Midwest - Anyone Know About International Connections at MSP?

Hi, I found this site on Google, looks like people here know a bit about MSP airport.

I need to book a flight which has a connection in Minneapolis from Canada. Because I need to apply for a work visa at the time, it may take a little longer than a normal tourist to clear and I'm trying to decide how much time I should leave between flights (I have a couple of options).

So basically, I'm leaving from an airport that does NOT have US pre-clearance on a Northwest Airlinks flight. On the NWA website, this same flight seems to arrive at gate B12 every morning. Looking at maps of MSP Lindbergh Terminal, it seems only concourse G has customs. Does anyone know if there's another customs station for Concourse B or have any idea where I'd be clearing customs?

Also, I've never been on a flight with an international connection before, so would I need to recollect my bags like I was staying in Minneapolis and then re-check my bags at the ticket counter or is there an international transfer area somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Graeme

First, I've not known an international flight to arrive at the B-gates and then have to go back to the G area for clearing customs (so that doesn't make sense to me). Is it possible that you actually do pre-clear customs in Canada?
Clearing customs in G does take some, but the walking time from G to B is fairly easy, no more than 10 min. and moving walkways all the way.
http://mspairport.com/msp/maps_guides/default.aspx

what airport are you coming from that doesn't have pre-clearance?

The G gates are setup for larger planes, so if you're coming on a CRJ or EMB, it may not physically be able to use the G gates.

The other option is they could deplane you on the tarmac into a bus, and bus you to customs. I don't think they'd let you walk to customs without some sort of isolation.

what airport are you coming from that doesn't have pre-clearance?



Could be YQT (Thunder Bay), YQR (Regina), or YXE (Saskatoon). All are served non-stop to/from MSP and none have pre-clearance.

I think YQT is served with Saab 340's, and the others by ERJ's, so your theory may be correct. Probably every other int'l non-pre-clearance flight into MSP is on a mainline jet (in most cases, a widebody at that).

(in most cases, a widebody at that).
NW operates no "widebody" aircraft in Canada.

Did you mean mainline "narrowbody"? ;)

NW operates no "widebody" aircraft in Canada.

Did you mean mainline "narrowbody"? ;)

No, I meant "widebody". Here's what I said:

Probably every other int'l non-pre-clearance flight into MSP is on a mainline jet (in most cases, a widebody at that).

Notice the phrase: "International non-pre-clearance flight". This would be from international airports that do not have pre-clearance. Aside from the 3 small Canadian airports I mentioned, this would include AMS, NRT, and LHR, all of which are definitely served by widebodies from MSP.

That said, I was forgetting the Mexico destinations that NWA serves from MSP, which AFAIK are all served with narrowbodies, albeit definitely "mainline."

In Detroit the inbound RJs from non-precleared Canadian cities arrive at one of the international gates in the A concourse, and the passengers go through customs the same as anyone arriving on an overseas flight. I would assume MSP is set up the same way if there is only one area for customs and immigration processing.

(What I get a kick out of seeing is when a Saab or CRJ is sitting at A46 right next to a 747-400. Looks like a whale and newborn calf!)

From experience, having flown YQT-MSP-(some other U.S. destination) multiple times, the arriving aircraft will pull up to the normal gates where you see Saabs in MSP, down in the A or B concourse. Then, instead of deplaning at a gate, deplaning passengers will get on a bus which goes over to the international arrivals area. You get off the bus, go up an elevator, and the doors open to the passport control area. I presume this is the same passport control area where arriving passengers from flights originating overseas go.

The flights from Regina/Saskatoon deboard at the G gates. I believe the confusion comes becomes NWA lists the flight as arriving at the other gates. I believe this is because these flights continue on with the same number to other US destinations, which is to say they move the plane after all passengers have deboarded. At MSP you will have to go through customs, collect your bags, leave them at the transfer desk and go through security. All this is in an area about....150-200 ft long.