Travel to USA from Dublin - check in time

funkey_monkey · 27-02-2025 06:58AM #1

How long do you need to be in airport for a flight to USA?

27-02-2025 02:26PM

Your airline should advise you but usually 3 hours. You will also see noifications on when to go through pre-clearance.

endofrainbow · 27-02-2025 03:16PM

Minimum of 3 hours if on a direct flight to US.

Check in online 24 hrs before departure.

dennyk · 28-02-2025 12:23AM

Ideally three hours, in case there are any delays with preclearance. International flights also generally board quite early and actually close boarding when they say they are going to; it's not like a Ryanair flight where the inbound plane probably hasn't even landed yet by the time the purported "gate closes" time rolls around.

JIdontknow · 28-02-2025 12:52AM

just so you know also, after the US pre clearance there’s not a whole lot of shops / options there. Pre clearance can be a bit of a bottleneck at times as a lot of the flights tend to be morning flights. I’ve usually leave 2.5-3 hours and it was always plenty time. Don’t forget your ESTA online and make sure it’s through the genuine site also as it’s cheaper.

beachhead · 28-02-2025 08:45AM

Yes,2.5 - 3 hours minimum

Nigel Fairservice · 28-02-2025 02:34PM

At least 3 hours. You have to go through security screening again so that can take some time.

funkey_monkey · 28-02-2025 06:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123217407#Comment_123217407

I have to pay $21 for this?

endofrainbow · 28-02-2025 07:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123219472#Comment_123219472

Yes

helimachoptor · 28-02-2025 07:26PM

I’m back and forth to the states, the busiest time was a week after the college football game last year and it took 30 mins from the time I got to the airport.

My last trip on a Sunday <10 mins from check in through pre clearance

beachhead · 01-03-2025 08:44AM

Discussion about time from arriving at check-in queue to getting to departure gate,surely

funkey_monkey · 01-03-2025 10:44PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Aer Lingus sent me a msg today about filling in those forms. The Advanced Passenger Information form fails to complete with the following message:

dashboard.apis.failure

Any ideas how to resolve this?

helimachoptor · 01-03-2025 10:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223613#Comment_123223613

go to the site and manage my trip., it’s likely in there, but I haven’t travelled with aer Lingus to the US in a long time, someone else might know for sure

The Nal · 10-03-2025 09:44AM

Last time a few months ago was outside the airport, dropped the bag, airport security and pre clearence in 25 mins.

3 Hours is massively OTT imo.

HeidiHeidi · 10-03-2025 10:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123249695#Comment_123249695

It was on that occasion. I've stood in the pre-clearance queue for over an hour once.

I would never cut it so fine that there's no margin for some numpty acting the goat, or a couple of security lanes not being open for some reason, or any other of the myriad things that can delay you before getting airside. Even for a European flight, never mind a transatlantic one.

If you're early, you have an hour or whatever to spare, big deal. If you're late, you can watch your plane take off without you.

There's more than enough cafes/seats airside that if you do get through in jig time, you just bring a book or podcast, and relax for a while!

The Nal · 10-03-2025 10:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123249758#Comment_123249758

Ive never been more than 10 mins in pre clearence. Longest was covidish era and was about 30 mins.

HeidiHeidi · 10-03-2025 10:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123249775#Comment_123249775

And I have.

Mileage varies!

The Nal · 10-03-2025 10:25AM

People turning up too early is one of the reasons for the airport clogging up.

funkey_monkey · 10-03-2025 11:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223626#Comment_123223626

Ended up having to use the chat facility and they entered it manually. Woeful system.

BraveDonut · 11-03-2025 03:41PM

Pre clearance seems to be a lot faster these days but in the past I have arrived 3 hrs before the flight and everyone for my destination had to be called out of the pre-clearance queue.
Sailed through last time - no scanner checks and no queues

user060916 · 26-03-2025 07:07PM

Since they removed the secondary security at preclearance except for SSSS it's been much quicker.

Once you're scanned into the immigration hall you're basically guaranteed on the flight, they'll call your flight / name if you're not through

Travel to USA from Dublin - check in time

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