golfmad

The problem was never the time it took to deal with the immigration officer, it was the time it took to get to see the immigration officer while standing in line. If that time is cut then that could be a significant time saving?

Often1

Before people turn OP's simple trip through IAD into a nightmare, the new Customs system is simply a pilot program. Thus, it is double-"staffed" by machines and people. Presuming that it functions, most people will simply turn their slip into a Customs agent as they exit the facility and other than random secondaries to keep everybody honest, that will be it.

For OP, arriving on BA, he will be transported to the International Arrivals Building. He should ignore the advice above about connections on UA as that is a different facility and routing at a completely different terminal.

Once OP has finished with immigration and Customs, he can either drop his bag at the re-check desk for AA (it will already be tagged to DFW) or if for some reason it is not tagged to DFW, check it in for DFW (unlikely).

At this point OP is in the arrivals area of IAD and simply heads upstairs to the departures floor, follows the sign to the appropriate security checkpoint, clears security and heads out to his AA gate.

corporate-wage-slave

The overwhelming experience of the roll out of these machines at a number of US airports is that it reduces queuing time for non-US citizens quite considerably. If you are the first to the desk and the hall is empty there isn't an expectation that you use these machines, but if there is a queue then from I've seen elsewhere you will be through more quickly. I'm GE so I don't have a dog in this fight, but I can see it is a good thing. Miami, to take one example. They are hugely popular with customers and airport management.

Welcome to Flyertalk NB12, welcome to the BA board, and thanks for passing on that information. I hope we will see plenty more of you here. Welcome on board.

T8191

Good call, Often1 ... We digressed, for which I apologise as the main culprit!

NB12

Thanks cws - hoping these will speed up the immigration process when I'm next at IAD the day before Thanksgiving.

And apologies all for starting the off topic digression!

noniron

I'm going to try this on Saturday and will report back.

noniron

Mods
I think we need a thread merge on this topic
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...press-iad.html

paulriddler

What is the MCT going from IAD Terminal D (domestic arrivals) to Terminal C (international departures); is there a security checkpoint to pass through? I have about 1h20m between my UA flights (TPA-IAD-CDG); will my checked bag catch-up with the out-bound flight?

I know that this has been asked many times but didn't find an exact response

whimsey21

C and D are connected (2 halves of the same structure)- you can walk from one to the other with no security check between them. Assuming no delays, your baggage should have no issues.

darthlemsip

With these machines do your fingerprints already have to be 'in the system' from a previous trip to the US where you've interacted with a human at immigration, or is just having the ESTA enough?

Mrs Lem travelling on her new passport for the first time when we go to IAD in June, so would be useful to know whether to head straight to the machines if the hall is busy