Checked Bags Not Scanning Properly at T1
Yesterday and today, US customs clearance out of T1 was having trouble with the auto bag scanners (the ones that take the pictures that the customs agents look at). As a result, there were a couple of hundred people in the holding area at the F gates waiting for their bags to be processed before they could clear US customs and immigration. If you go to customs prior to bags clearing you are sent to the holding area. Long lines of people in there speaking to gate agents after missing their flight. Our UA flight that checked in “full” probably had about 30 empty seats when it left the gate. My bags were eventually processed but they never made it onto the plane. A real mess. Until this gets sorted out I suggest not checking bags if you can avoid it, or else go to the airport hours before you normally would.