AUH pre-clearance situation these days
Nov 30, 2016, 3:23 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,120
Was curious about the preclearance situation these days...
We're in F AUH-JFK on the 3:30am flight. We're connecting, so checkin isn't an issue. But really, how long before 3:30am do we need to leave the F lounge? We both have Global Entry. Surely it doesn't take two hours to make it from lounge to plane? Does it?
We're in F AUH-JFK on the 3:30am flight. We're connecting, so checkin isn't an issue. But really, how long before 3:30am do we need to leave the F lounge? We both have Global Entry. Surely it doesn't take two hours to make it from lounge to plane? Does it?
Nov 30, 2016, 4:12 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
My problem was that the flight to ORD is the last of the night departure group, at 3:55am, so by the time I went through about 45min in advance, the preclearance hall was empty and everyone was eager to go home. The immigration officer didn't hassle me, but was clearly restless. You don't want to get an immigration officer upset.
My recent flights out of AUH have not been more than 15 min late taking off, and have arrived early. Perhaps they have reduced the delays of the early days of preclearance. The gate area is extremely crowded, however.
My recent flights out of AUH have not been more than 15 min late taking off, and have arrived early. Perhaps they have reduced the delays of the early days of preclearance. The gate area is extremely crowded, however.
Nov 30, 2016, 4:42 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
Dec 13, 2016, 4:05 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I go 60 min before departure and that includes time for customs as I travel with samples that I must pay duty on (refuse to cut them so samples are not duty free). Takes no more then an extra 10-15 min
Jun 28, 2019, 12:45 am
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 345
Reviving an old thread. I would appreciate any updates on the pre-clearance at AUH. I have a flight in F AUH-JFK coming up and have Global Entry/US Passport. I know its during the bank of US bound flight departures in the morning so I wondered are there problems heading to pre-clearance around 45 minutes to departure vs 60? Are GE kiosks up and working? Separate lines for GE and/or premium passengers? Id like to use the F lounge for an hour or so before heading to the flight and dont want to just wait around in the much smaller lounge after pre-clearance. Thanks in advance!
Jun 28, 2019, 2:21 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: QR - plat (OWE), AI - Maharajah (* gold), Bonvoy - plat, HH - gold, Shangri La - jade, Sixt - plat
Posts: 231
I'm keenly following this thread.
We are in J on the 9:35am EY101 to JFK on July 14 (mid July, Sunday - if that matters). This is our first US bound flight on EY since pre-clearance started in AUH. What time should we leave the J lounge? We are travelling on non-US passports and don't have GE.
If on time, we arrive in AUH at 7am and would ideally like to visit the J lounge for a shower and breakfast prior to clearing US immigration as I understand the lounge post immigration has no shower facilities and very little F&B.
We are in J on the 9:35am EY101 to JFK on July 14 (mid July, Sunday - if that matters). This is our first US bound flight on EY since pre-clearance started in AUH. What time should we leave the J lounge? We are travelling on non-US passports and don't have GE.
If on time, we arrive in AUH at 7am and would ideally like to visit the J lounge for a shower and breakfast prior to clearing US immigration as I understand the lounge post immigration has no shower facilities and very little F&B.
Last edited by vbh812; Jun 28, 2019 at 2:35 am
Jul 7, 2019, 11:17 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Programs: EY Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 426
its fairly quick ive found, though the ESTA terminals haven't been working the last 2 times over goner though it.
I usually go to the gate and the PC facility 30mins before departure. there is also a small crappy J,F lounge after the facility too...
I usually go to the gate and the PC facility 30mins before departure. there is also a small crappy J,F lounge after the facility too...
Jul 10, 2019, 8:27 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
I went a few months ago, they wouldn't even let me into the business class lounge at T-88. Boarding time on our boarding pass was T-90, which I presume in this case means report to the PC 90 minutes before the flight. When we reached the PC at T-90 they were doing 'final calls' for our flight. Ridiculous considering we were USC with GE. We ended up just waiting around near the gate eating $8 slices of pizza. Terrible.
Jul 11, 2019, 5:19 am
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 345
To update, I showed up at the pre clearance around 930AM for the 1030AM departure to IAD. I have a US Passport and Global Entry so it was a breeze as there are the GE machines and a specific lane to use to see an official. I frankly think the whole pre clearance thing is silly and EY should end it because there is still waiting around and they started looking for me in the EY First Lounge around 845AM to send me to the pre clearance area where I would have had to simply sit around. It does not make for a pleasant experience and would be so much nicer just to walk to the gate to board rather than feeling pressure to get through formalities so far in advance of the flight and then have to wait around in the much smaller (and crowded) lounge or departure area.
Jul 11, 2019, 7:12 am
#28
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
To update, I showed up at the pre clearance around 930AM for the 1030AM departure to IAD. I have a US Passport and Global Entry so it was a breeze as there are the GE machines and a specific lane to use to see an official. I frankly think the whole pre clearance thing is silly and EY should end it because there is still waiting around and they started looking for me in the EY First Lounge around 845AM to send me to the pre clearance area where I would have had to simply sit around. It does not make for a pleasant experience and would be so much nicer just to walk to the gate to board rather than feeling pressure to get through formalities so far in advance of the flight and then have to wait around in the much smaller (and crowded) lounge or departure area.
Jul 11, 2019, 7:51 am
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 345
They did advise me to leave and I told the agent I would shortly and that I had GE so I didnt want to go so early and she left it at that.