Hello All!
I am flying in on LH 440 on Tuesday (16th Dec). It's been almost 14 years since I flew International into IAH.
My connecting time is 1hr 30m and I'm seated in 60C. How are my chances of making the connection? How bad is IAH Customs in Terminal D?
I will be using the US Citizens line at immigration.
[Edited 2014-12-14 03:03:48]
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- FriscoHeavy
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RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
Hi, I arrived on the same flight and used the non US line.we had an hour delay or so and there was no lane at all (we debarked among the first ones). We were lucky though as right after us a AF 77W docked and the area got pretty crowded.
I guess you should be fine. I found the recheck of the bag in IAH pretty effecient, as you just drop it on a belt after you passed immigration and they have a dedicated security check for transfer passengers. Much better thani i.e. in EWR where you need to go landside, take a train from B to C and clear general security there.
However IAH is pretty big,. If you are connecting to a regional plane departing in A or B you need to add a few minutes as you will need to take the terminal train. C and E is pretty close from D though and walkable.
I guess you should be fine. I found the recheck of the bag in IAH pretty effecient, as you just drop it on a belt after you passed immigration and they have a dedicated security check for transfer passengers. Much better thani i.e. in EWR where you need to go landside, take a train from B to C and clear general security there.
However IAH is pretty big,. If you are connecting to a regional plane departing in A or B you need to add a few minutes as you will need to take the terminal train. C and E is pretty close from D though and walkable.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
Only an hour and a half? Fat chance. Not only is immigration long, but clearing TSA can be dicey as well. Honestly, I give you a 25% chance of making it if your flight is in Terminal B or A, 35% for Terminal C, and 40% for E.
God speed and good luck!
God speed and good luck!
When wasn't America great?
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting LOWS (Thread starter): My connecting time is 1hr 30m and I'm seated in 60C. How are my chances of making the connection? How bad is IAH Customs in Terminal D? |
I´m not sure at what time does that flight arrive, but if it arrives at rush hour you may not cut it. IAH is among the best places in the US to connect arriving internationally, officers are courteous and customs is pretty relaxed. The problem is the amount of people during peak hrs. At those times, 1:30hr is below he minimum I would consider for a connection. At any other time, IAH is great.
Hope you make it.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting AR385 (Reply 4): I´m not sure at what time does that flight arrive, but if it arrives at rush hour you may not cut it. IAH is among the best places in the US to connect arriving internationally, officers are courteous and customs is pretty relaxed. The problem is the amount of people during peak hrs |
LH 440 arrives at 2pm. Apparently it is delayed today because it has to fly around Belgium (general strike).#
What times do you consider peak?
My connection is in C, and there are three more flights after mine (to OKC).
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting LOWS (Reply 5): What times do you consider peak? |
Most of the European arrivals arrive within an hour-and-a-half yo two hours of each other. So from around 12:30-2:00pm. Couple that with UA Intl traffic arriving around the clock from 10am to 8pm, and you have some pretty long lines. If you have Global Entry, its not problem; the longest part of having GE is just waiting for your bag.
When wasn't America great?
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting LOWS (Reply 5): LH 440 arrives at 2pm. Apparently it is delayed today because it has to fly around Belgium (general strike).# |
That´s peak. If you are in 60C you should consider asking the FA to let you move as forward as possible before landing so you can bolt out among the first. Although LH holds everybody for the F passengers to deplane first. Other than that, there´s not much you can do. If the lines are huge sometimes some ICE agents walk the line, try and tell them of your situation and they may let you move forward. Sometimes there are also UA employees. Try them too.
Good luck.
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- B747forever
- Posts: 13862
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RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting AR385 (Reply 8): If you are in 60C you should consider asking the FA to let you move as forward as possible before landing so you can bolt out among the first. |
60C is as close to the exit he can be.
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Lufthansa/Lufthansa_Airbus_A380.php
Work Hard, Fly Right
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting LOWS (Thread starter): How bad is IAH Customs in Terminal D? I will be using the US Citizens line at immigration. |
I've only entered the USA at IAH once, a few months ago on a CA flight but as a non-US resident. I was in the first row of Y to get off as quick as possible. When we reached the immigration hall, it was basically empty and there were 4 empty counters to pick from - all of the others just had one or two pax at each! I couldn't believe it as I was prepared for a 2hr plus marathon... I guess our flight just hit the jackpot when it came to arrival timing. The bags took 20 mins to arrive though and then another 5 mins in the final queue before exiting. I guess from the time we stepped off the plane until the time we were curbside was about 40mins total - as that was with zero queus at immigration. I have read IAH terminal D can take hours if your plane arrives at the wrong time...
