Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
#16
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
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Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
I did just that in April last year. Went in through Gatwick on my US passport (just the usual questions asked) then renewed UK passport while there, same day in London for 135 UKP, the equivalent of $211 at the time which was slightly cheaper than doing it from here. No problems at all.
#17
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
I have reentered at O'Hare as a permanent resident, along with my American wife. They do ask questions in that line also, or at least they did at O'Hare. Maybe not as many as they do visitors but if I think of it, I think I cleared immigration just as quickly as a visitor the first time in than I did coming back from Toronto as a resident.
I can certainly see if maybe four or five busy international flights arrive at once (that could be anything up to 1,000 people getting off the planes at the same time) how one might have a long wait, even in the returning citizens line.
O'Hare sort of sucks in general though, it always seems really disorganised there when I go. I much prefer Mitchell (Milwaukee) but they only do domestic flights and minimal international, Canada and Mexico mostly.
I can certainly see if maybe four or five busy international flights arrive at once (that could be anything up to 1,000 people getting off the planes at the same time) how one might have a long wait, even in the returning citizens line.
O'Hare sort of sucks in general though, it always seems really disorganised there when I go. I much prefer Mitchell (Milwaukee) but they only do domestic flights and minimal international, Canada and Mexico mostly.
Horrible horrible airport, I refuse to use..
#19
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Joined: Jan 2012
Location: London
Posts: 50
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
Last time I went to Dallas from the UK my USC friend breezed through in about 15 minutes. There were about 40 americans on our flight and they had about 15 officers working the gates.
The everywhere else line had 5 officers. I stood in line for 2 and a quarter hours.
My friend rang me had time to travel home in a taxi pick up some beer and his car to pick me up by the time I had my bags!
Thats my worst experience and I've had secondary screening at Dallas / Fort Worth.
The everywhere else line had 5 officers. I stood in line for 2 and a quarter hours.
My friend rang me had time to travel home in a taxi pick up some beer and his car to pick me up by the time I had my bags!
Thats my worst experience and I've had secondary screening at Dallas / Fort Worth.
#20
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
Last time I went to Dallas from the UK my USC friend breezed through in about 15 minutes. There were about 40 americans on our flight and they had about 15 officers working the gates.
The everywhere else line had 5 officers. I stood in line for 2 and a quarter hours.
My friend rang me had time to travel home in a taxi pick up some beer and his car to pick me up by the time I had my bags!
Thats my worst experience and I've had secondary screening at Dallas / Fort Worth.
The everywhere else line had 5 officers. I stood in line for 2 and a quarter hours.
My friend rang me had time to travel home in a taxi pick up some beer and his car to pick me up by the time I had my bags!
Thats my worst experience and I've had secondary screening at Dallas / Fort Worth.
#21
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Joined: Jan 2012
Location: London
Posts: 50
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
Most times it has been painful. First time I travelled along I got secondary screening and even with that it only took 35 minutes. Luckily I stay with friends in Southlake so not far at all.
Where abouts are you moving?
#22
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
I've been several times as I was lucky enough to go on a music exchange with school 9 years ago. I love that part of the world.
Most times it has been painful. First time I travelled along I got secondary screening and even with that it only took 35 minutes. Luckily I stay with friends in Southlake so not far at all.
Where abouts are you moving?
Most times it has been painful. First time I travelled along I got secondary screening and even with that it only took 35 minutes. Luckily I stay with friends in Southlake so not far at all.
Where abouts are you moving?
#23
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
O'hare sucks, and it really sucks to work there. I spent 10 horrible months there working, and our flight would land, call us they were on the ground, and 40 minutes later show up at the gate, and when your turn time is only scheduled for 55 minutes, well then constant delays on departing flights.
Horrible horrible airport, I refuse to use..
Horrible horrible airport, I refuse to use..
MKE is a much more pleasant experience, I flew into Canada from there, the whole day seemed far more relaxed than it would have been at O'Hare.
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
We went through pre-clearance yesterday in Dublin (went through airport security twice.) Our connecting flight was in Chicago through O'Hare. They really need to get their act together! You arrive in terminal 5 and then have to take the transport to your next flight, and of course you have to go through security again! We went through security three times yesterday! I would have really blown a gasket if we hadn't went through immigration in Dublin and had to wait 2 hours in Chicago! Cross that airport off my list of ones I'll go through again!
#25
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
We went through pre-clearance yesterday in Dublin (went through airport security twice.) Our connecting flight was in Chicago through O'Hare. They really need to get their act together! You arrive in terminal 5 and then have to take the transport to your next flight, and of course you have to go through security again! We went through security three times yesterday! I would have really blown a gasket if we hadn't went through immigration in Dublin and had to wait 2 hours in Chicago! Cross that airport off my list of ones I'll go through again!
#26
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
Doing the Dublin route does sort of limit your options as far as airlines and airports to fly through. That pretty much leaves you with New York but they may be better than O'Hare to fly through. Actually, I'd wager Baghdad airport at the height of the Gulf War was a better experience than O'Hare.
#27
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Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
We flew Aer Lingus and they have routes all over North America. They've just started a route to Toronto and to San Francisco. Not that I'm a huge Aer Lingus fan or anything, but they make getting from Point A to Point B easy enough. However, they use United when you book with them and they have to get you to Point A before you can get to Point B. United is (in my opinion) a pretty bad option. We got on a United flight in Chicago yesterday (pretty warm and toasty there) that had very limited air conditioning and the whole plane smelled like a toilet! I dubbed it the Flying Turd! Only when we finally took off and were up in the air a bit did the smell go away and it got cooler. The whole travel experience coming back home is hard anyway... I'm beginning to think I need to start saving up for Business Class for our next trip.
I hadn't realised that they'd added the SFO route, I know they had previously removed one from LAX.
It was pretty warm here yesterday. Warmer today and warmer still tomorrow. You got in/out on the right day
#28
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
My mum flies with them when she visits, she seems to like them. She actually flew business class on her last trip this year - I think she'd probably recommend it.
I hadn't realised that they'd added the SFO route, I know they had previously removed one from LAX.
It was pretty warm here yesterday. Warmer today and warmer still tomorrow. You got in/out on the right day
I hadn't realised that they'd added the SFO route, I know they had previously removed one from LAX.
It was pretty warm here yesterday. Warmer today and warmer still tomorrow. You got in/out on the right day
We got to spend a couple of days in Dublin this time. Lots of walking and of course the usual touristy stuff, but quite interesting as well. We didn't stay in Dublin though, because that would have been way too easy.
#29
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
Imagine making a holiday 'easy' - who'd do that, eh?
#30
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Re: Automated system means U.S Citizens now clear customs at Ohare in 5 minutes.
People will always prefer airports that can better handle passenger traffic. But O'Hare handles a lot more passengers than Milwaukee. Having said that, O'Hare does not seem to be as well run as it could be.
Charlotte is my favorite US airport. It is the 8th busiest but still in the top 5 for on-time departures. Making connections there is also very easy.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel...rough/2416633/
Charlotte is my favorite US airport. It is the 8th busiest but still in the top 5 for on-time departures. Making connections there is also very easy.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel...rough/2416633/