Who has time to queue in the age of speed? 6 time-saving services at Taoyuan Airport for ultra-efficient travel

▲Don't want to wait in line? Try these 6 lightning-fast experiences at Taoyuan Airport. (Photo / Reporter Chen Hanyin)

Reporter Liao Minghui / Reported from Taoyuan Airport

If you could sit, who would want to stand? "Waiting in line" is definitely a boring chore for everyone. Especially when rushing to catch a flight, being chased by time can make you feel anxious and irritated, and staring at a long queue of people feels utterly hopeless. In fact, Taoyuan Airport has thoughtfully set up many self-service smart kiosks to help passengers quickly complete check-in, customs clearance, baggage drop-off, and even parking procedures. As early as the end of 2017, the parking lot of Terminal 1 at Taoyuan Airport fully switched to a license plate recognition system, eliminating the need for coins or ticket cards, allowing entry and exit within 3 seconds, and solving congestion issues at the gates.

Maybe you travel abroad often, or maybe you're planning an overseas trip—either way, you absolutely shouldn't miss the lightning-fast experiences offered by Taoyuan Airport. Whether you're traveling for leisure or business, time is money. Master these six tips, and you'll never have to foolishly wait in line at the airport again!

1. Self-service check-in kiosks: Complete seat selection & baggage drop in 10 minutes!

With the advancement of technology, traditional manual processes are gradually becoming more tech-driven. Taoyuan Airport and airlines have successively launched many convenient services. In the past, the first step of going abroad was to queue up at the airline counter for check-in and seat selection. The line could take at least 30 minutes, and during peak travel seasons, everyone is packed shoulder to shoulder with no space to even line up. In fact, by using self-service check-in kiosks or online check-in, you can skip the line entirely. Moreover, you can complete both check-in and seat selection in one go.

[Taoyuan Airport Self-Service Check-In Kiosks]

Terminal 1, 1st floor departure hall, in front of check-in counters 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11
China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, AirAsia, AirAsia Malaysia, Philippines AirAsia, Korean Air

Terminal 2, 3rd floor departure hall, on both sides of the entrance
China Airlines, Uni Air, All Nippon Airways, KLM, EVA Air, United Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air China, Mandarin Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Air Canada, Xiamen Airlines, Turkish Airlines

▲%Check-in counter (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang, same below)

2. Passport inspection: E-Gate clearance in just 15 seconds!

After completing the airline check-in procedures, the next step is security screening and passport inspection for identity verification. Taoyuan Airport offers its citizens the "Automated Immigration Clearance Service" (abbreviated as E-Gate), where you don’t have to wait in line for manual inspection. You can use the dedicated E-Gate lane, scan your passport and then your face to complete the immigration process. Reporters tested it on-site and found that it only takes 15 seconds to clear immigration. The high-tech facial recognition is accurate and fun. It’s recommended that every traveler use the E-Gate lane—you’ll save a lot of time to explore the duty-free shops. And the best part? You can also use the E-Gate when returning to Taiwan. Especially for travelers from central and southern Taiwan who are rushing to catch a high-speed rail home, waiting in long lines at manual inspection counters can be nerve-wracking, fearing they might miss the last train and not make it home. The E-Gate lane is really much faster than the others!

3. Apply for E-Gate in 2 minutes

Is applying for an E-Gate difficult? Actually, it’s super simple, and you can do it while traveling abroad. The process only takes 2 minutes. For those who haven’t traveled abroad yet, you can apply at the departure hall of Taoyuan Airport.

As long as you are a Taiwanese citizen aged 14 or older and at least 140 cm tall, you can apply. Just bring your passport and a second ID, such as an ID card, driver’s license, health insurance card, or residence permit, to the National Immigration Agency counter. After verifying your "passport information" and "secondary ID information," the officer will take a "front-facing photo" and record your "left and right fingerprints." The whole process is done in 2 minutes. Additionally, the National Immigration Agency has set up application counters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Bureau of Consular Affairs. After picking up your passport, you can also apply directly on the first floor. Once applied, you won’t need to reapply even if you renew your passport—it’s valid for life. (For detailed instructions, please visit:http://www.taoyuan-airport.com/chinese/egate)

▲%E-Gate passport inspection.

4. Complete Taoyuan MRT A1 Station pre-flight check-in in 10 minutes

When you walk into Taipei Main Station of the Taoyuan MRT, you’ll clearly see signs pointing to the Taoyuan Airport MRT. Follow the signs to the Taoyuan Airport MRT A1 Station, where you’ll find self-service check-in kiosks. The operation is very simple. If you’re flying with China Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, EVA Air, or Uni Air, from 6:00 AM to 9:30 PM on the day of your flight and up to 3 hours before departure, you can complete urban pre-flight check-in procedures at the MRT A1 Station. At the self-service kiosk, simply scan your passport to select your seat and print your boarding pass. You can easily complete self-service check-in and baggage check-in within 10 minutes.

▲%Taoyuan MRT A1 Station pre-flight check-in.

5. Enter the parking lot in 3 seconds

In the past, when entering the parking lot, people would hesitate for a moment, “Should I tap my EasyCard or take a ticket?” Based on experience, most people hesitate for about 5 seconds at this step, and if they decide to tap their EasyCard, it might take another 5 seconds to find the card. According to Taoyuan Airport statistics, this is one of the main reasons for congestion at the parking lot entrance. After implementing the license plate recognition system, the system automatically records/recognizes the license plate number, as well as the entry and exit times. From recognition to time calculation to billing, everything is automated. Aside from reducing human errors in fee calculations, the most important thing is that vehicles can pass through the gate in just 3 seconds—fast and convenient.

▲%Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 parking lot license plate recognition system.