Earlier Opening for Customs & Immigration @ SFO, UA flights still arrive before open
Feb 12, 2016, 10:27 am
#1
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Earlier Opening for Customs & Immigration @ SFO, UA flights still arrive before open
As some of you might know, the customs and immigration does not open at SFO until 7:30 AM. If a plane gets in earlier, they are not allowed to open the door until 7:30.
I found out today that is changing but don't know the details. For example, when will this start and how early will they open? Will they have different summer and winter schedules?
It seems UA has moved some flights up. For example. TPE flight will depart TPE 9:50 and get into SFO at 6:25 in the summer (and 11:30/6:35 in the winter). I guess earlier arrival provides more possibilities to connect on the US side but one has to get up earlier on the other side.
I found out today that is changing but don't know the details. For example, when will this start and how early will they open? Will they have different summer and winter schedules?
It seems UA has moved some flights up. For example. TPE flight will depart TPE 9:50 and get into SFO at 6:25 in the summer (and 11:30/6:35 in the winter). I guess earlier arrival provides more possibilities to connect on the US side but one has to get up earlier on the other side.
Feb 12, 2016, 10:59 am
#3
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Jun 4, 2016, 4:55 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2008
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Yes. We landed from TLV at about 5:45am this morning and waited on the plane until 6am and then went through immigration, customs, etc.
Jun 7, 2016, 1:13 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2010
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This morning (07JUN) UA 872 from TPE arrived in SFO at 6:30am but passengers were asked to stay inside the aircraft until the official arrival time 6:50am. The reason was "flow control".
Flight from TLV arrived at 6am. Passengers from XIY and TPE got out of the planes around the same time (6:50).
I noticed that the arrival time of UA872 of past few days is always 6:50am. Never earlier.
Flight from TLV arrived at 6am. Passengers from XIY and TPE got out of the planes around the same time (6:50).
I noticed that the arrival time of UA872 of past few days is always 6:50am. Never earlier.
Sep 16, 2016, 11:47 pm
#7
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Consolidated Arrived at Gate, Immigration Not Open Thread?
I flew into SFO today and landed about 5:50 AM. We got to the gate and had to wait until 6:30 for Immigration to open. They could not even unload the bags until 6:30 so the bags did not start coming out until about 7 AM.
It seems the FLIFO shows door open time so these flights show on-time. The TLV flight seemed to have landed about 5 AM and had to wait until 6. It seems maybe they got processed before 6:30 and maybe they didn't want everyone off the plane at the same time so we had to wait?
I know this is not UA's fault but wonder if we can have a thread to track/share the experience? If it is bad enough, maybe they will do something about it?
Thanks.
It seems the FLIFO shows door open time so these flights show on-time. The TLV flight seemed to have landed about 5 AM and had to wait until 6. It seems maybe they got processed before 6:30 and maybe they didn't want everyone off the plane at the same time so we had to wait?
I know this is not UA's fault but wonder if we can have a thread to track/share the experience? If it is bad enough, maybe they will do something about it?
Thanks.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 17, 2016 at 12:02 am Reason: cleanup after move
Sep 17, 2016, 8:52 am
#8
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Wouldn't keeping people on the plane until 6:30 cause a dangerous situation when everyone is eventually let off the plane? I know that if I was held on a plane, and I knew that everyone else on other planes was likely being held onboard, then as soon as I got off the plane, I'd go barreling down the hallway toward immigration like a baserunner trying to beat the ball to home plate, due to fear of being stuck in line.
Sep 17, 2016, 10:50 am
#9
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The KWI/DXB flights used to get into IAD before 6 am many times and had to wait over 30 minutes one time I remember on the plane before deplaning.
Sep 17, 2016, 2:05 pm
#10
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Another thing is that if you get in on the 787, your mobile phone might not work while you are stuck on the plane.
Sep 17, 2016, 2:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 1999
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I was on the 852 XIY flight this morning and we were told that despite landing at 6:15 we had to wait 10 min until our scheduled arrival time for the door to be opened. They did not elaborate whether this was because customs opened at 6:30 or because planes were actually required to wait for their scheduled arrival slot.
Sep 18, 2016, 8:53 am
#12
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I was on the 852 XIY flight this morning and we were told that despite landing at 6:15 we had to wait 10 min until our scheduled arrival time for the door to be opened. They did not elaborate whether this was because customs opened at 6:30 or because planes were actually required to wait for their scheduled arrival slot.
Sep 18, 2016, 11:31 am
#13
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When running so early that our gate will not be available, or needed ICE not open, we'll slow down enroute which saves fuel and reduces or eliminates the delay on the ground. Sometimes, however, you just can't slow down enough when winds are favorable.
Sep 18, 2016, 11:36 am
#14
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Sep 18, 2016, 12:04 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
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Going:
Returning:
I guess this explains it:
