DFW immigration wait time 2014
Oct 29, 2014, 4:30 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: West Sussex
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 897
For what it is worth, prior to getting global entry, every time I flew through DFW the immigration queues were nonexistent. Sailed through.
Oct 29, 2014, 5:47 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
Did it 2 weeks ago; if you have been to uS before in recent years and they have your photo and fingerprint stored, you can use the automated desks , took 2 mins. A pleasant breeze
Oct 29, 2014, 8:31 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: BA Gold; SPG Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 107
DFW immigration wait time 2014
Entering the U.S. through DFW has gotten significantly worse for me since the recent changes to increase the number of queues and differentiate incoming passengers more specifically - I enter under a work visa, so have to join the line for all the countries that don't have visa waiver privileges, even though I come from a visa waiver country... This is unsurprisingly the slowest moving line.
Used to be 10-15 mins (and sometimes less) coming off BA193, but am now frequently hitting an hour or more.
Used to be 10-15 mins (and sometimes less) coming off BA193, but am now frequently hitting an hour or more.
Dec 16, 2014, 5:04 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 509
I'll be arriving on BA193 into DFW at 1445 on Monday 22nd December, connecting to AA2463 to LAX, departing at 1635 from Terminal A.
I'm hand-luggage only, UK citizen but let's just say likely to be profiled for secondary questioning at immigration and SSSS at the TSA check on returning airside. Judging by past experiences.
What are my chances of making this connection? Slim? As an ESTA arrival I believe I'm eligible to use the new automated gates at immigration. Do these typically have shorter lines?
It gets better. I then have a 50 min connection at LAX onto the last AA HNL flight of the day. I know, I'm a genius...
I'm hand-luggage only, UK citizen but let's just say likely to be profiled for secondary questioning at immigration and SSSS at the TSA check on returning airside. Judging by past experiences.
What are my chances of making this connection? Slim? As an ESTA arrival I believe I'm eligible to use the new automated gates at immigration. Do these typically have shorter lines?
It gets better. I then have a 50 min connection at LAX onto the last AA HNL flight of the day. I know, I'm a genius...
Dec 17, 2014, 3:15 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,329
I'll be arriving on BA193 into DFW at 1445 on Monday 22nd December, connecting to AA2463 to LAX, departing at 1635 from Terminal A.
I'm hand-luggage only, UK citizen but let's just say likely to be profiled for secondary questioning at immigration and SSSS at the TSA check on returning airside. Judging by past experiences.
What are my chances of making this connection? Slim? As an ESTA arrival I believe I'm eligible to use the new automated gates at immigration. Do these typically have shorter lines?
It gets better. I then have a 50 min connection at LAX onto the last AA HNL flight of the day. I know, I'm a genius...
I'm hand-luggage only, UK citizen but let's just say likely to be profiled for secondary questioning at immigration and SSSS at the TSA check on returning airside. Judging by past experiences.
What are my chances of making this connection? Slim? As an ESTA arrival I believe I'm eligible to use the new automated gates at immigration. Do these typically have shorter lines?
It gets better. I then have a 50 min connection at LAX onto the last AA HNL flight of the day. I know, I'm a genius...
As for the LAX connection, Ive no idea on that one.
Dec 19, 2014, 2:02 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 509
I've been digging around and it looks like things have been improving lately at DFW, although there's no shortage of people sharing their horror stories about wait times, either!
I'll be going hand-baggage only, and can therefore use the new one-stop 'Carry E-Z' desks CBP have set up instead. This line should hopefully be shorter, and there'll be no need to queue for customs.
Also, for the benefit of anyone studying this thread, I found this presentation about CBP wait times apparently put together by a DFW official. It claims average waiting times for CBP during the afternoon peak are now 14 minutes... hmm....
Dec 30, 2014, 2:21 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: US, HH
Posts: 894
Jan 2, 2015, 3:12 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 21
Hi Teefaf,
I'm in a similar situation for a trip in January, did you manage to make the connection at DFW?
I was planning on having checked bags but the lines downstairs can be pretty lengthy.
Thanks in advance,
Andy
I'm in a similar situation for a trip in January, did you manage to make the connection at DFW?
I was planning on having checked bags but the lines downstairs can be pretty lengthy.
Thanks in advance,
Andy
Jan 2, 2015, 3:26 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 509
Hi andymac7, thank you for prompting me to come back to update the thread. I had been meaning to do so but had never quite gotten around to it.
The short answer is a very sweaty and slightly out of breath, yes.
The longer answer is below if anyone's interested:
I had 1hr 50mins to complete the transfer - on paper. So as you know, I was already nervous. On checking the flight's historic on-time performance I discovered that BA193 is chronically late, so I got even more nervous. Bear in mind the tales on the internet from summer '14 were of 2 - 4 hour waits at CBP.
My own flight landed a full hour late, giving me just 50 minutes to enter the USA, clear security and connect. I was almost resigned to missing the flight but decided to give it a go when they announced on the plane that anyone with a connecting flight within the MCT (I think its 1hr 25mins?) would be met by OW agents at the gate. So I made sure I was lined up to be the first one off the plane (sitting on the UD helps massively with this as the stairs down land right at the exit door).
I walked briskly through the gate, was handed an orange 'Express Connections' envelope containing my onward boarding passes by the gate agents (there were a LOT of envelopes there!) and then made my way straight to the massive immigration hall. Probably a 5 minute walk but felt a LOT longer in the circumstances.
Luckily the immigration hall was very quiet, but this was 22nd December so perhaps travel volumes were much lower than normal? I was unclear what to do here, as there are several categories of line and none was clearly marked for 'Express Connections'. I wanted to use the E-Z Carry lane as I was HBO, but the line guardian there saw my orange envelope and said I needed to go to another line. I was sort of waving my envelope around hoping someone would guide me.
I was directed to use a self-service machine, and then by someone else into another line for ESTA holders. I ended up in a queue, so again waved my orange envelope and caught the attention of a lady on the Global Entry line, where the queue was very short. I was directed by her to join that line, with no fuss made. Other orange envelops joined behind me, so I got the impression this was where we were actually supposed to end up.
I waited here for about 5 minutes, and the line guardian there gave me directions for where to go afterwards during my wait. Very fortunately immigration itself was a speedy affair - I'd been braced for worse but I was stamped straight through. Then it was down the escalator to baggage claim, and I waved my orange envelope once again at the exit line guardian who directed me down a side-lane for Express Connections. Two people were ahead of me here and I was out into Departures; up a level and just fifteen minutes from exiting the plane I had arrived at the TSA search area - not bad!
I didn't have checked bags to collect, but I noticed that by the time I'd gotten down to the baggae hall some passengers from my flight were already collecting theirs (must have been US citizens to get through so quickly). And as noted above, if you get an orange envelope you should be directed to a shorter line.
I again brandished my orange envelope at the line guardian (recurring theme here!), who directed me down the First Class line to which I was entitled anyway. A five minute wait to get my boarding pass checked! Luckily the lines from here weren't too long, and I was through within another five minutes. No SSSS this time either - God must have been smiling on me that day!
From here I walked/ran to the gate. This is where I had a doubly happy result to my race from plane-to-plane. My connecting flight had been moved from A gates to D gates, saving me a precious 5 – 10 minutes on the Skytrain. Boarding was well underway by the time I’d reached the gate, but I’d made it! The Priority line was empty so I was swiftly aboard. I was sweaty and dishevelled by the time I found my newly allocated seat, but was then delighted to discover the scheduled 757 had been subbed for a 777-200, and I would be spending the next three and a half hours in AA’s old international F seat.
Total time from plane door to plane door, via immigration, customs, TSA and myriad corridors and concourses? Just 30 minutes. You can tell I’m proud of that by the length of this account of my dash!
I think DFW are clearly aware of the issues with tight I-D connections and the long waits at CBP. The fact that there were so many line guardians, that all were pretty well versed in what to do with the orange envelopes and that there had been so much thought put into expediting tight connections means it’s much less risky than it was probably just a few months ago. I arrived during the afternoon peak period but there were minimal queues. Then again, maybe I just lucked out?
Oh, and in case you’re concerned about my sweatiness, I was able to rectify this on arrival at LAX. Plane door opened at LAX T4 at 1800, and my 1845 connecting flight to HNL was already pre-boarding just two gates over. I stood waiting to board then decided I had time to dash to the AA lounge for a quick shower. By 1820 I was back at the gate fresh as a slightly jetlagged daisy.
All good fun.
The short answer is a very sweaty and slightly out of breath, yes.
The longer answer is below if anyone's interested:
I had 1hr 50mins to complete the transfer - on paper. So as you know, I was already nervous. On checking the flight's historic on-time performance I discovered that BA193 is chronically late, so I got even more nervous. Bear in mind the tales on the internet from summer '14 were of 2 - 4 hour waits at CBP.
My own flight landed a full hour late, giving me just 50 minutes to enter the USA, clear security and connect. I was almost resigned to missing the flight but decided to give it a go when they announced on the plane that anyone with a connecting flight within the MCT (I think its 1hr 25mins?) would be met by OW agents at the gate. So I made sure I was lined up to be the first one off the plane (sitting on the UD helps massively with this as the stairs down land right at the exit door).
