US Immigration delays due Budget cuts

[Boris spatsky]

http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2052727

What is your recent experience at LAX? I will arrive in May at T2 with a 3 hour connection for T5. Normally this would be plenty of time, but after reading this, i am concerned. 2 PNRs, different airlines.

 

[BAM1748]

Been through there twice inbound in the last 6 weeks, you still should be fine but don't dawdle and be at the front of the queue.

m

 

[MEL_Traveller]

USA TODAY

What is your recent experience at LAX? I will arrive in May at T2 with a 3 hour connection for T5. Normally this would be plenty of time, but after reading this, i am concerned. 2 PNRs, different airlines.

hard to tell. I arrived in ORD three weeks ago - waited 2 hours to clear. Only 4 booths open for 'aliens'. (and 4 for US residents but they moved much quicker) I missed my connecting flight (scheduled for 2.5 hours after arrival) but was protected on the next flight due to single ticket.

lots of people missed their flights and there was no priority service for those with tight connections despite people pleading with the immigration supervisor. He just repeated to everyone that 'your next airline will rebook you'.

 

[casanovawa]

Do you think 1 hr 40 mins would be enough to get off an arriving LH flight and then get to whatever terminal South West departs from at LAX??

Also if flying J on LH is there any sort of *A arrival lounge at LAX???

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do you think 1 hr 40 mins would be enough to get off an arriving LH flight and then get to whatever terminal South West departs from at LAX??

now way in the world! (unless the stars and moons align)

 

[Paddy55]

Do you think 1 hr 40 mins would be enough to get off an arriving LH flight and then get to whatever terminal South West departs from at LAX??

Also if flying J on LH is there any sort of *A arrival lounge at LAX???

Not on the best day in LAX would I attempt this

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

There are some security gates on the level above the main security gates - found one in T7 this year almost no wait. Google LAX check in - might find one in T5.
We always allow 3 hour min at LAX - seems to be OK .

 

[cirqueboy]

It's never good to attempt that short a connection at any of the major arrival points in the US. Some are better than others. I usually try for IAH or DFW early in the morning, they are usually really quick. I did IAH at 0500 in 20 mins last week!

I have MIA at 1200 in two weeks and I am dreading it. Even on a good day MIA is pain. I have allowed a 4 hour connection, arriving from South America. Just keeping my fingers crossed my flight arrives between a few Trans Atlantic, then all will be fine. I've been caught with BA and IB arriving before it sucks

 

[drewbles]

Maybe time to make use of Global Entry via FLUX and Privium. Just a quick trip to AMS to get Privium, and lots of money. I always did like queue jumping

 

[cirqueboy]

Maybe time to make use of Global Entry via FLUX and Privium. Just a quick trip to AMS to get Privium, and lots of money. I always did like queue jumping

Actually I tried that drwebles and it didn't work out for me so good. I've spent the best part of the last 2 years in South America and the Global Entry website determined that I was a prime candidate for crossing the border on road via Mexico and wouldn't allow me any other classification. Never mind I don't have a license and have never driven a car and I am Australian......

I went to the Global Entry office at MIA and asked some questions.... That was a bad idea

I'll put up with a 2 hour wait. Thank you USA, even though our gov will allow US citizens smooth entry, it is NOT reciprocal.

 

[BAM1748]

Did Dallas connection in 35 mins two weeks ago, still not sure how though.

Managed Miami transfer inbound from Cancun to LAX in under 2 hours, not bad I thought.

you just don't know, 3 hours sounds good but if its a bad day it could be 5 which did happen to me and I still missed my connection.

I can never work out why people want to jump the queue for their connection, sure, inconvient but everyone there in the same boat and because I have allowed more time that means I should be overtaken in the queue, too bad so sad.

If its tight and they think you can make it gate agents will be waiting when you get off with a priority pass to help you through.