[Edited 2014-12-15 16:33:04]
[Edited 2014-12-15 16:34:51]
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RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting B747forever (Reply 9): 60C is as close to the exit he can be |
No. Row 50 is the closest he can be. LH uses the L1 door in IAH.
When wasn't America great?
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting 777Jet (Reply 10): |
CA has a great arrival time into IAH. It is after the European rush, but before the TK and ME rush. Like I said earlier, the only thing you'd have to worry about is the UA rush. (I think the north side of the FIS building is for UA arrivals and US residents/citizens and the south side is for all foreign flag non-US/Canada customers.
When wasn't America great?
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
Just a brief update:
We got in a few minutes late, but the bag delivery was atrocious (my bag arrived at 14:45). I was also selected by a lovely little beagle for an additional customs inspection. They took a small packet of Landjäger
By the time I got to the TSA check, it was a total mess. At about 15:40, I finally cleared the checkpoint and made it to the Train. But, this is where something strange happened:
In the train, a United Pilot asked me how I was doing, what I was up to, where I was going. We had a really pleasant, if short conversation. And at the end, he said "thanks for flying with us today!"
In fact, every interaction I had with UA crew on Tuesday was really quite pleasant. I was totally shocked. The customer service people were really helpful.
I ended up on the UA A320 at 5.50pm, the UAx at 3:30 that I was booked on originally, was delayed almost two hours.
So, in closing, great job, United. I'm impressed.
We got in a few minutes late, but the bag delivery was atrocious (my bag arrived at 14:45). I was also selected by a lovely little beagle for an additional customs inspection. They took a small packet of Landjäger
By the time I got to the TSA check, it was a total mess. At about 15:40, I finally cleared the checkpoint and made it to the Train. But, this is where something strange happened:
In the train, a United Pilot asked me how I was doing, what I was up to, where I was going. We had a really pleasant, if short conversation. And at the end, he said "thanks for flying with us today!"
In fact, every interaction I had with UA crew on Tuesday was really quite pleasant. I was totally shocked. The customer service people were really helpful.
I ended up on the UA A320 at 5.50pm, the UAx at 3:30 that I was booked on originally, was delayed almost two hours.
So, in closing, great job, United. I'm impressed.
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- B747forever
- Posts: 13862
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RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting TWA772LR (Reply 11): No. Row 50 is the closest he can be. LH uses the L1 door in IAH. |
So they dont have those 3 jetway gates at IAH?
Work Hard, Fly Right
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting LOWS (Reply 13): In the train, a United Pilot asked me how I was doing, what I was up to, where I was going. We had a really pleasant, if short conversation. |
| Quoting LOWS (Reply 13): And at the end, he said "thanks for flying with us today!" |
| Quoting LOWS (Reply 13): So, in closing, great job, United. I'm impressed. |
Great to hear!
How cool would it have been if the pilot said: "thanks for flying the friendly skies"
DC10-10/30,MD82/88/90, 717,727,732/3/4/5/7/8/9ER,742/4,752/3,763/ER,772/E/L/3/W,788/9, 306,320,321,332/3,346,359,388
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting 777Jet (Reply 15): How cool would it have been if the pilot said: "thanks for flying the friendly skies" |
I think the FAs on IAH-OKC said it about 50 times...
| Quoting B747forever (Reply 14): So they dont have those 3 jetway gates at IAH? |
I guess not.
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting B747forever (Reply 14): So they dont have those 3 jetway gates at IAH? |
Nope. The new A380 gate D9 only has one bridge for each deck also.
| Quoting LOWS (Reply 13): So, in closing, great job, United. I'm impressed |
Its because you were in Houston, we are nice unlike our neighbors up I-45.
But I'm glad you had a good experience.
When wasn't America great?
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
The thoughts and opinions shared under this username are mine and are not influenced by my employer.
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- B747forever
- Posts: 13862
- Joined:
RE: IAH Customs/Immigration
| Quoting TWA772LR (Reply 17): Nope. The new A380 gate D9 only has one bridge for each deck also. |
Got it, thanks.
Work Hard, Fly Right
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