BA A350 to Chicago - which exit is used?
Mar 11, 2022, 1:47 am
#1
Original Poster
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BA A350 to Chicago - which exit is used?
I want to be nice an close to the exit so as to be at the front of the mad rush to immigration. Is the exit at the front of the plane or the exit between the two Club World cabins used in Chicago?
Mar 11, 2022, 2:10 am
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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It's door 2L. But it's an urban myth that this makes any difference to arrival at passports. I know it feels like some people take forever to get off an aircraft, but in reality the difference is vastly eclipsed by (a) your walking speed and (b) whether the Germans have gotten in first. If this is the sort of thing that irks you then it's time to get Global Entry.
Mar 11, 2022, 3:02 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
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It's door 2L. But it's an urban myth that this makes any difference to arrival at passports. I know it feels like some people take forever to get off an aircraft, but in reality the difference is vastly eclipsed by (a) your walking speed and (b) whether the Germans have gotten in first. If this is the sort of thing that irks you then it's time to get Global Entry.
Mar 11, 2022, 3:03 am
#4
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Thanks, CWS. I considered Global Entry but after hearing the stories my US colleague told me about getting Pre-check (I mean the interview process was the third degree), I decided not to. Anyway, after 14 years of monthly cross-Atlantic and a very welcome 2 years break, I am never going back to that frequency again. So I will be patient in the queues.
Mar 11, 2022, 3:24 am
#5
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Thanks, CWS. I considered Global Entry but after hearing the stories my US colleague told me about getting Pre-check (I mean the interview process was the third degree), I decided not to. Anyway, after 14 years of monthly cross-Atlantic and a very welcome 2 years break, I am never going back to that frequency again. So I will be patient in the queues.
Mar 11, 2022, 3:28 am
#6
Original Poster
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She had a snotty sheriff (or something similar) who wanted to show who was in charge and asked her about every detail of every traffic violation. I assume then it is down to who you get and what kind of day they are having and how misogynistic they are (in the case of a female applicant).
Mar 11, 2022, 3:37 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2018
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Thanks, CWS. I considered Global Entry but after hearing the stories my US colleague told me about getting Pre-check (I mean the interview process was the third degree), I decided not to. Anyway, after 14 years of monthly cross-Atlantic and a very welcome 2 years break, I am never going back to that frequency again. So I will be patient in the queues.
I think the US authorities have already vetted you to the hilt before the interview stage, if nothing remains unanswered by the interview stage then its a pretty simple step.
Global Entry has saved me at least 20 hours in the last 3 or 4 years.
Mar 11, 2022, 3:38 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2008
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Posts: 486
If you want to get off the plane first to beat the rush to immigration, just get Global Entry. I have never encountered a line at the machines. You are more than likely to have a jumbo full of people ahead of you in the immigration lines, even when you are off first. Last month took less than 10 seconds to get my approval from the GE machine. $100 well spent!
Mar 11, 2022, 3:49 am
#9
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: 63,827
She had a snotty sheriff (or something similar) who wanted to show who was in charge and asked her about every detail of every traffic violation. I assume then it is down to who you get and what kind of day they are having and how misogynistic they are (in the case of a female applicant).
Mar 11, 2022, 5:19 am
#10
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
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Hmm... that reminds me. I paid £40 and then $100 (I think) for GE in about September 2019. Never got to the interview stage thanks to Covid. I suspect my application has expired! Grrr...
Mar 11, 2022, 5:21 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
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Along the same lines as CWS my Global Entry was 1 question: "have you robbed any banks recently?"
I think the US authorities have already vetted you to the hilt before the interview stage, if nothing remains unanswered by the interview stage then its a pretty simple step.
Global Entry has saved me at least 20 hours in the last 3 or 4 years.
I think the US authorities have already vetted you to the hilt before the interview stage, if nothing remains unanswered by the interview stage then its a pretty simple step.
Global Entry has saved me at least 20 hours in the last 3 or 4 years.
Mar 11, 2022, 5:24 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,105
My own pre-check interview, which admittedly was during the trial stage, was entirely about Brandon Flowers, of the Killers, so I've had more stressful encounters at the ticket counter of Hexham train station. I'm not aware of any of my colleagues having more than a cursory check that the CBP agent is talking to the same person whose record is on screen. If you are American then you are in a different relationship to the CBP, but in your case you would appreciate that pre-check is an offer not an entitlement. And you only do it once.
Not entirely true that you only do it once however. When I renewed I was not called to a second interview, but my husband (US citizen) was, and we had to do it on a trip there last year.
Mar 11, 2022, 6:02 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: GLA
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Thanks, CWS. I considered Global Entry but after hearing the stories my US colleague told me about getting Pre-check (I mean the interview process was the third degree), I decided not to. Anyway, after 14 years of monthly cross-Atlantic and a very welcome 2 years break, I am never going back to that frequency again. So I will be patient in the queues.
Mar 11, 2022, 6:07 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
I'm looking forward to a speedy Enrollment on Arrival early next month - will report back. My previous interview was in person at the old US embassy, and whilst the interview lasted all of five minutes, it cost a half day off work ! Prefer this new way