Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > United Airlines | MileagePlus
Reload this Page >

Int'l F-arrivals (ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration?)

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Int'l F-arrivals (ground staff assistance for priority clearance of immigration?)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 4, 2012, 3:31 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denmark, SK*G ( EBD), BA (silver), FB (Silver)
Posts: 489
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).
GreatDane is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 4:24 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: Amanjunkie
Posts: 752
Originally Posted by GreatDane
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.
GK1998 is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 4:38 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
Originally Posted by GreatDane
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?
FlyerChrisK is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 5:17 am
  #4  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: 1K MMiler, Hertz 5*
Posts: 589
QF does it in F.
rosesplus is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 5:21 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Originally Posted by GK1998
UA does not provide anything similar.
UA doesn't provide anything.
dsquared37 is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 5:22 am
  #6  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,597
Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK
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?
FriendlySkies is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 5:35 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
Posts: 4,599
Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK
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.
cerealmarketer is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 5:39 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 78
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.
asiapacflyer is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 5:41 am
  #9  
jyh
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 193
Originally Posted by GreatDane
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.
jyh is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 6:02 am
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,166
Originally Posted by GK1998
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.
UA-NYC is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 8:40 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Programs: UA 1 .6 MM,Ethiad Gold,Virgin Silver,Marriott Gold,HHonors Diamond,SPG Gold,BA Blue (ish)
Posts: 669
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
mandc2000 is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 8:53 am
  #12  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,685
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.
fastair is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 8:57 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Raleigh
Programs: United GS 2MM,, Marriott/Starwood Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 754
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
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.

Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Aug 4, 2012 at 6:08 pm Reason: merge
SAN 1K is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 9:03 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Springfield,MO,USA
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,604
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.
u600213 is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2012, 9:04 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Originally Posted by FlyerChrisK
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
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)

Last edited by iluv2fly; Aug 4, 2012 at 10:59 am Reason: merge
chinatraderjmr is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.