CBP Preclearance Facility in Abu Dhabi Expands to Cover All Etihad Flights Bound for U.S.
Joe Cortez January 14, 2015
A Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility will be available to all Etihad flyers traveling from Abu Dhabi to the U.S. starting on Thursday.
Etihad Airways flyers traveling from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to the U.S. will soon be able to clear customs before they arrive. Earlier this week, the UAE flag carrier announced that preclearance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be available for all Etihad passengers starting Thursday.
When the preclearance facility first debuted at AUH in 2014, its services were only available for select flights. On Thursday, customs will open the facility to service two early morning flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), complementing mid-morning flights to cover all of Etihad’s flights to the U.S.
“Since its opening in January last year, the U.S. preclearance has been extremely popular with air travelers, particularly those from the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East region,” said Etihad COO Peter Baumgartner. “More than 325,000 people have passed through the facility, arriving in the United States as domestic passengers.”
The preclearance facility is one of 15 available to flyers coming to the U.S. from foreign airports across six countries. Supporters of the program claim that the preclearance facilities add a layer of convenience for travelers, allowing them to skip long lines at U.S. airports and check their luggage directly to their final destinations by meeting TSA security screening standards at the originating airport.
Although the facilities at AUH have been operating for a year, the opening was initially met with opposition. CBS News reports many lobbying organizations, including Airlines for America, claimed opening the facility would give Etihad and other foreign carriers an unfair advantage over U.S. airlines.
[Photo: Abu Dhabi International Airport]
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Having used such a facility in Aruba, I cannot imagine what people see in this so-called service. I arrived at Queen Beatrix Airport two hours in advance: at any airport in the world, more than ample time. But I almost missed my flight. This was the process: - Check in bags with Delta - Go through Aruban exit passport control - Go through Aruban security - Go through Aruban passport control again (why?) - Pick up bag that has already been checked in - Wait in line with bags for US passport control and customs - Put bag on another belt - Go through TSA style security How can one possibly imagine a good service is delivered when having your passport checked three times, checking your bag in twice and going through security twice before one even takes off? Whether arriving as a domestic or international passenger, one still ends up waiting at either end. So what is the benefit? You wait either way, and possibly less than if arriving as an international passenger. I also cannot imagine what this costs the US taxpayer while providing zero benefit (or if the airlines pay, how much ticket prices need to be increased to cover the cost of an entirely separate facility and US government employees probably getting salaries commensurate with overseas placement). I would much rather the money be spent ensuring that the formalities in the US are properly taken care or expanded to meet actual demand, rather than building unnecessary facilities outside the country.
Everything I have heard is it is a disaster....slow slow and SLOW. It will be done away with in the new terminal, apparently.
I went thru this a few months ago, be aware, that once you clear customs/security, there are no vendors etc besides a coffee stand there, so if your looking to get thru customs early, and then go shopping, shop before you go. It can take up to an hour to clear, so just plan that before you enter. (having global entry helps cut the time to about 20 minutes)