I walked briskly through the gate, was handed an orange 'Express Connections' envelope containing my onward boarding passes by the gate agents (there were a LOT of envelopes there!) and then made my way straight to the massive immigration hall. Probably a 5 minute walk but felt a LOT longer in the circumstances.
Luckily the immigration hall was very quiet, but this was 22nd December so perhaps travel volumes were much lower than normal? I was unclear what to do here, as there are several categories of line and none was clearly marked for 'Express Connections'. I wanted to use the E-Z Carry lane as I was HBO, but the line guardian there saw my orange envelope and said I needed to go to another line. I was sort of waving my envelope around hoping someone would guide me.
I was directed to use a self-service machine, and then by someone else into another line for ESTA holders. I ended up in a queue, so again waved my orange envelope and caught the attention of a lady on the Global Entry line, where the queue was very short. I was directed by her to join that line, with no fuss made. Other orange envelops joined behind me, so I got the impression this was where we were actually supposed to end up.
I waited here for about 5 minutes, and the line guardian there gave me directions for where to go afterwards during my wait. Very fortunately immigration itself was a speedy affair - I'd been braced for worse but I was stamped straight through. Then it was down the escalator to baggage claim, and I waved my orange envelope once again at the exit line guardian who directed me down a side-lane for Express Connections. Two people were ahead of me here and I was out into Departures; up a level and just fifteen minutes from exiting the plane I had arrived at the TSA search area - not bad!
I didn't have checked bags to collect, but I noticed that by the time I'd gotten down to the baggae hall some passengers from my flight were already collecting theirs (must have been US citizens to get through so quickly). And as noted above, if you get an orange envelope you should be directed to a shorter line.
I again brandished my orange envelope at the line guardian (recurring theme here!), who directed me down the First Class line to which I was entitled anyway. A five minute wait to get my boarding pass checked! Luckily the lines from here weren't too long, and I was through within another five minutes. No SSSS this time either - God must have been smiling on me that day!
From here I walked/ran to the gate. This is where I had a doubly happy result to my race from plane-to-plane. My connecting flight had been moved from A gates to D gates, saving me a precious 5 – 10 minutes on the Skytrain. Boarding was well underway by the time I’d reached the gate, but I’d made it! The Priority line was empty so I was swiftly aboard. I was sweaty and dishevelled by the time I found my newly allocated seat, but was then delighted to discover the scheduled 757 had been subbed for a 777-200, and I would be spending the next three and a half hours in AA’s old international F seat.
Total time from plane door to plane door, via immigration, customs, TSA and myriad corridors and concourses? Just 30 minutes. You can tell I’m proud of that by the length of this account of my dash!
I think DFW are clearly aware of the issues with tight I-D connections and the long waits at CBP. The fact that there were so many line guardians, that all were pretty well versed in what to do with the orange envelopes and that there had been so much thought put into expediting tight connections means it’s much less risky than it was probably just a few months ago. I arrived during the afternoon peak period but there were minimal queues. Then again, maybe I just lucked out?
Oh, and in case you’re concerned about my sweatiness, I was able to rectify this on arrival at LAX. Plane door opened at LAX T4 at 1800, and my 1845 connecting flight to HNL was already pre-boarding just two gates over. I stood waiting to board then decided I had time to dash to the AA lounge for a quick shower. By 1820 I was back at the gate fresh as a slightly jetlagged daisy.
All good fun.
Jan 4, 2015, 11:00 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 21
Hi teefaf
Thanks for coming back and updating the thread it's greatly appreciated. I'll be on the 193 at the end of January and then connecting onto LAS on a separate booking, that leg hasn't been booked yet but I'm looking at the 17.15 or the 18.50.
My gut tells me the 17.15 might be a bit tight especially if I can't get my bag checked through and need to head back up to the check in area at DFW and change terminals if It's an A or C gate departure.
I've also got a 1 hour connection onto the 193 after getting off the flight from GLA so if I miss that connection it'll cause issues.
Hope the HNL trip was good, it's way up my bucket list!
Many thanks,
Andy
Thanks for coming back and updating the thread it's greatly appreciated. I'll be on the 193 at the end of January and then connecting onto LAS on a separate booking, that leg hasn't been booked yet but I'm looking at the 17.15 or the 18.50.
My gut tells me the 17.15 might be a bit tight especially if I can't get my bag checked through and need to head back up to the check in area at DFW and change terminals if It's an A or C gate departure.
I've also got a 1 hour connection onto the 193 after getting off the flight from GLA so if I miss that connection it'll cause issues.
Hope the HNL trip was good, it's way up my bucket list!
Many thanks,
Andy