Originally Posted by bAAyAAreAA
I was thinking that since IAD is UA's major hub, most passengers would be connecting here... so the actual passengers that leave at IAD are significantly less and the lines would be shorter. Can anyone confirm my assumption?
True, Dulles is a UA hub, but I haven't had any trouble getting through immigration & customs the 15+ times I've passed through IAD on the way to Denver. Your mileage may vary, as it sounds like it did on your recent flight.
Three reasons to NOT go to the main Immigration facility (locals, please correct me if any of these statements are no longer true):
1. The Immigration facility at Concourse D is for Concourse D carriers only (United & Lufthansa). At the main facility, you'll be in line with passengers from many of the international carriers that fly to Dulles. The wait times could be shorter -- or much, much longer.
2. Instead of just going downstairs to Immigration, you have to take a PeopleMover bus to the main facility and back to the United concourses, which will add to your transit time.
3. You have to go back through security to get back to the United concourses.
ALSO: If you have checked luggage, you HAVE to go to the Concourse D Immigration so you can claim it, walk it through customs, and re-check it. You probably know this, but it seems worthwhile to clarify.
Yuck. We're coming back from Cancun via IAD in two weeks. I hope the long line isn't a consistent thing.