Lhr - nyc - lhr
Jun 4, 2019, 6:00 am
#17
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
I - and probably everyone else that holds it - really can't recommend GE (and importantly the associated TSAPre) highly enough. I cannot begin to imagine how many hours my c. £130 "investment" has saved me over the last nearly 5 years, even only averaging a US visit every 4 months or so. Two visits a year, so 10 visits over the course of the membership period, would still be an absolute no-brainer for me - keeping this BA-specific, at places like T7 where the general queues can be unpredictable, you don't have to worry about a missed connection and the associated risk of being downgraded to Y from J/F, your whole experience is so much more relaxed and predictable, and you can arrive much closer to your return flight time with TSAPre membership (although this is less of an advantage at JFK on BA).
Jun 4, 2019, 8:05 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: California
Posts: 463
I respect your travel style but for the avoidance of doubt it is $100 for five years = $20 per trip (assuming annual trips) plus better security experience departing (due to Precheck), which is less than one night's hostel stay.
Jun 4, 2019, 8:40 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: Mucci, BA, Hilton.
Posts: 1,158
Good afternoon all
I just had a couple of questiions. I just got back from a trip to nyc and i was wondering about a couple of things. I flew BA.
1. When landing into JFK, i was under the impression that we would be using the machines to clear customs as UK nationals.. We did not. We had to stand in that awful line in the dreadful hall that is like a sauna and it was terrible. We evidently turned up during everyones lunch break, because at one point there was only one agent dealing with the whole of the non US passengers of the plane. It took onwards of 3 hours for me to leave. It has never been that bad in JFK but are the automated machines no longer in use?
I just had a couple of questiions. I just got back from a trip to nyc and i was wondering about a couple of things. I flew BA.
1. When landing into JFK, i was under the impression that we would be using the machines to clear customs as UK nationals.. We did not. We had to stand in that awful line in the dreadful hall that is like a sauna and it was terrible. We evidently turned up during everyones lunch break, because at one point there was only one agent dealing with the whole of the non US passengers of the plane. It took onwards of 3 hours for me to leave. It has never been that bad in JFK but are the automated machines no longer in use?
Jun 4, 2019, 9:10 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
Jun 4, 2019, 9:12 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 610
16/5 - i dont think i would have been so annoyed but that cattle hall that they keep us all in is always so damn hot.. if they had air conditioning and not just one massive fan then it would be ok.
Jun 4, 2019, 9:15 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
I never realised BA’s US hub was so bad; Lax last time I went through was a dream with electronic readers; Seattle had some readers too
Is T7 now the exception to the rule in the US?
Is T7 now the exception to the rule in the US?
Jun 4, 2019, 10:07 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de Actes Bénéfiques pour les Autres, BAEC Gold.
Posts: 1,486
Jun 4, 2019, 10:30 am
#24
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,803
Yes, even places like Pittsburgh, Nashville, New Orleans and Charleston can manage machinery (and frankly almost no wait anyway).
Jun 4, 2019, 7:58 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: BA Exec Club - Gold
Posts: 171
I never released the APC kiosks ever made an appearance into JFK at any stage - I just assumed it had always been without! They must've popped in and out during a small hiatus of my travel to/from JFK.
Out of interest, does anyone know why is it just T7 that no longer uses them and why all terminals at JFK don't require visual and biometric checks by a human?
Out of interest, does anyone know why is it just T7 that no longer uses them and why all terminals at JFK don't require visual and biometric checks by a human?
Jun 5, 2019, 4:58 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
I travel on a French passport for now, but I'm looking forward to getting my British one to enter GE... Even for twice a year it'll be useful!
Jun 5, 2019, 5:05 am
#28
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,961
I never released the APC kiosks ever made an appearance into JFK at any stage - I just assumed it had always been without! They must've popped in and out during a small hiatus of my travel to/from JFK.
Out of interest, does anyone know why is it just T7 that no longer uses them and why all terminals at JFK don't require visual and biometric checks by a human?
Out of interest, does anyone know why is it just T7 that no longer uses them and why all terminals at JFK don't require visual and biometric checks by a human?
Also APC machines are definitiely not just for US citizen:
Who is eligible to use APC?
APC kiosks can be utilized by U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, Canadian citizens, travelers utilizing ESTA (Visa Waiver Program), and travelers entering with a B1/B2 or D visa.
Do travelers still have to fill out a Customs declaration form?
No, travelers will submit their Customs declaration form electronically via the kiosks. If a traveler has already filled out a Customs declaration form, it can be given to a CBP Officer for shredding.
APC kiosks can be utilized by U.S. citizens, U.S. legal permanent residents, Canadian citizens, travelers utilizing ESTA (Visa Waiver Program), and travelers entering with a B1/B2 or D visa.
Do travelers still have to fill out a Customs declaration form?
No, travelers will submit their Customs declaration form electronically via the kiosks. If a traveler has already filled out a Customs declaration form, it can be given to a CBP Officer for shredding.
Jun 5, 2019, 5:24 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,195
T7 is going to be demolished as part of the plans to create one of 2 mega terminals at JFK. BA will be moving to be with AA in T8 as part of this plan (though T8 will remain a separate terminal). time table for this is 2022-25. BA move likely to take place in 2022 and the new terminal fully by 2025. BA won’t be moving back.