YOW4NOW From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 45 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2440 times:
I've read a number of the posts in the thread "Gates of Hell". One common complaint is the hassle of entering the US and having to endure customs lineups and procedures. I suppose we're lucky in many Canadian cities because we have US customs in selected airports. As a frequent traveller into the US, I can say I do appreciate the luxury of leaving YOW and arriving at the Domestic gates in DTW, ORD etc.
My question is, why can't selected airports in Europe (for example) have pre-clearance? Are there rules (treaties such as "open skys") that come into play?I appreciate there would be added costs in some respects, but at the same airlines could pay extra to leave from selected "pre-cleared" gates that would allow them to arrive at Domestic arrivals in the US. Would this also help to alleviate "undesireables" from entering at all?
Come to think of it, are there any countries other than the US that have pre-clearance facilites outside of their own country?
AMS From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1689 posts, RR: 12 Reply 2, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2414 times:
I know that Ireland have these facilities, because Ireland have some sort of special agreements with the U.S. Also the U.S Customs tried to negotiate with LHR, but for some reason this did not work out.
Pilatusguy From Switzerland, joined Jan 2004, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2275 times:
I personally think that US customs should not be anywhere outside the US (maybe with the exception of Canada 'cause of the high frequencies). It's not their territory after all.
Would the US allow foreign customs at their major airports? Probably not....
This is simply another way to show off power to the world.
Last week I lined up for 2 (two) hours at YYZ to clear US customs - the flight got delayed, etc.... how much is this costing the airlines? If customs were at the destination airports it would at least not also affect the airlines....!
Murtagh1108 From Ireland, joined Oct 2004, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2211 times:
Yep, US Pre-Clearance is located At Dublin and Shannon. However, you must clear immigration at your last point of call before entering the US. i.e. If there is a DUB to the USA via SNN flight, pax must disembark in SNN and clear immigration there. If there is a DUB > USA flight nonstop, then immigration is cleared in Dublin!
Fantastic facility to have here in Ireland
EIDW From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 44 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2182 times:
Pre-clearance in Dublin isn't so great over the last month since fingerprinting/photographing of all non-US nationals started. I went through there 3 weeks ago to LAX and it took over 1 hour to queue for the privilage. US-bound flights were leaving about 30mins late because of it.
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15867 posts, RR: 66 Reply 6, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2158 times:
I personally think that US customs should not be anywhere outside the US (maybe with the exception of Canada 'cause of the high frequencies). It's not their territory after all.
Would the US allow foreign customs at their major airports? Probably not....
Why not if it's inside the sterile zone? It's a great idea under certain circumstances. However as you say the US would have to reciprocate.
This is simply another way to show off power to the world.
Not really.
This can be compared to Eurostar and The Eurotunnel Shuttle. Customs for both countries is on the departing end of the trip. Not only does this speed up the trip, but it also ensures that if someone needs to be turned back from the destination they have not even left yet. For those not familiar with this particular border, the UK and France are both in the EU but the UK is not part of the Schengen Zone, thus border controls remains.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2136 times:
Maybe it is just me, though I find the US customs that operate outside of the US tend to be more strict and tough to get through.
Lobster From Germany, joined Oct 2008, 49 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1991 times:
I agree with Luv2fly. I went through US customs in Calgary coming back to MSP. Off all the customs that I have been through, those guys were by far the worst. No smiles, not happy, rude, blunt and burned out. Every other place that I've been too, people have all been nice, smiled at you, and even welcomed you back, or too their country. A far cry for their counter-parts in Calgary.
Legacyins From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 1824 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
It would benefit the traveler in pre clearance was allowed abroad. If you are refused entry to the US, all you do is go home. It is better than making the loooong flight over and then taking the loooong flight back.
EnviroTO From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 1900 times:
It makes sense to put US customs pre-clearance in Canada because there are many flights going to places with little or no customs handling capability. It doesn't make much sense to have US customs wait for a Dash 8 to come in three times a day. It also makes sense due to volume. At YYZ it seems there are almost as many or more flights to the US than to Canada. I'm not sure why they would have that in Ireland where I can't imagine flights going to the smaller US destinations.
ManchesterMAN From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1192 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1852 times:
Heathrow was touted to have such facilities installed / implemented but obviously this sort of operation takes up a lot of space. From what I heard (and by no means fact) BAA were unwilling to give up the space for what would be a non-commercial activity. In other words any space they do have is to be taken up by shops, shops and more shops. US immigration means fewer shops and less money by their thinking. Would be good though. I'd much prefer to be treated like a piece of sh*t before the flight and get it over with than have it all to look forward to.
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