Originally Posted by
droopydog
The other gotcha for IAD is that if you have a checked bag, you have to clear immigration/customs in the basement of terminal C, not the main terminal. There is no way out of the airport with your checked luggage from there. You have to recheck it and then clear TSA security into terminal C. If you have no checked luggage, you can go to the main terminal.
Agreed, but, also, the IAD pilot program could easily be introduced at any other airport without notice. They didn't warn travelers about the IAD program -- they just put a sign up saying "if you're connecting from A, B, or C to another international flight, your bags have been transferred automatically" or somesuch.
US airports seem to be moving more and more toward a combined immigration / customs check prior to baggage claim, where they will flag people who need additional screening once their bags have been unloaded. It's not a stretch to think that they will start to transfer bags automatically for all passengers except those who get flagged.
Someone considering HCT has to weigh many risks. This is one. It may not be a large one, but it's still a risk.