Consolidated "Customs and Immigration at LAX" thread
Jun 21, 2023, 4:18 pm
#271
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Some more than others
Posts: 774
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: 581
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: 1,166
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: 581
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: 1,166
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 .