I've got a flight on CO, CLE-YUL-CLE in April. Just curious where exactly is the customs area at CLE? In 10+ years of (domestic) travel there as my home base, I've never seen any indication of it.

I don't suppose my Global Entry membership does me any good there? Wasn't sure if a GE member can go to the front of the line if the airport is not equipped with the kiosks...

You pre-clear in YUL so it doesn't matter so much.

Not sure if Global Entry works for the pre-clearance in YUL.

Just for future knowledge.. they are located in the A terminal.

On my LGW-CLE trip, customs was a breeze they were waiting for us to arrive!

It doesn't look like this will come into play for you, but...

From Clevelandairport.com


"The United States Customs and Border Protection Agency provides inspection services for international passengers who arrive at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). The Agency is located on the ramp level of Concourse A, across from Gate #5."

Since CO has no gates at A, did they bring you through some secret, sterile tunnel from a C gate to the customs area? or do they pull the plane up to an A gate, then move it to C or D after the plane is empty?

CO international flights will arrive at the A gates where all passengers will clear customs and immigrations, and after the aircraft has been unloaded and wht not, it will be towed to a gate on the C concourse.

We arrived at A gate and then we were transported via bus.

Greetings from the land of CLE. BRRRRRRRR!!!!

The City of Cleveland owns and maintains a few gates on the A concourse.

There is a wall with doors that can be locked when an international arrival is deplaning. When these doors are locked, the only "path" leads you right to the Customs and Immigration area. After customers clear there, there is an exit onto the A concourse. Customers will have to be screened prior to going onto the A concouse.

The reason for the rescreening is that customers have had access to their checked baggage during the Customs inspection piece.

YUL is one the cities in Canada that pre-clears customers so A concourse will not come into play in this case.

Have a great day!

Just to clarify/elaborate. There are 3 common-use, city-owned international arrival gates in CLE: A9/A11/A14 leading to the FIS area located on the lower level of A. After clearing immigration and customs, you have 2 options: 1) for connecting passengers, go through TSA security screening and exit the FIS into the A concourse on the upper level across from A5; or 2) for passengers terminating their flights in CLE, exit FIS through a door leading to a CLE bus that drops you off at northernmost end of the baggage claim level (near the USO club and carousel 1). Last time I was there (this past summer), they allowed you to drag your bags onto the bus, although you may also put them back onto a belt and have them delivered at the regular carousel (usually #9 for CO flights). Right now, only CUN flights on CO need to clear customs in CLE.