Transit through US a good idea or not?

[robolb]

Just looking at some Classic Reward seats to get from Sydney to Madrid next year.
I would normally go via Dubai but seats are looking hard to get.

Plenty of seats via Dallas Fort Worth though.

Just not keen about transiting through the US.
My recent research seems to indicate that even through we are only transiting, we still need to go through US immigration etc.
Not overly keen to do that.

Any thoughts / experiences?

Interesting that the points required via Dallas are 10,000 less that via Dubai, for an economy seat.
Are they trying to fill seats on US sectors?

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes, you must clear US immigration and customs, unless you’re on one of the selected routes where customs is expedited. There’s no such thing as transiting airside when going via the United States.

You’ll need an ESTA, if you are eligible. If you visited one of the naughty countries, then you’ll have to get a Visa and that can take months and months.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just looking at some Classic Reward seats to get from Sydney to Madrid next year.
I would normally go via Dubai but seats are looking hard to get.

Plenty of seats via Dallas Fort Worth though.

Just not keen about transiting through the US.
My recent research seems to indicate that even through we are only transiting, we still need to go through US immigration etc.
Not overly keen to do that.

Any thoughts / experiences?

Interesting that the points required via Dallas are 10,000 less that via Dubai, for an economy seat.
Are they trying to fill seats on US sectors?

Personally, I would not given the shenanigans of US customs but YMMV. Maybe try different dates or a split into two flights with a night in DXB?

 

[clifford]

I wouln't do it either, even though I'm a United 2 million miler.

Not worth the potential hassle or your peace of mind, even though it probably wouldn't end up as being anything more than just rather lengthy and annoying. But you know the risks...

 

[Cloud9]

Wouldn't touch the US until AT LEAST 2029, personally.

And even then? I reckon I'd only fly over to go to Canada on a Chinese carrier.

 

[robolb]

Thanks for the feedback. I really don't want to go near the US so will find other routes and / or stop overs to get there.

 

[Denali]

With the shenanigans going on, where some are being refused entry for their social media or thought police, I wonder what are the long term affects after the current President is gone. Will these people be banned from re-entering for many years or that would be quashed.

For the OP, Im avoiding the US because I know my resting cough face will speak volumes on arrival and dont want to risk a multiple year ban for after 2029

 

[levelnine]

Putting aside the present concerns about the US, it is longer to go to MAD via DFW than DXB (or other Asian/Middle Eastern ports). If I were in economy I'd be wanting to make my time on the plane as short as possible.

 

[dajop]

Haven’t experienced it myself but there are a number of reports by longstanding AFFers that despite having to clear the border DFW is one of the easier places to transit in the US and unlike most ports you can have your bags checked through to other international destinations without having to collect them and drop them off again.

Personally I don’t buy into all the concerns around US immigration - as long as you are not planning to stay and you haven’t been involved in protests or social media activity around a certain conflict (not the Ukraine one) I don’t think there’s a lot to worry about.

 

[DC3]

… Im avoiding the US because I know my resting cough face will speak volumes on arrival and dont want to risk a multiple year ban for after 2029

Tell her to keep her mouth shut, or else you will travel on your own.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Haven’t experienced it myself but there are a number of reports by longstanding AFFers that despite having to clear the border DFW is one of the easier places to transit in the US and unlike most ports you can have your bags checked through to other international destinations without having to collect them and drop them off again.

Personally I don’t buy into all the concerns around US immigration - as long as you are not planning to stay and you haven’t been involved in protests or social media activity around a certain conflict (not the Ukraine one) I don’t think there’s a lot to worry about.

The guy that was refused entry because he flew to the US via Hong Kong? Which - allegedly - was ‘suspicious’ because they could have flown non-stop.

It seems a bit random for my liking.

I don’t have any social media accounts. That’s possibly slightly unusual? I can just see suspicions that I'm trying to hide something or ‘must have them’ but haven’t declared them.

 

[Human]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there have been no reports of people being randomly refused entry since about late March? And no reports of people who are merely transiting being refused entry at all?

I would have no qualms whatsoever about transiting through the USA if the price is right.

 

[TheInsider]

Honestly if you are going through DFW and if you can get it on one ticket it's just customs and no baggage pickup needed.

 

[SYD]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there have been no reports of people being randomly refused entry since about late March? And no reports of people who are merely transiting being refused entry at all?

I would have no qualms whatsoever about transiting through the USA if the price is right.

Yep, apart from being the long way around, wouldn’t hesitate.

I’ve been pondering the various USA J fares via SE Asia/ME and parking those in the “unless I’m desperate” bucket.

For @robolb have you looked at points to CGK? Ideally onward CR flights would be ideal but there ought to be super cheap $$$ fares with QR (and others) to MAD. Yes, it might require a stopover (eVOA but very cheap airport hotels).

 

[TheRealTMA]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there have been no reports of people being randomly refused entry since about late March? And no reports of people who are merely transiting being refused entry at all?

I would have no qualms whatsoever about transiting through the USA if the price is right.

There are reports of transit pxs joining cruises being refused estas.