Avoid non-essential flights to the US

Gloomendoom

Last time I went to the US, for some reason, my wife and I were pulled out of the mile long queue for non-US citizen immigration. After all the 'Border Patrol' and 'Banged Up Abroad' type TV programmes I've watched I feared the worst but all that happened was that we were taken to the US citizen lane. We were through in 15 minutes.

duchy

I always avoid direct flights into Brit holiday areas like Orlando and Vegas as the immigration lines are always huge ... And using the same logic fly US carriers not UK ones ..... Getting in line I try to choose the alien line closest to the US desks as once the US passengers are cleared they move the aliens over. Also it is amazing how close to the front a Brisk walk walk off the plane will take you most people seem to gaff about and dawdle, stop for the loo etc. Often by the time they have got to the back of the line I'm already through and on my way.

[Deleted User]

duchy wrote: »

I always avoid direct flights into Brit holiday areas like Orlando and Vegas as the immigration lines are always huge ... And using the same logic fly US carriers not UK ones ..... Getting in line I try to choose the alien line closest to the US desks as once the US passengers are cleared they move the aliens over. Also it is amazing how close to the front a Brisk walk walk off the plane will take you most people seem to gaff about and dawdle, stop for the loo etc. Often by the time they have got to the back of the line I'm already through and on my way.

I tend to use Orlando Sandford quite a lot and always breeze through in no time at all.
Nice little airport with friendly immigration.

stoneman

Deleted_User wrote: »

I tend to use Orlando Sandford quite a lot and always breeze through in no time at all.
Nice little airport with friendly immigration.

Agree, Sanford is miles better than the hell hole of MCO, but even Orlando pales into insignificance to MIA where they seem not to want visitors.

callum9999

NFH wrote: »

Just a warning to avoid non-essential flights to the US for the time being.

The Independent warned yesterday of unreasonable immigration queues at US airports, often around 3 hours.

The very beginning of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's US travel advice currently states "The effect of the US sequestration has increased waiting times at major US international airports. Contact your tour operator or airline for flight information before travelling".

If your flight to the US is essential, then as suggested by Simon Calder on BBC Breakfast this morning, one air route into the United States which avoids these three hour delays is to fly via Dublin or Shannon. You will usually clear US immigration and customs in Ireland, arriving in the United States as a domestic flight. Business travellers can use British Airways' flights from London City Airport via Shannon to New York JFK.

Hopefully the US government will wake up to the fact that cutting CBP's budget is a false economy. It won't be long before US tourism and trade is impacted by these difficulties in entering the country.

Really? For most people, it's a pretty big investment to take a holiday in the United States. I can't imagine many of them would want to go badly enough to pay several hundred pounds but would cancel those plans because of a 3 hour line. I also doubt many people even know about how long immigration takes to clear, or bother to check before booking.

Moan bitterly about it yes, but cancel the holiday? I'm not convinced.

NFH

callum9999 wrote: »

For most people, it's a pretty big investment to take a holiday in the United States. I can't imagine many of them would want to go badly enough to pay several hundred pounds but would cancel those plans because of a 3 hour line.

Quite possibly, but the advice is aimed more at those who haven't booked their flights yet.

callum9999 wrote: »

I also doubt many people even know about how long immigration takes to clear, or bother to check before booking.

That is precisely why I posted this here, i.e. to raise awareness of the problem. People can then make an informed decision before booking flights to the United States.

callum9999

NFH wrote: »

Quite possibly, but the advice is aimed more at those who haven't booked their flights yet.


That is precisely why I posted this here, i.e. to raise awareness of the problem. People can then make an informed decision before booking flights to the United States.

While it's good you're trying to help people, I really don't think many care.

If being in a 3 hour line is so intolerable you'll scrap plans to go to the US, were you ever going to book anyway?

NFH

callum9999 wrote: »

If being in a 3 hour line is so intolerable you'll scrap plans to go to the US, were you ever going to book anyway?

I think many people will look to book another destination if they know there is a very strong chance of being delayed for three hours, which is a significant amount of time.

headpin

If you are going to one of the theme parks a three hour line is pretty common place unless you splash on a fast pass. So, you may as well get in some practice at immigration! :rotfl::rotfl:

callum9999

NFH wrote: »

I think many people will look to book another destination if they know there is a very strong chance of being delayed for three hours, which is a significant amount of time.

If you think that then fair enough but we'll have to agree to disagree. In my view, America has enough "pulling power" that the small proportion of people who do check things like immigration lines will overlook it.

America has had a global reputation for awful, and occasionally invasive, airport security for as long as I can remember yet people still go. A long line won't put people off!