M

 

[greenfrog86]

How does qantas handle this for their passengers going on to JFK? I'm doing the MEL-LAX-JFK flights on QF in May... I think it's a 2.5 hour connection

 

[Grooba]

If it's all booked one a single ticket you'll be fine.

 

[casanovawa]

Ok, well maybe i'll book a later flight to Las Vegas...

Just wasn't sure if LH J got any sort of pass to get through security quicker like at some airports...

Again an arrivals lounge would make a longer transit more comfortable...

 

[drewbles]

Actually I tried that drwebles and it didn't work out for me so good. I've spent the best part of the last 2 years in South America and the Global Entry website determined that I was a prime candidate for crossing the border on road via Mexico and wouldn't allow me any other classification. Never mind I don't have a license and have never driven a car and I am Australian......

I went to the Global Entry office at MIA and asked some questions.... That was a bad idea

I'll put up with a 2 hour wait. Thank you USA, even though our gov will allow US citizens smooth entry, it is NOT reciprocal.

I have a Dutch Passport, so I am eligible for Privium which has reciprocal access to Global Entry via FLUX. I just have to get to AMS to actually get the Privium card (they require a retina scan) so it's not so simple, but I'll get to it sometime in the next year (Privium cards are valid for 10 years).

 

[greenfrog86]

If it's all booked one a single ticket you'll be fine.

Yep, understand this but the QF flight if on their metal and direct LAX-JFK so not like there's another flight like this an hour later...

Just wondered whether they had any special arrangements etc.

Just seems like they must think it works most of the time, otherwise half the seats booked would always need to be rebooked onto AA, leading to a poor customer experience almost all the time unless they make this connection work.

 

[BAM1748]

How does qantas handle this for their passengers going on to JFK? I'm doing the MEL-LAX-JFK flights on QF in May... I think it's a 2.5 hour connection

They will ask you to make yourself known to the waiting agent when you get off. They'll hold the second flight while people go through immigration, grab your bags and up stairs to the next check in counter. You'll be looked after.

It's only poor sods like me flying Alaska Akrlines to Idaho who don't get the fast treatment. :shock:

Matt

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'll put up with a 2 hour wait. Thank you USA, even though our gov will allow US citizens smooth entry, it is NOT reciprocal.

I appreciate allowing US citizens with an appropriate passport to use smart gate saves on immigration officer resources, and that's good for the tax payer. BUT, the other side of me thinks we should have held off until the US allowed similar arrangements for Australians.

The immigration world is full of tit-for-tat (especially visa requirements and visa fees etc) - so why not maintain that here? We stand in line like complete idiots in the US, sometimes for hours, while our government allows US citizens to breeze through. Damn the cost saving I say!!

 

[openseat]

I appreciate allowing US citizens with an appropriate passport to use smart gate saves on immigration officer resources, and that's good for the tax payer. BUT, the other side of me thinks we should have held off until the US allowed similar arrangements for Australians.

The immigration world is full of tit-for-tat (especially visa requirements and visa fees etc) - so why not maintain that here? We stand in line like complete idiots in the US, sometimes for hours, while our government allows US citizens to breeze through. Damn the cost saving I say!!

Part of granting US citizens with GE access to SmartGate was to have the reverse in place. 4 May 2012 - Australia and United States working together on homeland security

I suspect with the latest misfortune in Boston that progression might be slowed.

Interestingly Smart Gate features on the front page of the GE website (Global Entry).

 

[alanzeino]

Flew D16 on VA codeshare (VA6552) two months ago into LAX; the combination of a predominately American–laden flight and its extremely early arrival into LAX (~6:30AM) meant that I cleared customs in about five minutes as the foreign nationals queue was almost empty. Clearing baggage claim took about twenty minutes as there were almost no other flights into the terminal at that time, and I was at the Virgin America check–in desk after forty minutes.

So in short, if you're an Australian arriving into a mostly empty terminal on a Delta flight you might clear pretty quickly.