Boston & Chicago not preclearing during the summer

.danindudlin

Just noticed this today after booking a flight to Boston for a first timer. Doesn't make a huge difference but sheer curiosity is getting the better of me as to why these wouldn't preclear in Dublin? I'm assuming, now the Aer Lingus uses T5 in JFK, those flights have to preclear here?

lord lucan

The JFK flights preclear as they use T5 at JFK, the BOS flight doesn't preclear as there isn't the capacity to preclear them all and there's issues with staffing in USCBP.The early ORD flight preclears(EI123) but the later 125 doesn't.

Lucan pretty much has it right, though that's the first I heard of USCBP staffing issues, so no comment there. Word is they're looking into various solutions, up to getting the builders in.

Suasdaguna1

Yeap...it's a capacity issue.

G-unit10

Just wondering does anyone know if the new AA 8.55 to JFK pre-clears? It arrives at terminal 8 which handles both domestic and international flights so that's why I'm not so sure thanks

lord lucan

G-unit10 wrote: »

Just wondering does anyone know if the new AA 8.55 to JFK pre-clears? It arrives at terminal 8 which handles both domestic and international flights so that's why I'm not so sure thanks

AA291Preclears in DUB.

Bessarion

Deleted User wrote: »

Lucan pretty much has it right, though that's the first I heard of USCBP staffing issues, so no comment there. Word is they're looking into various solutions, up to getting the builders in.

Well there are many flights departing between 0900-1200.....so staffing issues means there are not enough CBP officers.....in addition they can only hold so many passengers in that area. So a combination of staff and capacity.

The problem is that all airlines want to operate at this busy time and use CBP....someone has to lose out.

The CBP staff finish at 3pm so any flight after that is tight to get cleared before they head off. I think EI have a flight at 4pm that doesn't clear and one at 3.30 that does. (I assume the shift is 0700-1500 in CBP?)

Hannibal

The reason I heard that some of the later ones don't preclear is that the staff finish work at I think 2 or half 2 can't remember which but anyway Chicago is not the type of airport you want to go to if it doesn't preclear because from I've seen it's like a sheep herd at the passport checks and I know loads myself included who have been caught in 2-3 hours queues there after an 8 hour flight

whitebriar

Is it only during the summer that these flights do not pre-clear?

Reason I ask is that the notice on the EI website states they do not pre-clear up untill october 26th.

I'm on the 137 to Bos in november,has that one ever pre-cleared at Dub?

If so,what changes after oct 26th,that the notice is for summer flights only? Are there summer only flights to the U.S that stop after that date and if so is there some hope that the 137 will pre-clear in november?

Thanks.

Jamie2k9

It varies as last winter DUB-JFK didn't but the terminal move means it has to this winter. Chicago will likely clear in winter, not sure about BOS. They should update the website soon to see what does and doesn't.

stopthepanic

whitebriar wrote: »

If so,what changes after oct 26th,that the notice is for summer flights only? Are there summer only flights to the U.S that stop after that date and if so is there some hope that the 137 will pre-clear in november?

Thanks.

yes there is hope but it will depend on timings of not only the EI137 but other carriers too. There will be less T/A traffic in November.

Tenger

whitebriar wrote: »

Is it only during the summer that these flights do not pre-clear?

Reason I ask is that the notice on the EI website states they do not pre-clear up untill october 26th.
....
If so,what changes after oct 26th,that the notice is for summer flights only? Are there summer only flights to the U.S that stop after that date and if so is there some hope that the 137 will pre-clear in november?......

Can't answer your question.

Most airlines have 2 seasons....Summer and Winter. They run April-Oct and Nov-March. So 'Summer' means April 1st up to Oct 31st. No idea what the deal will be in 'Winter', all depends on flight timings and US CBP capacity...

dobsdave

I was on the later ORD flight three weeks ago, never again.
Took one full hour to get through.
A colleague who was flying on to a different destination was close to missing his connection.

Del2005

I remember when they announced pre clearing at DUB and SNN they said that Ireland would become a hub to pre clear flights from other airlines/countries. It seems they can't even pre clear are own flights, can't see much hope for us becoming a pre clearance hub any time soon.

LXFlyer

Del2005 wrote: »

I remember when they announced pre clearing at DUB and SNN they said that Ireland would become a hub to pre clear flights from other airlines/countries. It seems they can't even pre clear are own flights, can't see much hope for us becoming a pre clearance hub any time soon.

That would very much depend upon the DAA and US CBP deciding it was worth paying for a second daily staff shift in Dublin so that the hours of operation can be extended - more airlines/routes being attracted would certainly increase the case for it.

The issue is that it is now too successful for itself.

The number of flights have grown each year to the point where on a typical day in the summer we now have:

2 EI flights to each of New York, Boston and Chicago (Orlando fits in with Chicago).
1 AA flight to both Chicago and New York
1 DL flight to both Atlanta and New York
1 US flight to both Charlotte and Philadelphia
1 UA flight to both Newark and Washington

That's a daily total of 14, three days a week DL have a second flight to New York bringing it to 15.

