USA pre-clearance at Dublin

benjus

scumsthorne wrote: »

the machines are used to validate passport, take photo and fingerprints, you then see an officer.
Prior to this the officer did it all.
The global entry program allows individuals to miss the talk with the officer.

Maybe these machines are different to the ones I've experienced at US airports. With the ones I've seen, the lucky ones that passed the machine went straight through a separate lane, just showing the machine printout to an officer. Everyone else had to queue up to go through the full immigration process.

alwaysskint96

On entering JFK recently i filled in the online kiosk info inc fingerprints and face etc- was directed to a lane (fast track maybe?) but then had to repeat the whole thing again to the guy there. Still not satisfied i was then taken into the side room for more investigation. Now i had used an esta on that passport before ( although a different esta) so no idea what the actual issue it

Point being Im glad that happened in NYC rather than at Dublin- as if I had been in preclearance I may not have even been allowed to board and trip ruined

jackieblack

benjus wrote: »

When you say the kiosks didn't work, do you mean they were actually out of order, or that they didn't allow the passenger to pass?

If the former then that is indeed very annoying. But if the latter, isn't that part of their normal operation? I have no idea what criteria are used, but the idea that the US will allow a large proportion of ESTA-eligible passengers into the US without ever talking to an immigration officer sounds unlikely to me. I would guess that the only people who are allowed through by the machines are those who have previously entered the US on the same ESTA and who fall into the lowest risk category.

The film on the fingerprint screen was damaged so after queueing up to use one (having been directed there by a member of staff) and going through all the preceding steps, it wouldn't recognise my fingerprints. (The staff member 'assisting' said, 'oh yeah, some of them do that, they don't all work properly' :wall: ) which meant that the slip it printed out flagged an error which meant that I then had to join the main queue with everyone else to see a CBP officer. While in the queue I watched the next half a dozen or more people have exactly the same experience at that machine and, of course, also then have to join the queue :wall:

I had previously used the machines on arrival at Boston Logan successfully (travelling on the same ESTA), on that occasion I simply took the slip to a CBP agent at a dedicated desk. He barely glanced at it before waving me through.

jackieblack

scumsthorne wrote: »

I can't see those figures on the charts. Longest I could see was about 13 minutes.

I arrived on a flight from LHR a little after 8am, went straight to the Pre-Clearance area and finally got through at 10.37

Sorry if my experience doesn't tally with some charts :huh:

melanzana

When going to the US from Dublin I leave three hours minimum, for getting through check in, "ordinary security" and going down to the pre clearance.

The pre clearance itself can take anything from half an hour to an hour depending on the numbers. In Dublin lots of flights to the US take off around the same time. Be early!

There's not much in the pre clearance area apart from a little coffee shop. But it's a year now since I used it, so it may have upgraded itself a bit.

Have to say the pre clearance is brilliant. All the hard work is done in Dublin, so when you arrive, you pick up your bags and walk out the door.

scumsthorne

Just trying to suss out if these are "alternative facts". How they tally person 'a' walking into the hall, till they walk out.

gingerdad

If it's any help. You could fly via Canada took less than 10 minutes at Calgary. Really easy.

ess0two

Great replies, coming into Dublin ex Manchester, 45 mins gonna aim for now,extra beers:beer::beer:

srisport

scumsthorne wrote: »

I actually do believe them. It's difficult and time consuming to consistently fake figures.

dublin airport website have a nice video of the process

https://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/passenger-information/us-preclearance-facility

I would rather Dublin than arrive at a US port and wait 2 to 3 hours anyday.


They have a lounge after pre-clearance would would seem a better option.

https://www.dublinairport.com/at-the-airport/travel-services/51st-and-green

Im flying business class through KLM from Dublin to San-francisco at the end of march, i was told by KLM that they don't have a lounge at Dublin airport, but that link says that all passengers with business class tickets have free access?

Is that lounge only open to certain airline companies?

Regards.

EDIT: never mind just realised I'm flying from terminal 1

scumsthorne

We are now welcoming all passengers to 51st&Green. Lounge access can be booked online for just €35 or is priced at €39 per person on entry. Passengers holding business class tickets will have complimentary access.

Please contact your airline directly if you have a query regarding your entitlements.