Long USA arrival immgration lines
Mar 15, 2020, 5:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,883
Long USA arrival immgration lines
Now hearing about the long queues at US airports and need to connect in IAH to last flight to DFW. Any news on that?
I wanna go home!
I wanna go home!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 15, 2020 at 1:04 pm Reason: split post
Mar 15, 2020, 7:52 am
#2
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
Coronavirus Screening Causes 7-Hour Waits in Crowded Lines at U.S. Airports
CHICAGO — There were cryptic and confusing announcements in midair. Long lines to clear Customs. And waits of as long as seven hours in crowds with other travelers.
As the federal government rushed on Saturday to implement President Trump’s restrictions on travel from Europe, part of an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, chaos ensued at some of America’s biggest airports.
As the federal government rushed on Saturday to implement President Trump’s restrictions on travel from Europe, part of an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, chaos ensued at some of America’s biggest airports.
Mar 15, 2020, 8:11 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 60
Apparently it wasn't just ORD. Here's a report from DFW:
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03...e-dfw-airport/
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/03...e-dfw-airport/
Mar 15, 2020, 8:17 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
We can only speculate about how many new infections were caused by people being forced to wait so long in lines so close to many other travelers.
Mar 15, 2020, 8:30 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
How are things at SFO?
I’m flying in from Turkey to SFO tomorrow (arriving Monday late afternoon), and have about 3.5 hours to connect to my onward domestic flight home. Ordinarily that would be unnecessarily long, but if the nightmares reported in ORD and DFW happen to passengers arriving at SFO, too, I could easily miss my connection and be stuck in the airport all night.
Has anyone gone through SFO international arrivals since the new restrictions went into place (or heard from anyone who has)? How long a delay should I expect getting “screened”?
I’m flying in from Turkey to SFO tomorrow (arriving Monday late afternoon), and have about 3.5 hours to connect to my onward domestic flight home. Ordinarily that would be unnecessarily long, but if the nightmares reported in ORD and DFW happen to passengers arriving at SFO, too, I could easily miss my connection and be stuck in the airport all night.
Has anyone gone through SFO international arrivals since the new restrictions went into place (or heard from anyone who has)? How long a delay should I expect getting “screened”?
Mar 15, 2020, 9:02 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 710
Lots of stories on the wire this morning about 4+ hour lines at US airports for arriving US citizens. Medical screening only takes a minute or so per individual, but when you have many hundreds per hour arriving, it stacks up quickly. Note that Global Entry or Kiosk entry does not help.
Mar 15, 2020, 10:18 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
Not to mention lack of planning. Leading to conditions (long waits in crowded quarters) which only increase the risks of transmission.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 15, 2020 at 11:24 am Reason: Let's aviod going OMNI
Mar 15, 2020, 10:25 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,019
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...ge%2Fstory-ans
I'm a subscriber, so I don't know if this'll hit a paywall, but WP sent notice that coronavirus material might be available w.o. subscription
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 15, 2020 at 11:25 am Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Mar 15, 2020, 10:54 am
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
Here's a choice quote from the other, who arrived IAD from VIE on Friday:
Upon landing, I spent three hours in a jammed immigration hall trying to decide which analogy fit better: the ignorant Middle Ages during the plague years or the most chaotic airport in the least developed country.
Mar 15, 2020, 11:03 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
Coronavirus or not, this CBP madness where people of all origins have to queue for hours in close quarters needs to stop, once and for all. It's a health and safety risk, not only for them but also for CBP officers and for us, US citizens. It also gives visitors a very poor first impression of our country, as if they were entering the third world.
After this crisis ends, it's time to drastically expand the number of pre-clearance facilities, especially in those airports sending most travelers to the US. The proposition to those airports should be clear: build the CBP facility or lose travel privileges to the US.
After this crisis ends, it's time to drastically expand the number of pre-clearance facilities, especially in those airports sending most travelers to the US. The proposition to those airports should be clear: build the CBP facility or lose travel privileges to the US.
Mar 15, 2020, 11:27 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
Mar 15, 2020, 11:29 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 710
Mar 15, 2020, 11:53 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,883
Lots of stories on the wire this morning about 4+ hour lines at US airports for arriving US citizens. Medical screening only takes a minute or so per individual, but when you have many hundreds per hour arriving, it stacks up quickly. Note that Global Entry or Kiosk entry does not help.