JFK T8 security is a nightmare
Mar 26, 2024, 1:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 226
JFK T8 security is a nightmare
Last week I arrived on BA173 travelling First. Was second off the aircraft heading towards security. There were two lines at security and I joined one and over the next 15/20 minutes moved quite close to the desks. Then a TSA agent directed me and a number of people I'd been in First with and some others to join a different, even longer line. It took another 40 minutes to clear security and I saw people who were a lot further back in the original queue clear it 20 minutes before me! It meant priority disembarkation meant absolutely nothing. Utter chaos.
Mar 26, 2024, 1:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,287
Mar 26, 2024, 1:59 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,043
Mar 26, 2024, 2:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Devon, UK
Programs: VS Silver; Matmid Silver, BA Bronze; Accor Plat.
Posts: 961
I sometimes get in the wrong queue with my Nectar card in Sainsbury's....seriously that's the lottery of all immigration queues, just because you flew in first means nothing....I have flown in economy and got through quickly because I knew where I was going and also got lucky. You all will have got the same cheerful greeting by CBP
Mar 26, 2024, 2:33 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 231
Yep, hard to not justify the spend on GE - I was through within 2 minutes last night vs. a line at least 150 people deep greeting the rest of the BA113 passengers while the CBP agents did their usual lazy meander around the immigration hall to decide if they fancied working their shift or not.
Mar 26, 2024, 2:36 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,272
I’d second Global Entry. Been banging on to friends for a long while, they did it last week, got their codes and were approved in a handful of days. Will do interview on arrival at LAX in a fortnight. Then we can travel together again 
Mar 26, 2024, 2:38 pm
#10
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,950
So you flew into JFK over spring break and it was busy - frustrating but nothing to do with BA unfortunately.
M
M
Mar 26, 2024, 3:45 pm
#11
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
Mar 26, 2024, 6:27 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,834
Last week I arrived on BA173 travelling First. Was second off the aircraft heading towards security. There were two lines at security and I joined one and over the next 15/20 minutes moved quite close to the desks. Then a TSA agent directed me and a number of people I'd been in First with and some others to join a different, even longer line. It took another 40 minutes to clear security and I saw people who were a lot further back in the original queue clear it 20 minutes before me! It meant priority disembarkation meant absolutely nothing. Utter chaos.
Well over an hour in an immigration line in my last two BA JFK arrivals in F within the last 6 months, both of them arriving just after a Qatar DOH arrival. The demand swapping of lines by barking operatives is all part of the First "experience" if you don't have Global Entry, US passport, or green card.
Apr 1, 2024, 2:25 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold; Virgin FF; United Airlines; American Airlines; and was frequent c/c churner - RIP!
Posts: 945
Any idea how long the GE interview process is likely to take? I’m into T8 in Oct with 3hr 30min connection for flight to LAX. Wondering if I apply if that is long enough. Travelling HBO.
Apr 1, 2024, 7:15 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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