954 is delayed 2 hrs b/c the inbound a/c from MEX is 3 hrs late leaving. Great!

Heh, heh - great to read, enviroian, and thanks for updating the thread. How did transiting through customs and then to the PHX gate go? How much time would you have had before boarding (or door closing, I guess)?

[Edit: Oh, and dont you just love our "mobile lounges"? Aren't they the epitome of efficiency and convenience? *rolls eyes*)

Your welcome dhuberma! Transiting through customs/immigration was a breeze. I was seated in 17C so I was off the 772 pretty quick. I followed the connecting flights line, and there were two people in line (also due to the fact I walk at a clip of about 9 knts lol). The non US line was huge. According to channel 9, I think it was a Saudi flight. I was off the plane at 3.25 PM and walked out into the C concourse at 3.50 PM. Not bad considering I had to claim my rollerboard off the belt! So here I am all excited that I'm going to make my flight with no problem and I see the dreaded delayed

What I can't understand for the life of me, and this is not IAD specific, but WHY does TSA make one pass security again after just coming off a secure flight with no access to leave? Waste of time.

Since you have to reclaim your checked luggage to go through customs, you're no longer in a "sterile" part of the terminal. You might have had some items that are not allowed on board in your checked luggage. Therefore, you have to go through security again after rechecking your bags.

IIRC, some countries allow you to clear customs at your final destination so that you don't have to claim and recheck your bag. However, that's not really practical in the U.S., as you would have to have customs facilities at hundreds of airports.

Theoretically, an airport could provide a "hand luggage only" path after exiting the immigration that would lead directly to airside domestic; since you wouldn't have access to your checked luggage, you could still be considered to have been screened. However, I don't think the U.S. is willing to rely on other countries' screenings across the board, so I'd bet TSA would still want to rescreen pax in this case.