When does Dublin Airport US Preclearance open?

DrPhilG

Called the airport but there was nobody available at the Preclearance desk. Asked the girl on the switch board and she just speculated that it would be "fairly early".

We have a 9am flight to New York. I'm in no hurry but my father in law is with us and it's his first time going to the States so he's a bit nervous and wants to get through security and preclearance as early as possible.

I realise this will most likely mean a lengthy delay on the other side of preclearance where there isn't a whole lot to do, but rather that than have an anxious passenger checking his watch every 5 minutes.

So when do they actually open? I was planning on hitting the airport around 5am which I realise is stupidly early but like I say, anything for a quiet life!

Sam Russell

Ask your airline.

conor_ie

If you've a 9am flight, chances are your airlines check in desks won't be open until at least 6am at the earliest, so there isn't much point arriving at 5am.

Pre-Clearence if I remember rightly opens around 6am but as you say there isn't much to do after it so i'd wait until around 7:15. This still gives you loads of time to get through and then you're not waiting too long for your boarding gate to open.

Riskymove

Don't overlook check in and bag drop if checking in baggage

This may not be open at 5 a.m.

Ruu

Opens at 6am, I believe there is another security checkpoint after that too.

veetwin

I know a good few cpb officers and am pretty sure that they don't start til 7am most days. First scheduled flight is the UA to EWR at 9am. Arriving at 5am would be daft.

Edit; there is a second security check before USCBP, not after. There is not much to do after so arriving early is pointless.

ProudDUB

There is another security check point. But it doesn't take as long to get through as the first one, which is the main one. You don't have to disrobe to the same degree (shoes off, coats off, belts off, pockets empty etc) as the first one. Nor do you have to unpack your carry on bags (laptops out, tablets out, toiletries bag out etc etc) to the same degree. You have to do some of that stuff, but not all of it.

OP, I'd give yourself 3 hours and leave it at that. That will be plenty of time. 4 hours in Dublin Airport, with an antsy traveler sounds like torture to me. As others have said, there is very little to do/buy when you have gone thru pre clearance. So take care of any snacks you need or reading matter that you need, before you go through it. The new waiting area at the new T2 gates isn't as bad as the old cattle shed set up. But its still a fierce boring place to have to kill a couple of hours.

DrPhilG

It's not an antsy passenger as such, more a nervous one about being late.

Even if he's left sitting there bored silly at the gate for 3 hours that won't be a problem. Once he's through all check in, security, preclearance etc then he'll finally be convinced that he won't miss the flight!

ProudDUB

Antsy, overly nervous about being late....it's all the same really.

It's entirely up to you. All the seasoned travelers here, agree that 3 hours is enough time. But if he doesn't believe you, so you decide that allowing 4 hrs, gets him off your back between now and when you travel, then knock your self out.

But security/pre clearance not being open at 5am, is a perfectly good excuse to spend an extra hour in bed. You can rely on our discretion, if need be.

Jamie2k9

TSA Security at 06.30 and US Pre Clearance at 07.00, 06.00 and 06.30 in June/July/August.

Arriving at the airport for 06.00 -06.15 is more than enough time. You will not be cleared at immigration early if there are flights before yours but as yours is 09.00 you will be the fist so it will not be that busy.