Australia opens its automated border processing system to U.S. Trusted Travelers

Been thinking about traveling to Australia? Visiting the land down under is now even easier for U.S. Trusted Travelers. In late 2012, Australian Customs and Border Protection opened up its automated border processing system, SmartGate, to U.S. Trusted Travelers.

What does that mean exactly for a U.S. Trusted Traveler? Well, it means that now when you arrive in Australia, you can bypass the passport processing lines and self process using an ePassport. SmartGate uses facial recognition technology and biometric data to perform the customs and immigration check usually conducted by an Australian Customs and Border Protection officer.

To use SmartGate, there is no additional enrollment required. You simply need to be traveling on a valid U.S. ePassport and be over 16 years old. SmartGate is open to all U.S. Trusted Traveler members enrolled in Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI.

For more information on SmartGate and booking your travel to Australia, contact the POTHOS travel team at: travel@pothos.us.

 

United Airlines drops 787 through June 5th

United Airlines has announced that it will cut the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from its flying plans at least until June 5^th. The 787 has been grounded since January 16^th, in an attempt to resolve the problem with the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries.

In total, there are fifty 787’s throughout the world that have been grounded. More than a month later, investigators are still trying to figure out what caused a battery fire in one plane and forced the emergency landing of another plane. The out of service aircraft has forced airlines to scrap their schedules until Boeing can resolve the battery problem. United, for example, was due to begin flying from Denver to Tokyo on March 31^st but has had to postpone until the 787 is cleared to fly. Boeing has been working diligently on finding a solution to the problem. How soon Boeing can fix the problem depends partly on the approval process by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Most of Boeing’s customers have remained optimistic that Boeing will be able to come up with a solution very soon. All Nippon Airways, which has 17 of Boeings’ 787’s, has stood by the Dreamliner. ANA remain confident in the aircraft and hope they will be able to reassure their customers once the 787 is cleared to fly.

Although many customers will undoubtedly have safety concerns about the aircraft, Boeing remains firm in their belief of the aircraft. Boeing CEO Ray Conner, reiterated his stance recently, proclaiming: "I just want to reiterate that the 787 is still the game-changing aircraft it is meant to be". He also added that the solution Boeing has proposed “is not an interim solution. This is a permanent solution”. Many airlines will be keeping their fingers crossed that these statements are true and that these planes can get back in the sky sooner than later.