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-   -   Int'l F-arrivals (ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration?) (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1373700-intl-f-arrivals-ground-staff-assistance-priority-clearance-immigration.html)

GreatDane Aug 4, 2012 3:31 am

Int'l F-arrivals (ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration?)
 
Flying into SFO on Global first from FRA.
Will I be able to expect (or request) ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration? I know LX meets F-class pax and offers this and LH does it for HONs in both C and F (essentially just escorting Pax to the front of the line). Does UA do something similar - or will I have to face the crowds and endless lines of non-US -citizen immigration ? Im *G (but on SK not UA).

GK1998 Aug 4, 2012 4:24 am


Originally Posted by GreatDane (Post 19057493)
Flying into SFO on Global first from FRA.
Will I be able to expect (or request) ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration? I know LX meets F-class pax and offers this and LH does it for HONs in both C and F (essentially just escorting Pax to the front of the line). Does UA do something similar - or will I have to face the crowds and endless lines of non-US -citizen immigration ? Im *G (but on SK not UA).

UA does not provide anything similar.

FlyerChrisK Aug 4, 2012 4:38 am


Originally Posted by GreatDane (Post 19057493)
Flying into SFO on Global first from FRA.
Will I be able to expect (or request) ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration? I know LX meets F-class pax and offers this and LH does it for HONs in both C and F (essentially just escorting Pax to the front of the line). Does UA do something similar - or will I have to face the crowds and endless lines of non-US -citizen immigration ? Im *G (but on SK not UA).

While I'm aware LX/LH offer this as a service in other countries, does any airline do this in the United States?

rosesplus Aug 4, 2012 5:17 am

QF does it in F.

dsquared37 Aug 4, 2012 5:21 am


Originally Posted by GK1998 (Post 19057606)
UA does not provide anything similar.

UA doesn't provide anything. :cool:

FriendlySkies Aug 4, 2012 5:22 am


Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK (Post 19057636)
While I'm aware LX/LH offer this as a service in other countries, does any airline do this in the United States?

Doesn't AA do it for F pax, or is that only for Concierge Key/Five Star?

cerealmarketer Aug 4, 2012 5:35 am


Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK (Post 19057636)
While I'm aware LX/LH offer this as a service in other countries, does any airline do this in the United States?

I've seen BA do it at JFK - though the time I saw it there was a celebrity in our cabin and I was asked to follow.

asiapacflyer Aug 4, 2012 5:39 am

UA First Escort
 
UA does it when there is a chance for misconnect, but usually for Int'l GF, Global Services and esp. when connecting flights are booked or the following day.

jyh Aug 4, 2012 5:41 am


Originally Posted by GreatDane (Post 19057493)
Flying into SFO on Global first from FRA.
Will I be able to expect (or request) ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration? I know LX meets F-class pax and offers this and LH does it for HONs in both C and F (essentially just escorting Pax to the front of the line). Does UA do something similar - or will I have to face the crowds and endless lines of non-US -citizen immigration ? Im *G (but on SK not UA).

Money can't buy you everything. Get in line. :)

UA-NYC Aug 4, 2012 6:02 am


Originally Posted by GK1998 (Post 19057606)
UA does not provide anything similar.

Not true (much to my surprise) - my in-laws came in HKG-ORD in int'l F this week (1 1K with two GMs) - they were met by a (believe) GS agent and were escorted off the plane, and I *think* (need to verify) maybe a shorter security lane.

They were 50 minutes late, but still had over 2 hours for a connection, so wasn't that tight.

mandc2000 Aug 4, 2012 8:40 am

Been met twice once in ORD and once in LAX -consisted of lounge pass handover in ORD and making a connection in LAX -no passport line jumping regretfully

fastair Aug 4, 2012 8:53 am

Eliminating those who have bought Global Entry, regardless of how much you pay for your ticket, the immigration/inspection fees for any passenger of a given country are the same. This goes to the govt and IMHO should be not treated with favoritism. Perhaps if the DHS wants to price differentialy based on line wait, this would be a system worth looking into, but as it is now, it is a flat fee vs a scaled fee tax for a service that should be equal to all.

SAN 1K Aug 4, 2012 8:57 am

Other than the misconnect cases, I've been met a few other times. Mostly in ORD I think, to give me an F lounge invitation.
Also every time I have flown into Dubai United has arranged a "marhaba" escort. I don't know if that has been for F or, perhaps, for GS.


Originally Posted by fastair (Post 19058334)
Eliminating those who have bought Global Entry, regardless of how much you pay for your ticket, the immigration/inspection fees for any passenger of a given country are the same. This goes to the govt and IMHO should be not treated with favoritism. Perhaps if the DHS wants to price differentialy based on line wait, this would be a system worth looking into, but as it is now, it is a flat fee vs a scaled fee tax for a service that should be equal to all.

Lots of airports have fast track lines, both for arriving and departing passengers. Just like domestic first-class security lines. Are you ethically opposed to that? Why don't we eliminate the crew lines as well, if we are going to be socialist about it.

u600213 Aug 4, 2012 9:03 am

At ORD no help for immigration/customs but access to GS side entrance to security checkpoint if connecting from International Terminal to Domestic. Does not have to be full fare Global First.

chinatraderjmr Aug 4, 2012 9:04 am


Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK (Post 19057636)
While I'm aware LX/LH offer this as a service in other countries, does any airline do this in the United States?

EK does it in JFK. They even bring a luggage cart to the Jetway for my carry on (dont know if they do it at other US airports). Imagine yes

LH/LX also offer this service in DXB (UA does not) for all F pax.


Originally Posted by fastair (Post 19058334)
Eliminating those who have bought Global Entry, regardless of how much you pay for your ticket, the immigration/inspection fees for any passenger of a given country are the same. This goes to the govt and IMHO should be not treated with favoritism. Perhaps if the DHS wants to price differentialy based on line wait, this would be a system worth looking into, but as it is now, it is a flat fee vs a scaled fee tax for a service that should be equal to all.

Almost EVERY major INTL airport has immigration fast track for F / J pax (not only passengers from that countries flag carrier). UA F pax (not sure about C) can use fast track at LHR and BKK

Some airlines just take it further and escort passengers to/thru fast track. I don't see a problem with this (ESPECIALLY now that airports/countries are adding substantial luxury taxes to F/J tickets)


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