Ireland is the only country in Europe that has a U.S. Preclearance facility (meaning you pass through U.S. immigration before the flight, then arrive in the U.S. as if it were a domestic flight) and I found the process odd, though not unpleasant.
The Surprisingly Odd Experience Of U.S. Preclearance In Dublin
Dublin designates a lower-level area in Terminal 2 as its departure zone for U.S.-bound flights. Before reaching that area, passengers must pass through U.S. immigration and customs, just as if they were arriving in the U.S. from an international port of entry. This “Preclarance” program is available in Aruba, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, and Abu Dhabi.
The advantage of this is that when you arrive in the USA, you can immediately exit or proceed to baggage claim with no further checks.
Many years ago, I flew from Dublin to Boston in Aer Lingus Business Class and went through U.S. Preclearance in Dublin (DUB), but I didn’t remember what struck me as a very odd process. I know that One Mile At A Time recently experienced the same thing, and I, too, found it so strange.
I went downstairs, where your boarding pass and passport are initially checked. From there, you are either directed to a security checkpoint or you can bypass it and proceed directly to the immigration counters. I was coming from London and had been screened earlier in the day at London Heathrow (LHR).
An airport agent directed me to the security screening, where my bags were checked (my laptop had to be pulled out), but I was not…I did not have to go through a metal detector or body scanner.
My guess is that all contenting passengers had to go through this while those originating in Dublin did not, but that’s just a guess. I don’t think there is an airport in the world with more stringent security than London Heathrow, but the process itself was painless and I went through at a point in the late afternoon that was quiet, so there was no line or wait.
After gathering my things, I proceeded to the far right side of the immigration area, where I used a Global Entry kiosk and was soon on my way into the departure area.
CONCLUSION
I’m rather agnostic about Preclearance since Global Entry makes arriving in the U.S. so easy, no matter the airport. In Dublin, you can expect to sacn your bags for a second time if connecting from another flight, though you will not have to go through a full security check for a second time before flying to the USA. If memory serves me correctly, that is unique to Ireland among such Preclearance facilities.
I flew out of Shannon a decade ago – originating, not connecting – and remember clearing regular security, upon entering the US preclearence area there was a security belt where you had to take your shoes off and rescan your carry-ons, but no personal metal dedectors (or other type of scanners).
A hidden benefit of US preclearance is that for many airports it cuts off 30-60 minutes of the MCT, allowing the travel day to be shorter. The MCT does not account for having Global Entry or not checking a bag.
Going through security twice in DUB is annoying.
It’s more work than arriving at a proper immigration check point in the US especially if you have global entry.
Yup, and it’s basically the same, nearly everywhere there’s Preclearance. Aruba (AUA) makes you wait out in the sun/rain, then multiple checkpoints, exit/entry immigration, etc. It’s a chore. I’d rather just do Global upon arrival. At least Toronto Pearson (YYZ) only has one security, but, still, it could be better (lines get super long at rush-hours).
“since Global Entry makes arriving in the U.S. so easy, no matter the airport.” Mhm. Right on, brutha.
LHR really isn’t that bad anymore, though. They’ve actually innovated. I agree that once upon a time they were the most stringent.
Honestly, German airports seems the most stringent to me. Also CDG depending on the terminal. Many Caribbean airports, namely SKB, can be pretty insane in enforcing the rules to the letter.
At least those new machines in LHR do not require stuff to be removed from bags, but what I love about German airports is that you do not have to go through security when connecting, unlike any flight connection in the UK.
Matt in Germany and all over Europe: connecting from most EU destinations, USA, Canada and sometimes Israel to any destination does not require further security checks.
When connecting in Europe from any other destination to whatever destination security checks will be mandatory.
Airports across the Schengen Area only screen people at the point of first departure as a rule, it’s not unique to Germany. The UK has never been in the Schengen Area and so was never part of that arrangement.
If you arrive in Germany from outside the Schengen Area, with a few exceptions like SIN and a few more places, you will be screened again particularly at FRA, slightly less so at MUC but then because security at German airports is controled by the Lande it’s in, rules do differ a bit between places. For whatever reason FRA also always seem to screen people who arrive on remote stands and have a bus to the terminal.
If you arrive fromm the US in Germany, you are not re-screened ahead of your Schengen connection.
In Paris, you are. Amsterdam/Copenhagen/Brussels/Vienna, you’re not. UK, always.
The US do not meet the overall Schengen standard for security but Germany grants an exception which others don’t. The UK doesn’t grant any exceptions at all – even for Tel-Aviv and nor do many other places because TLV didn’t comply with the liquids restrictions for many years .
“I don’t think there is an airport in the world with more stringent security than London Heathrow,”
Never been to India?
Leaving New Delhi last year, every piece of electronic or electronic related item must be removed and separated in multiple bins. This includes cables, and things as small as travel mice.
I’ve also found it completely inconsistent. Sometimes, they want you to remove every possible electronic device and sort them in separate bins as you described. Other times, it’s laptops and phones only and they don’t care about the other stuff. And of course, you get loudly barked at if you don’t guess the right procedure of the day the first time.
It has been a few years, but I’m returning next year!
Precleance sometimes has a major advantage if connecting in the US … I’m thinking of ORD where international arrivals are routed to Terminal 5 and after clearing immigration at O’hare you must claim and recheck bags and then navigate to Terminal 1, 2, or 3 via train. Takes quite a bit of time even with Global Entry.
CBP have reviewed the DUB screening process and deemed it adequate, hence DUB originating pax do not get a second screen at pre-clearance. They have not done the same for LHR or any other airports where they do not have a presence
The US has begun to recognize LHR security as part of the One Stop Security program.
Since my home airport has no international flights outside North America, I have to do customs/passport at a US hub, then go through TSA to board my flight home. There’s always a danger that bottlenecks will occur, though I’ve never missed the flight home. For me, knowing that there will be none of that makes pre-clearance spectacular. I’m looking foward to this on my flight home from DUB this summer. I will arrive at the airport at the same (yes, early) time as I would without pre-clearance. It’s a winner in my mind. There was talk of AMS getting it. But pre-clearance and an expansion of allowing some pax to directly enter the terminal after some international flights is a great improvement.
Pre-clearance in DUB let’s you have the US-style, shouting TSA theater but with an Irish accent.
“I don’t think there is an airport in the world with more stringent security than London Heathrow”.
Tel Aviv, perhaps?
Oh goodness, I walked right into that one. Of course, you’re correct.
Preclearance is a boon for those with an onward domestic connection in the US, especially if you check bags. Even if you have Global Entry, you have to deal with a potential long walk from the arrival gate to the customs facility, waiting for your bags, rechecking your bags, going through security again, and getting to your connecting gate (often in a different terminal/concourse than the customs facility) instead of going straight to your connecting gate with Preclearance.
Sure if your US entry airport is your final destination, you have GE, and you don’t check any luggage, Preclearance probably adds an unnecessary delay and complication, but I’ve never dealt with a Preclearance situation that added enough time to the departure process to make me get to the airport earlier or that could possibly be more annoying than the time it saves if you are connecting from an international to domestic flight in the US.