glitch.

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LNGBandit77@reddit

I assume this meant the stamp?

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sausageface1@reddit

Gbr citizens and their ppts aren’t subject to control so no stamp.

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Dave_Unknown@reddit

So they changed something at the gate? Assuming whilst leaving an airport rather than at passport control? So you’d already been in that country and had a stamp and that was for a return flight? I assume it’s just checking they had everyone’s correct passport details noted in their system or something like that tbh. Maybe they found a discrepancy with someone’s passport number and decided to double check everyone’s. They certainly wouldn’t change anything on your passport. And as far as I know gate checks are mainly to make sure the receiving airports border control will be happy with everyone’s passports. - So it’s common for flights to some countries to be extra strict on things like slight tears if they know the receiving country won’t accept it etc.

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wildeaboutoscar@reddit (OP)

Ah interesting, thanks! I wasn't sure how it works really, I just do what I'm told and hope everything goes ok Yeah was for a return flight. I had a stamp, went through passport control fine (usually a nightmare at Schiphol but it was quiet because of Easter)

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FitSolution2882@reddit

Where and who by? I've never had an issue with any foreign checks apart from the US where I got the "random" SSSS check 1 way out (hands wiped etc by G4S). Even more recently 0 issues with French, Cypriot, Dutch, Spanish etc on my Irish Passport. However, UK Border Force are, in my experience, CUNTS. UK or Irish passport and they act like the Stasi. EVERY vehicle was being checked on the way OUT of the country a few weeks ago.

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wildeaboutoscar@reddit (OP)

At the gate by the airline staff. I don't know if it was anything security related, just seemed odd! For some reason I always get stopped by security. Not this time but pretty much every other time. I don't look dodgy and don't have any shady background that I know of, but there was a time when I basically factored in extra time for the inevitable extra check.

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FitSolution2882@reddit

Yeah, but which airline staff at which gate and what passport

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Final_Flounder9849@reddit

Updated on a system where? I came through an airport last week and the passport check was the same as it ever was.

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wildeaboutoscar@reddit (OP)

At the gate

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coliliqui@reddit

That sounds like it could be for the EES, though it's not due to go live until October. See: [https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/how-will-ees-work-what-new-during-border-checks\_en](https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/how-will-ees-work-what-new-during-border-checks_en) I visited Sweden in January and there wasn't anything new at border control then, but it could have changed in the last few months. I guess I'll find out when I visit again in the summer!

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Mijman@reddit

Just got back from Stockholm a couple weeks ago. Nothing about updating anything on the system then. Switzerland and Spain also didn't.

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chartupdate@reddit

Just got back from a trip to Oslo. Passport control both going and coming back was seamless. No idea what you are referring to here.

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