Add in EI to San Francisco that will become 16.

The issue is now one of capacity - there is a limit on what one daily staff shift can do!

Suasdaguna1

Yeap the cbp area is now too small.

LXFlyer

I don't think it's a case of the facility being too small - it's that the hours of operation are too limited.

The airlines are packing the flights into the time frame that US CBP operate - as more flights are added that needs to be longer and to do that you need more staff, i.e. a second daily shift.

That costs money and there needs to be a certain level of activity that would justify it. Any more destinations added will I imagine do just that.

basill

We were told its resourcing issues and budgetary cuts within CBP. Apparently a bit of brinkmanship is going on between the feds and CBP personnel and unfortunately for the time being all of us are getting screwed.

Del2005

basill wrote: »

We were told its resourcing issues and budgetary cuts within CBP. Apparently a bit of brinkmanship is going on between the feds and CBP personnel and unfortunately for the time being all of us are getting screwed.

The US budget slash a couple of months ago doesn't help. It was supposed to be targeted but due to the way politics works it hit every area. I can't see adding CBP agents to Ireland being a high priority when they have staffing issues at home

basill

Heard the issue for Dublin was that the CBP peeps were previously working overtime in order to cover the later flights. As you will see from the attached this is one of the areas hit with their budget cuts. Bit of general waffle on the topic in the attached letter:-

http://cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/advisories/info_seq_cbpops/trade_travel_letter.ctt/trade_travel_letter.pdf

whitebriar

Thanks for the information folks.
It's actually a 330 pm flight out to boston on EI from T2 so,I'm doubtfull it will have pre clearance.
The reason for needing to know is that we want to book an onward flight to elsewhere in the states on the same day and this won't be easy if we have to queue for immigration and customs in Boston rather than Dublin.

The flights would be 2 separate pnr's as the Tatl is a mileage redemption.
I was hoping,if we booked a seperate jet blue flight from Bos,that with pre clearance,EI would kindly check the bags right through to our final destination in the states and vise versa for the return.

I've done a lot of googling and nowhere does there seem to be any info on when CBP closes at Dub under the current cut backs.

If it closes still at 2.30 pm,then there's some possibility that with less pax and less flights in november that all EI flights will be able to use the facility including the Boston flight.
So if anyone here as an idea when cbp closes at the moment,it might give some indication?

Incidentally,does anyone have any idea when EI announces it's winter schedule and which flights will be doing pre clearance after october 26th?

Thanks again.

LXFlyer

It's unlikely that the 137 will pre-clear to be honest given the time of departure.

.danindudlin

whitebriar wrote: »

Thanks for the information folks.
It's actually a 330 pm flight out to boston on EI from T2 so,I'm doubtfull it will have pre clearance.
The reason for needing to know is that we want to book an onward flight to elsewhere in the states on the same day and this won't be easy if we have to queue for immigration and customs in Boston rather than Dublin.

The flights would be 2 separate pnr's as the Tatl is a mileage redemption.
I was hoping,if we booked a seperate jet blue flight from Bos,that with pre clearance,EI would kindly check the bags right through to our final destination in the states and vise versa for the return.

I've done a lot of googling and nowhere does there seem to be any info on when CBP closes at Dub under the current cut backs.

If it closes still at 2.30 pm,then there's some possibility that with less pax and less flights in november that all EI flights will be able to use the facility including the Boston flight.
So if anyone here as an idea when cbp closes at the moment,it might give some indication?

Incidentally,does anyone have any idea when EI announces it's winter schedule and which flights will be doing pre clearance after october 26th?

Thanks again.

Won't you have to do customs in boston I.e. recheck your bag?

orionm_73

Won't you have to do customs in boston I.e. recheck your bag?

The CBP pre clearance includes both immigration and customs so any passenger on a flight using the facility does not have to go through customs or recheck bags that have been tagged through to final destination.

Dacian

whitebriar wrote: »

Thanks for the information folks.
It's actually a 330 pm flight out to boston on EI from T2 so,I'm doubtfull it will have pre clearance.
.......
So if anyone here as an idea when cbp closes at the moment,it might give some indication?
....

CBP in Dublin currently close at 1500. This allows them to clear the 1530 departue to JFK but NOT the 1615 departure to BOS or the 1545 ORD.

goingnowhere

whitebriar wrote: »

The flights would be 2 separate pnr's as the Tatl is a mileage redemption.
I was hoping,if we booked a seperate jet blue flight from Bos,that with pre clearance,EI would kindly check the bags right through to our final destination in the states and vise versa for the return.

EI will NOT through check the bags unless the flights are on carriers with which EI have agreements and then
1. All legs on same ticket number (PRN's will be different anyway)
OR
2. Back to back EI flight reservations on separate tickets e.g LHR - DUB then DUB - EDI for example

EI137 doesn't preclear so you MUST recheck at BOS

Had you been on the EI 109 to JFK you might have a chance

whitebriar

The flight has changed twice now,back to 1130 and now 2pm again.
Fully expecting no preclearance,which is a right pita as the queues in the states are often over an hour now.

