Consolidated "Customs and Immigration at LAX" thread
Jun 21, 2023, 4:18 pm
#271
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Some more than others
Posts: 793
In the new GE set-up, the CBP agents have been calling out my name. I guess it pops up on their monitor. So, it had been a relatively good flow in the past...you get the machine to clear you and then as you walk to the exit/agent, the agent calls out "OskiBear" and you sort of mutually acknowledge each other and proceed. I did notice on Sunday that the officer wasn't actively calling out names so I slowed as I approached him and made eye contact at which point he then called my name and I moved on. I always figured that was a necessary step.
Jan 11, 2024, 7:43 am
#272
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sussex by the Sea
Programs: BA Silver, for now at least...
Posts: 600
Does anyone have recent experience of immigration at TBIT using the Mobile Passport App (I am a UK citizen, no GE). Are there separate lines at immigration for the app, are they clearly signed and do they make a difference?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 17, 2024, 4:37 am
#273
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,196
When are you travellng? Im away to LAX in a couple weeks I will try and report back.
Jan 23, 2024, 6:16 am
#276
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sussex by the Sea
Programs: BA Silver, for now at least...
Posts: 600
For anyone eligible, definitely download the MPC app and have it ready just in case. I landed into LAX on Thursday, seemingly 30m behind 2 massive asian flights. Going downstairs into the immigration hall, the non-US was horrendous - the worst I have ever seen - easily a 2 hour wait.
There were a couple of MPC signs upstairs, but nothing obvious once you went down the stairs into the main hall at TBIT. I kept walking past the main immigration line towards the US/GE queues and asked someone about MPC - and was directed to a separate desk which was marked for MPC, diplomats etc, and which was also clearly being used for people with express connection tickets. Desk was no. 44 or close to that - was next to the crew entry desks.
I was through in 10m max, so easily saved 2 hours.
Interestingly BA announced MPC as part of the arrival speech, but said it was only available to US/Canadian citizens
. Hopefully it remains a secret 
.
There were a couple of MPC signs upstairs, but nothing obvious once you went down the stairs into the main hall at TBIT. I kept walking past the main immigration line towards the US/GE queues and asked someone about MPC - and was directed to a separate desk which was marked for MPC, diplomats etc, and which was also clearly being used for people with express connection tickets. Desk was no. 44 or close to that - was next to the crew entry desks.
I was through in 10m max, so easily saved 2 hours.
Interestingly BA announced MPC as part of the arrival speech, but said it was only available to US/Canadian citizens
. Hopefully it remains a secret .
Jan 24, 2024, 3:38 am
#277
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,196
For anyone eligible, definitely download the MPC app and have it ready just in case. I landed into LAX on Thursday, seemingly 30m behind 2 massive asian flights. Going downstairs into the immigration hall, the non-US was horrendous - the worst I have ever seen - easily a 2 hour wait.
There were a couple of MPC signs upstairs, but nothing obvious once you went down the stairs into the main hall at TBIT. I kept walking past the main immigration line towards the US/GE queues and asked someone about MPC - and was directed to a separate desk which was marked for MPC, diplomats etc, and which was also clearly being used for people with express connection tickets. Desk was no. 44 or close to that - was next to the crew entry desks.
I was through in 10m max, so easily saved 2 hours.
Interestingly BA announced MPC as part of the arrival speech, but said it was only available to US/Canadian citizens. Hopefully it remains a secret .
There were a couple of MPC signs upstairs, but nothing obvious once you went down the stairs into the main hall at TBIT. I kept walking past the main immigration line towards the US/GE queues and asked someone about MPC - and was directed to a separate desk which was marked for MPC, diplomats etc, and which was also clearly being used for people with express connection tickets. Desk was no. 44 or close to that - was next to the crew entry desks.
I was through in 10m max, so easily saved 2 hours.
Interestingly BA announced MPC as part of the arrival speech, but said it was only available to US/Canadian citizens
. Hopefully it remains a secret .
Jul 15, 2024, 2:47 am
#280
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Sussex by the Sea
Programs: BA Silver, for now at least...
Posts: 600
Still operating exactly as I described above - arrived 1pm last Thursday, and there is a separate roped off section in the middle of the hall at TBIT - desks 42-44, all clearly marked for 'Express connection, diplomats and MPC. Show the staff there your MPC app open and they will let you in. We were through in 10 minutes, compared to a good 2 hours for the main line I reckon.
Jul 15, 2024, 4:29 am
#281
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,856
Still operating exactly as I described above - arrived 1pm last Thursday, and there is a separate roped off section in the middle of the hall at TBIT - desks 42-44, all clearly marked for 'Express connection, diplomats and MPC. Show the staff there your MPC app open and they will let you in. We were through in 10 minutes, compared to a good 2 hours for the main line I reckon.
Jul 15, 2024, 7:42 am
#282
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 21,196
Jul 15, 2024, 1:33 pm
#283
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,441
I came thru TBIT immigration 2 weeks ago with Global Entry. There was no line and took about 5 seconds for the kiosk to take my photo and I was thru. From getting off my JL flight to curb side was about 7 minutes, including a stop at the restroom at the far end of TBIT immigration because I knew that one is always empty. Took a lot longer to get out of the horseshoe traffic... can't wait for the APM to start running.
Global Entry is a good example of when the US Govt works, it really works.
Global Entry is a good example of when the US Govt works, it really works.
Jul 15, 2024, 3:26 pm
#284
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
Programs: UA Gold & MM; DL & AA credit card dirt status; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Fool's Gold
Posts: 4,701
Jul 15, 2024, 11:22 pm
#285
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,856
I came thru TBIT immigration 2 weeks ago with Global Entry. There was no line and took about 5 seconds for the kiosk to take my photo and I was thru. From getting off my JL flight to curb side was about 7 minutes, including a stop at the restroom at the far end of TBIT immigration because I knew that one is always empty. Took a lot longer to get out of the horseshoe traffic... can't wait for the APM to start running.
Global Entry is a good example of when the US Govt works, it really works.
Global Entry is a good example of when the US Govt works, it really works.