...... is now working at Faro though I think they are still testing the system. Go to the special gate, place passport in reader and if it checks out the first barrier opens. Stand on the yellow circle and try to look like your passport photo. If the system thinks you are really you, the glass door slides open and lets you in (or out)

... only works for those of you who have new passports with the chip in them the rest of us will have to continue to kew for a few years yet!!!

Why can't we have chips embedded in our arm like dogs? It would be so much easier and cheaper.

Yeah, TrishaG is right - and the new passport also costs a whole lot more !

Also on returning to some UK airports, you can bypass the queues if you have had an IRIS scan, so you just show your eyes to the machine and hey presto you get thru.

You have to register at the airport (airside) with your travel documents on yoyur way out, it only takes 5 mins and is then valid for all trips. You can read all about it here

Note this eye-scan is NOT the same thing as the passport-with-chip.

Portugal seems to have opted for the full face scan. The camera is supposed to work like a periscope and focus on your face but since I am on the tall side I had to go weak at the knees to bring my face level. The whole process is not particularly quick but on the three occasions I've used it I was the only person doing so - even though the other Thursday the Q was four lanes wide and extended out through the doors of the arrivals hall.