Decided to overnight in Boston and see a bit of that city first,there's a rather cool looking water taxi in to town.

Jamie2k9

whitebriar wrote: »

The flight has changed twice now,back to 1130 and now 2pm again.
Fully expecting no preclearance,which is a right pita as the queues in the states are often over an hour now.

Decided to overnight in Boston and see a bit of that city first,there's a rather cool looking water taxi in to town.

I think the 14.00 departure in winter will pre clear, not sure about the others.

Suasdaguna1

whitebriar wrote: »

Decided to overnight in Boston and see a bit of that city first,there's a rather cool looking water taxi in to town.

If I was a gambler, I'd put 50 greenbacks on you walking out of the terminal and jumping in a cab. Water taxi is not as handy as you think.

whitebriar

Suasdaguna1 wrote: »

If I was a gambler, I'd put 50 greenbacks on you walking out of the terminal and jumping in a cab. Water taxi is not as handy as you think.

lol,don't we're staying at the Boston harbour hotel,which has its own jetty

lord lucan

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I think the 14.00 departure in winter will pre clear, not sure about the others.

The 'old' 139/133 precleared last winter when it went out at 11.30. I'd say it will pre clear again this winter as the 137. There'll be enough capacity once US to CLT and AA to ORD finish for the summer.

Jamie2k9

lord lucan wrote: »

The 'old' 139/133 precleared last winter when it went out at 11.30. I'd say it will pre clear again this winter as the 137. There'll be enough capacity once US to CLT and AA to ORD finish for the summer.

Don't they reduce staffing levels in the winter. EI are increasing BOS from 7 to 11 weekly. With a mix of 11.30, 14.00 and 15.30 departures. It's hard to call but I can't see the 15.30 clearing. The others possibly.

Thoie

Is there any way to know in advance what flights will/won't preclear?

Jamie2k9

Thoie wrote: »

Is there any way to know in advance what flights will/won't preclear?

Everything expect a few BOS for winter, EI will update their site soon I expect.

whitebriar

Hallelujah!

All flights now have pre clearance from the end of october

Site up dated

http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/movetoterminal2atdublin/usimmigration/

basill

Great for winter but until they sort out the US CBP budget cuts then it will be back to the current situation when the summer schedule rolls round again.

Word is there's construction crews going in to change the layout in Dublin CBP to increase capacity.

donvito99

But it's not possible to build human beings/border agents?

Tenger

donvito99 wrote: »

But it's not possible to build human beings/border agents?

I don't know....some of them sure seem like robots...............;)

LXFlyer

Some good news - increased staffing and space for the CBP area!

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/us-immigration-boosts-dublin-staff-to-process-american-fliers-29695439.html

GCU Flexible Demeanour

lxflyer wrote: »

Some good news - increased staffing and space for the CBP area!

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/us-immigration-boosts-dublin-staff-to-process-american-fliers-29695439.html

I think its worth linking this good news to the bit of a discussion we had about the story Dublin Positions Itself as Transatlantic Hub.

We really should notice more how Dublin Airport has the ability to overcome its infrastructure constraints to actually deliver traffic that generates meaningful business for the country. Once again, this is an example of demand for services at Dublin Airport outstripping the available capacity.

Someone's doing something right. And, in truth, getting very little public acknowledgement of the fact.

Jamie2k9

GCU Flexible Demeanour wrote: »

I[/URL] think its worth linking this good news to the bit of a discussion we had about the story Dublin Positions Itself as Transatlantic Hub.

We really should notice more how Dublin Airport has the ability to overcome its infrastructure constraints to actually deliver traffic that generates meaningful business for the country. Once again, this is an example of demand for services at Dublin Airport outstripping the available capacity.

Someone's doing something right. And, in truth, getting very little public acknowledgement of the fact.

Oh please, it was the airlines who were putting pressure on the daa, this wasn't happening because of the daa doing work behind the scene.

Bessarion

GCU Flexible Demeanour wrote: »

I[/URL] think its worth linking this good news to the bit of a discussion we had about the story Dublin Positions Itself as Transatlantic Hub......

Wasnt that you discussing it yourself and then resurrecting a dead thread?

GCU Flexible Demeanour

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Oh please, it was the airlines who were putting pressure on the daa, this wasn't happening because of the daa doing work behind the scene.

I'm not so much commenting on the expansion of the facility, as the fact that the business is there that demands an expansion.

LoonyLovegood

The afternoon flights are clearing from this month, aren't they? I've an American housemate over for this semester, she's been trying to work it out!

Jamie2k9

CTYIgirl wrote: »

The afternoon flights are clearing from this month, aren't they? I've an American housemate over for this semester, she's been trying to work it out!

yes

ProfessorPlum

Everything clears at Dublin from Sunday onwards