Narita Skyliner, buy tickets in advance?

Next month we will be traveling to Japan, arriving at Narita airport. We plan to use the Skyliner train to take us to Tokyo (Ueno).

It is possible to buy a ticket for the Skyliner online for a moderate discount. However, I understand that will give you a voucher that needs to be exchanged for actual tickets at a desk at the airport and that there may be a long queue for this desk. It is reported online that buying tickets on the spot (from a machine) is faster, but obviously, you will not get the discount.

I also see that a Face ID check in option is offered (Skyliner face check), which would mean one does not have to queue, so on paper this offers the best of both worlds: no queueing and a discounted price. However, face recognition sounds sensitive for issues: what if my tired face after a long flight is not recognized?

Does anyone have experience with the face ID check in? Feedback on the amount of queueing to be expected if we were to go for regular tickets would also be welcomed.

I wouldn't bother. You can quickly and easily buy tickets from machines on arrival, and in my experience the trains never sell out. The savings from buying online is a whopping 270 yen (US$1.70 at today's exchange rates), and I'll personally happily pay the premium.to avoid waiting around in random queues. I've never tried the face check thing, so can't comment on that.

If cost is a factor, you're better off taking the Sky Access line, which is half price (¥1,310 vs ¥2,580), does not need reservations, only about 15 min slower and takes you directly to Asakusa and other stations on the Toei Asakusa Line. It does not, however, serve Ueno, you would need to change trains at Aoto to get there.