Over time, there have been many posts on multiple topics related to AY's USA destinations scattered throughout various different threads. I wouldn't think each individual destination requires its own dedicated thread a la LHR, BKK, SIN, but I thought one consolidating thread for questions related to any of DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD, SEA (and other possible destinations) may be useful and make it easier for finding information in the future.

I can start by asking how fast do you normally get through the transfer process at DFW (immigration, luggage pick-up and drop-off, etc)? Mostly thinking about how long of a connection to book while having enough time to comfortably enjoy a salad or two without being rushed or lounging around too long.

US airports immigration is never normal.

You never know what will happen or how long it will take.

If you look up SNAFU in the dictionary there will be pictures of U.S. Border Control and TLV security procedures. It may be a breeze if you arrive at the right timr, it may be a long march if passport control machines are broken and an employee may randomly cut your time in half by deciding to rearrange things.

When waiting in the queue it is good to remember the words of a famous philosopher:

The couple of times I've flown AY to DFW in the last 12 months immigration has taken either 1-2 minutes or 45 minutes. The 45 minute wait was when the lines looked absolutely impossible and stretched all the way close to the jet bridges. Still made my 1h30 connection so I would say DFW is one of the better US airports for immigration.

There are also several security check points to choose from after dropping of your luggage. The one closest to the exit from immigration often has the longest lines as that is where the signs direct you.

My US immigration experience:
- Sample size ~150
- Timeframe: Last 20 years
- Airports: JFK (most often used), ORD, DFW, LAX, MIA, BOS, SEA, SFO
- Worst waiting time ~2,5 hours (ESTA arrivals)
- Average waiting time ~30 mins (ESTA arrivals)
- No big difference on average waiting times over this time span (ESTA arrivals)

Great idea for a thread!

For those without Global Entry and entering on ESTA, I recommend downloading the Mobile Passport Control app. Never needed it myself with GE but seems to be pretty speedy based on the thread in the Trusted Security forum. However, at some airports the obnoxious contract workers will try to lie and say MPC is for US citizens.

US CBP Mobile Passport Control App (MPC)

How noob I didnt realize this👍

Good to have you onbord here with your wealth of US knowledge

I was entering at LAX (may-june) with MPC and there were no signs for it. No one knew about it. Everyone was put in the same q.

Luckily i rushed off the plane and got to almost empty immigration hall with about 10-15 people in front of me. Before i was processed there had 2 other planes land (EK and BR) and suddenly the q was up to escalators. With 4 officers on duty.

Ok I am gonna report back my experience as a long story. Conclusion if you don't have patience for that long story, is that: transit in US with tight schedule should never be an option.

The other day I asked in other thread for advice for transit under 1hr55 in JFK for LIM-JFK-HEL, a ticket sold by AY as the first option if you search LIM - HEL.
Like everyone here warned me , missing the connection is quite possible.But because my schedule again changed and one night delay at worst is OK so I thought I would bite the bullet. Gosh how naive I was and the reality was way more brutal than this.

LATAM flight was DELAYED 10mins departure from LIM, and landed 30Mins LATE at JFK due to traffic control. I rushed to get off the plane before everyone else and when I entered the immigration in T4, ZERO passengers there (There was MPC lane btw). 2mins I passed it, but waiting for luggage arrival still took the time. By the time I reached AY desk in T8 it was missed 10mins. Then I was asked to go back to T4 LATAM desk to get assistance because not a problem caused by AY they won't help. But T4 LA desk by that time already closed from 10pm. So I was left without assistance but to deal with it on my own.

Real disaster from then on. It was the 3rd day affected by Croudstrikle IT thing, and there was large scale of delays and cancellation from Delta (that was reason no one in T4 immigration actually). And booking.com was suffering issues with last minutes bookings nearby JFK it stoped refecting real time capacity so you have to call hotel to make sure there is capacity. So I called more than 30 hotels for an hour, everywhere was fully booked. And I spent over a hundred bucks in taxi heading into town to just get a hotel to stay (not to mention I was turned away from the first hotel in town, because their system was also f* by Croudstrikle and it was booked full even though my booking payment went through in the first place) . By the time I got a hotel and touched the bed it was 3am 😮‍💨.

My other peers who took the same route a week later who know nothing about transit in US getting through everything without problem in 1hr55.

Lessons learned: it is doable for a tight transit in US, provided that everything works ON TIME without SURPRISE. AY sold LA ticket as part of their flight but it wasn't a code-shared and if anything happens AY doesn't give a word at all. I get the reimbursement by LA in the end, although LA was reluctant because 10minslate departure was nothing and 30mins late arrival was also out of their control, until I pointed out that this transit was below the minimum MTC in JFK, and I only asked for accomodations/taxi/food reimbursed not something extra (the expensive call bill is fortunately covered by my company) , then LA agree to pay. And I am still waiting for the money arrives into my bank account until today.

Good idea for a thread. For family and work reasons I�ve traveled six times to DFW during the past two years. IMO DFW is one of the best points of entry to the US. The longest wait time in the immigration has been 40 minutes, usually it has been much faster. Also, the officers are�almost nice. Re-checking bags is a breeze, and monorail makes moving between gates easy.

Elligble is "returning Visa Waiver Program applicants" - is 'returning' to be understood as from the second visit on each ESTA? Ie if on a new ESTA, then you are not a returning VWP applicant (even if you have visited before) and thus not elligble for MPC?

Sounds like a total disaster Of course, the IT meltdown is an unusual occurence, but the fact that AY took no responsibility is a bit surprising. And you mean you got to their desk ten minutes after check-in closed? So they could have accepted you on the flight if they had wanted?

Yeah, I would not plan transit in the US from an international flight. Domestic to international, especially without terminal changes, is a breeze, but arriving from an international flight, I tend to plan an overnight layover before continuing my journey.

Also seems like AY19 is consistently early, if not on time, which also eases a "short" connection time at DFW. By what I was able to see, it hasn't been considerably late since April.

When I showed up there with my luggage at AY desk, they just didn't accept me, saying "you're too late unfortunately, you could have made it 10mins earlier".

And yes, the part that AY took zero responsibility is the most surprising for me. I was naive to think that if I miss the connection I would be covered by AY policy😮‍💨.

Returning ESTA is defined as having entered once before as VWP, not necessarily the same ESTA. This was confirmed on businessclass.se. Further, the CBP website is out of date, it still talks about a QR code which is no longer a thing. The App itself doesn’t have any language mentioning “returning”, just VWP travelers in general.