Quick question about US Immigration Dublin...

100gSoma

Have not travelled to USA since 2000. I know its different now with homeland security and all that stuff. I have already applied/approved for the ESTA visa waiver. How soon before my flight should I go to Immigration area. I'm guessing its still in Pier B (san fran flight). Is the procedure the same, couple of question, do you have ajob, who are you visiting, and thats it. Or is there eye scans and thumb prints and DNA samples or what. No idea. Cheers...

Heroditas

They don't do the immigration checks for San Fran in Dublin I think for some reason. You have to do it once you get to the US.
Typically you should get there two hours before your flight though. It's ridiculously slow. All the flights to the US leave within an hour or so of each other.

markpb

The recommended time for US flights is three hours and, in my experience, you'll need every minute of it. Most companies do part of the passport checks while you're queueing to check in but it can take a long time. Getting through immigration in Dublin can take up to an hour as your passport is checked, re-checked, forms are filled out and checked, etc. Then you still have to go through customs and agri checks when you arrive in San Fran.

If you're continuing on another flight from there, you'll need to reclaim your bags and then drop them into a corner on the other side of the room so they can be checked back in again.

You'd swear they have a problem with tourists!

100gSoma

ah I see... Perhaps they only do East coast USA immigration at Dublin? Someone told me there is eye scans now etc on some immigration points. Wouldn't be surprised. Sure I'll go nice and early and play it by ear I guess. Fingers crossed for one of the Aer Lingus A330s with a TV in the back of the seat. Meant to help the flight time pass alot quicker. I think 3 of the 9 planes have this so far, hopefully the ones on the west coast routes.

Mimikyu

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markpb

-Phuqer- wrote: »

had none on the way back and it was really noticeable.

That'll teach you to fly Aer Lingus :P Almost every other trans-at carrier has PTVs on every seat, Aer Lingus are years behind the curve.

Mimikyu

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markpb

-Phuqer- wrote: »

Am flying BA in June. These got these TVs on all their flights?

Yep

Mimikyu

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helimachoptor

Get there early and go through immigration about 2 hours before your flight departs, was going to NY a couple of weeks ago, a week before paddys day, Fligth was departing at half 10, a rugger and a GAA team were on the same flight. After they checked in they went to the bar and came down to immigration at 10am, the flight left with 2 ruggers guys on board and no GAA guys:D and probably a few others.

Just on another note, the amount of people drinking that early in the airport is shocking.

100gSoma

thanks for the feedback guys. Finger prints and eye scanners. god damn it. It's like minority report or something. I've nothing to hide, but its a pain if its too laborious to go though immigration. As for the seat back TVs. Aer lingus have some that just show pre set movies, and some that are "on demand" and you can choose from 12 movies yourself. I don't doubt your experience -phuqer- as I have heard its VERY noticable how long the flight is without the on demand movies. And apparently with them the flight seems shorter than some 3 hour European flights. sounds brilliant. I think Aer lingus have 4 out of 9 planes with the facilities now, and plans to upgrade the other 5 planes this year. I think its standard now on most carriers for transatlantic flights.
oh yes, and a comment about drinking... I detest these cheap 12 and 1am flights and don't take them anymore because of the amount of people who drink from 9pm in Airport until flight leaves at 12am etc... and then sing throughout the night on the plane. horrible experience a couple of times, but thats another story. I am actually shocked to hear of people drinking pints in the morning for a 950am flight. I thought I was bad... Are the pubs in the airport even able to sell alcohol before 1030am? madness

KC61

100gSoma wrote: »

oh yes, and a comment about drinking... I detest these cheap 12 and 1am flights and don't take them anymore because of the amount of people who drink from 9pm in Airport until flight leaves at 12am etc... and then sing throughout the night on the plane. horrible experience a couple of times, but thats another story. I am actually shocked to hear of people drinking pints in the morning for a 950am flight. I thought I was bad... Are the pubs in the airport even able to sell alcohol before 1030am? madness

You think that's bad?

I was on an 0720 service to Barcelona a few years ago (boarding from 0700), and there were a group of lads coming on who had been in the airport bar beforehand drinking pints!

The airside bars open 1st thing in the morning and serve alcohol. They are not subject to licensing hours.

delta_bravo

The airport bars open at 6am or maybe 5.30. I think they stay open until 4am so its not much of a closure. I remember having one pint at 6am at the bar, purely for the novelty of it. Just the one though

helimachoptor

100gSoma wrote: »

Are the pubs in the airport even able to sell alcohol before 1030am? madness

Yep because its a port there's some special exclusion, if you go to Connolly Station on Good Friday aslong as you have a ticket you can get served