Please sign in to post.

Dublin Airport Procedures for Return to US

Since I just went through this process, I though I would record this to help us others on return to United States. As far as I know most or all international flights depart from Terminal 2. Go to 3rd floor after you have checked your bags.

  1. Security check - no removal of electronics from your bag, do present plastic bag of liquids of 3 oz (about 100 ml) or less to place in bin. Take off all coats, hats, and hoodies and place in bin. Thick-soled shoes or shoes that extend to ankle (hiking shoes) need removal. As usual, place all larger metal items in bin (belts with metal buckles). Place carry-ons and small personal item in bins.
  2. First US checkpoint just involves showing boarding pass to enter US Preclearance Area.
  3. Second US checkpoint is basically US Customs. There is a regular line and a line for those who have Global Entry. We have Global Entry so we just had to go to kiosk for camera facial recognition. This allows plane to fly into a domestic passenger, so it saves you time at your arrival point in the US.

I am posting this to help others. Please let me know if there are any corrections to make!

Posted by
2193 posts

For step three did you mean passport control as you mention Global Entry. I don't remember if you also have a customs check point.

Posted by
3305 posts

Thanks! I am flying out of DUB in July. Your experience helps a lot since I have a tight connection through IAD to PHX.

Do you have to strip to go through security if you have Global Entry?
Carrie, thanks for the link. You are always so helpful!

Posted by
277 posts

To the OP
You posted this: This allows plane to fly into a domestic passenger, so it saves you time at your arrival point in the US.
Sounds like overkill to me! If this happens, I'll be DOA (dead on arrival) when I get to the US!!!

Posted by
43 posts

LOL. The last part should read that you fly into a domestic gate, so that you skip all the customs/entry procedures.

Posted by
94 posts

Thanks for this. We will be leaving soon and I had not been able to tell if our Global Entry would do us any good. Nice to know!

Posted by
13 posts

Good information - thanks for sharing. We will be flying from DUB to the US this fall and have never been to Dublin. We have Global Entry.

Is the signage for the US Preclearance Area pretty obvious and easy to see?

Posted by
6 posts

My experience was similar to that of @bdriscollent. In my case (two years ago), there were no water bottle stations once you were in the air-side of customs (near the gates). There was a vending machine which was not functioning, and a small food stand where you could purchase water, and the restrooms.

You are only allowed to go into the US Preclearance Area on a timed basis. Your flight will show on a board. While you wait for that, there are naturally many duty free shops, bars, and restaurants.

Posted by
6 posts

Thank you for posting. We are changing planes in Dublin, connecting to Scotland. Our flight allows for 2 hours to connect to Glasgow, and close to 3 hours to change in Dublin to head back to US. Should that work?