Earlier Opening for Customs & Immigration @ SFO, UA flights still arrive before open
Nov 9, 2018, 12:29 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: San Jose, CA USA
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Any recent experience here? My daughter is flying in from Tel Aviv tomorrow morning on UA. Flight is scheduled to arrive at 6am, but it has been arriving about an hour early all week. If her plane is early, will she need to wait until customs opens? If so what time?
Nov 9, 2018, 1:00 pm
#17
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UA 916 Mon Nov 5 - we landed early at 06:10. Customs/immigration was open and staffed. I have GE and there were only 2 of us at the kiosks and not many people in the regular line.
Nov 9, 2018, 4:46 pm
#18
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On my latest arrival into SFO, they crew was well prepared - they told us when we took off what exactly will happen: seat belt sign off and cannot take bags out until very close to 6 AM.
6 AM, door opened. Cargo door did not open before 6.
In the past, with multiple arrivals, first bag did not even come out until 6:40 for my flight once. This time, it was better - I think 6:25ish. So, I think UA is improving on this front. If they can only work out a deal with the government to open the cargo doors and get ready to unload the bags before 6 AM...
6 AM, door opened. Cargo door did not open before 6.
In the past, with multiple arrivals, first bag did not even come out until 6:40 for my flight once. This time, it was better - I think 6:25ish. So, I think UA is improving on this front. If they can only work out a deal with the government to open the cargo doors and get ready to unload the bags before 6 AM...
Nov 9, 2018, 4:48 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,060
Nov 10, 2018, 9:38 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Just to confirm, daughter's plane scheduled to arrive at 6am this morning. Plane arrived at 5:10am and everyone had to wait inside plane until 6am when customs opened. And, of course, my daughter asked for water while waiting on the ground and the friendly skies said "no more drink service".......
I had assumed this was the case and didn't show up to get her until 6:20.
I had assumed this was the case and didn't show up to get her until 6:20.
Nov 10, 2018, 9:55 am
#21
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Just to confirm, daughter's plane scheduled to arrive at 6am this morning. Plane arrived at 5:10am and everyone had to wait inside plane until 6am when customs opened. And, of course, my daughter asked for water while waiting on the ground and the friendly skies said "no more drink service".......
I had assumed this was the case and didn't show up to get her until 6:20.
I had assumed this was the case and didn't show up to get her until 6:20.
Thanks for confirming 6am. I guess I've been lucky with my early morning SFO arrivals.
Nov 10, 2018, 9:59 am
#22
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,060
Just to confirm, daughter's plane scheduled to arrive at 6am this morning. Plane arrived at 5:10am and everyone had to wait inside plane until 6am when customs opened. And, of course, my daughter asked for water while waiting on the ground and the friendly skies said "no more drink service".......
I had assumed this was the case and didn't show up to get her until 6:20.
I had assumed this was the case and didn't show up to get her until 6:20.
Nov 10, 2018, 10:24 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
In addition to the TLV curfew, the actual flight time of a flight that long will vary significantly with changes in wind. Just a 50 knot (57 mph) change in average wind will change the flight time by close to 90 minutes. You have to build time into the schedule so that days with unfavorable winds don't result in two-hour arrival delays. When the winds are more favorable you'll arrive early.
Jan 22, 2020, 7:51 am
#25
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 343
TPE-SFO arrived over an hour early this morning. There were at least 3 announcements about arriving too early for CBP and to stay seated. FAs at first were like hawks on people getting up and then they relented after a minute.
Even at TPE they announced we'd be early. This seems to happen here and there. I'm sure there is a good reason why it is scheduled this way. But how hard would it be to push it back even a half-hour?
Even at TPE they announced we'd be early. This seems to happen here and there. I'm sure there is a good reason why it is scheduled this way. But how hard would it be to push it back even a half-hour?
Jan 22, 2020, 9:04 am
#26
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,060
TPE-SFO arrived over an hour early this morning. There were at least 3 announcements about arriving too early for CBP and to stay seated. FAs at first were like hawks on people getting up and then they relented after a minute.
Even at TPE they announced we'd be early. This seems to happen here and there. I'm sure there is a good reason why it is scheduled this way. But how hard would it be to push it back even a half-hour?
Even at TPE they announced we'd be early. This seems to happen here and there. I'm sure there is a good reason why it is scheduled this way. But how hard would it be to push it back even a half-hour?
Jan 22, 2020, 9:14 am
#27
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Jan 22, 2020, 5:58 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
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Jan 22, 2020, 8:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
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Posts: 771
I’ve arrived at IAH more than once before the IAH CBP opening time of 6am [edit - think it might be 5am]. Never been held captive on the plane... allowed to deplane and then line up in the walkway area prior to descending down into the processing area. Not much of a wait (5-15 mins) but at least this way you’re in line ahead of any other (later) arrivals
Last edited by Dyce; Jan 23, 2020 at 12:04 am
Jan 22, 2020, 8:38 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
Airlines get charged parking fees, usually by minute, it just costs less to park at a stand rather than a gate.