US Immigration delays due Budget cuts

[blueflamenco]

My recent experience after arriving into LAX on VA1 was horrendous. It was well over two hours getting through immigration. We were continually standing in makeshift holding pens before making it to the main immigration hall. Yuck.

I had no problems with priority security on my connection. The regular lines were again ridiculous but I was able to zip through.

Getting through Dallas has seriously gone downhill in the past year but it's nothing compared to this last experience in LAX. I was considering flying more with VA but the convenience of going straight to Dallas when heading anywhere in the midwest or east coast can't be overlooked.

 

[visitant]

I got through in about an hour 3 weeks ago (QF93).

This compared favourably to the 2 hour wait to clear customs in Melbourne on my return (QF94). They were moving Australian citizens to the foreigners' queue to try to speed things up. Maybe there are budget cuts here too!

 

[SueD]

I am flying Brisbane to New York (changing QF flights in LA on the way there and back) - not sure if to start worrying I may miss connections?? (Both times I have only 2 hours in LA)

 

[drsmithy]

Can't speak for entering via LAX (departing last week was quick & painless), but about a week and a half ago I spent ~1.5-2 hrs getting through YUL - we (along with a bunch of others) were actually pulled out of the pre-security line and accelerated through when they started calling for people leaving on flights at 0735, at around 0630. Even then, we literally walked straight from immigration/customs to the gate, and onto the plane. Can't remember exactly what time we arrived at the airport, but it would have been 0530ish.

 

[TheFergus]

JFK is a similar nightmare. 2.5hr queue last week and most of that, me thinks, because they haven't yet thought of a visual aid to non english speakers of how to place one's hands/fingers on the fingerprint machine - comedy to watch the Customs guy explain it ad-nauseum to almost every person, but surprising. Or dumb. Or both.

Hadn't seen crowds like that since Sydney 2000.

 

[kempvet]

Last 2 times I went through the US residents/citizens line, as far as I know, these CBP officers are set up to process anyone who arrives at their booths, they seem to have no idea who is directed to these lines, just told them that one of the helpers started directing non US citizens to this line due to a back log at the other alien booths. Just OT our AA LHR-LAX flight held the passengers on the plane for 25 minutes yesterday waiting for customs to permit the passengers to travel underground from T4 to TBIT due to the back log at TBIT

 

[kempvet]

I am flying Brisbane to New York (changing QF flights in LA on the way there and back) - not sure if to start worrying I may miss connections?? (Both times I have only 2 hours in LA)

If your bookings are on the one ticket, you have no problems, but if connecting at LAX involves different tickets, then there could be an issue.

 

[cirqueboy]

Last 2 times I went through the US residents/citizens line

Very good tip and one I use all the time. +1 is a Canadian Citizen. If they ever ask (which is once in 3 years), we just say we were guided to the line. To CBP person at the desk we are just another body of several hundred coming through.

 

[kempvet]

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.

Exactly the same with QF, if you want to clear customs more easily take the earlier flight, not QF11, normally when QF11 arrives, so do many of the flights overnight from Asia

 

[cirqueboy]

about a week and a half ago I spent ~1.5-2 hrs getting through YUL

YUL is always a drag. It takes 2hrs+ no matter what time of day it is. So many booths and so little staff! Global Entry is always empty and I really wish the US & Aus Gov. would wort this reciprocal thing out. I do YUL around 20+ times per year and I'm starting to be a bit jack of it.

 

[SueD]

No, on one ticket. Thank you

 

[serfty]

I'll see how I go Saturday - I have 3:40 between LAX arrival and departure.

 

[SueD]

Thank you kempvet - I will remember that handy tip

 

[SueD]

Hi serfty - if this was Facebook I would click "Like"!!

 

[RollyB]

On a similar theme, a bit of advice required please. I am in a group of four arriving QF11 am into LAX in early Aug. We connect with Alaska Airlines on a mid afternoon flight to YVR. No problems timewise there I gather, but as QF and AS are partners are we still then obliged to clear US customs on arrival at LAX or can we just head to the transit lounge for a few hours and clear Canadian Customs when we arrive there? We are joining a cruise ship in Vancouver to Alaska and will remain in US territory from thence onward incl flight back to LAX later.

 

[drewbles]

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.

Unless you're a little late. Then you've got the DL flight from SYD, the VA flight and another DL flight (from somewhere in Asia, I believe). That arrivals hall is a joke at the best of the times. Add 3 x fully loaded 777's and it's a rugby scrum. The line to exit last time I was there snaked so far it was looping around and around. Then, the bags were being offloaded and placed against the wall to get more on the two already overcrowded carousels. Hopefully VA are working towards getting better arrival facilities there!

 

[jmillard]

Has anyone used the ABTC card (APEC Travel Card) through LAX?
The US has not signed on fully to the scheme, but I believe there is a "fast track" at US International Airports

 

[kempvet]

On a similar theme, a bit of advice required please. I am in a group of four arriving QF11 am into LAX in early Aug. We connect with Alaska Airlines on a mid afternoon flight to YVR. No problems timewise there I gather, but as QF and AS are partners are we still then obliged to clear US customs on arrival at LAX or can we just head to the transit lounge for a few hours and clear Canadian Customs when we arrive there? We are joining a cruise ship in Vancouver to Alaska and will remain in US territory from thence onward incl flight back to LAX later.

In my experience you will have to clear customs, especially as you have to change terminals, FYI yesterday if flew LHR-LAX-SYD with a 5 hour stop at LAX and although arriving at the TBIT customs hall and leaving from TBIT there was no way to transfer airside other than going though customs.

 

[serfty]

Has anyone used the ABTC card (APEC Travel Card) through LAX?
The US has not signed on fully to the scheme, but I believe there is a "fast track" at US International Airports

I have seen reference to it being used - I believe the diplomatic or crew lanes are to be used, although results seem variable.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-travel-card-express-5653-12.html#post134381

 

[RollyB]

In my experience you will have to clear customs, especially as you have to change terminals, FYI yesterday if flew LHR-LAX-SYD with a 5 hour stop at LAX and although arriving at the TBIT customs hall and leaving from TBIT there was no way to transfer airside other than going though customs.

Thanks kempvet, I thought as much. Unfortunately I have an 83yo with me who will prob not be able to stand in the immigration queue for the sort of possible times members are quoting but I suppose we will find a wheelchair or something for him?