Bill_S

It's good that you had a smooth experience. If an Air India 747 had landed 10 minutes before your aircraft, it would have been a different story.

dzial67

Thanks everyone

The Horticulturalist

True enough, though that goes for any airport really. We always leave at least two hours between flights. I suspect it was quicker because the vast majority of people were entering Canada and not connecting to the US.

meauxna

Happy travels!
Here's some POE tips that won't directly apply to the PFI experience but should be handy anyway: Arriving In America: Navigating the POE

joto

Try and avoid going through Toronto at all costs. I had a horrible experience there a few years ago. Air Canada plane from LHR was 1 hr late taking off, so it was late getting in to Toronto and I had to transfer to Boston. The 2 1/2 hour lay-over should have been adequate but the immigration line was snaking round the airport and going slower than a snail. Missed the connection and had to stay in a horrible (airline chosen) hovel hotel overnight. Go through Chicago if you can.

TracyTN

Didn't take hubby long at all, either, when he came home via YYZ after a visit last year. The only thing that he didn't like is since he had cleared the US immi checkpoint and customs, he could not go outside for a ciggy.

We prefer Chicago too, but as someone mentioned, any airport can have a long wait for immi depending on the volume of intl. flights coming in at the same time. Hubby wants to try DFW next time (he's only gone through there flying out).

RoadWarriorFromLP

I'm not sure if they do it anymore, but I do recall once clearing US customs at Gatwick. But that was a while ago, and since that's in Surrey, maybe that doesn't count...

ian-mstm

I once had a horrible experience at a McDonald's restaurant a few years ago. I suggest everyone avoid McDonald's at all costs for no other reason than because I had a horrible experience there a few years ago.

Ian

JAJ

There has never been US preclearance in the United Kingdom.

dzial67

I've had the same experience in Chicago - can happen anywhere. I am guessing but I suspect the level of traffic through Toronto is less so the risk is probably smaller too.

teresa1003

Yes they do, we renewed our visas in toronto, and cleared US immigration at toronto airport, queues not so long there compared with chicago either.

RoadWarriorFromLP

Well, they sure had us fooled at Gatwick then.

Sharron_

They have one at Dublin. I flew Aer Lingus once and went through Immigration in Dublin. (That has Jack Squat to do with the US too!, but they still have it there).

It was a very merry flight too with the Irish. On the return flight they drank the plane dry of drink!! and they were singing too. I have never been on such a Happy flight.

paul_79

Well there is French POE at St Pancras when you get on the Eurostar and vice versa in Paris.

franc111s

You might be referring to the Gatwick/Heathrow pre-inspection which is very different from a POE. In fact, I think it's funded by the airlines since they are they ones who have to pick up the cost for anyone traveling on their planes with incorrect paperwork.

It just checks a high level to make sure you have return ticket. Little else..