I'm contemplating booking a flight from Bergen, Norway via Dublin to Chicago. I understand that there's a US preclearance/customs facility in the Dublin airport for US bound flights. The inbound flights from Norway typically arrive at the 200 gates in Terminal 1 and as I understand it the US bound flights depart Terminal 2. Does anyone have any recent experience transiting from an intra-Europe flight to a US bound flight? The flight is being sold by United and there's a 2:20 connection time -is that transit time realistic? If it makes any difference, I have Global Entry. If you check a bag, do you pick it up before entering the customs facility? When the aircraft arrives in ORD (its a United flight), I assume that you just deplane in the B or C gates as if you took a domestic flight? I'm an experienced traveler, but this is a new one on me - I'd love any insight that you can provide!
Posted by
SoCal
2179 posts
I'm following this one with interest.
Posted by
Virginia
465 posts
I have done this earlier this year. That is plenty of time to connect as long as you don’t dawdle excessively along the way. The airline wouldn’t sell it if it didn’t work. Just follow signs to US flights. It may be quite a long walk. Depending where you came from you may go through Irish outbound passport control (coming from the UK I did). A notice board at the US flights entry point tells you which flights are available for US procedures. Once yours is listed you can proceed. You go through security, and then through US immigration which is the same as at home. You don’t collect your checked bags; they are checked through to your US arrival airport. There is food and drink and some duty free shopping available at the US departure gates once you’ve passed through US immigration. Yes, it’s just like a domestic arrival in the US. It works well and I prefer it to having to deal with this after a transatlantic flight.
Posted by
Chicago
8514 posts
You will make it if the first flight is not an an hour or more late. That's a reasonable amount of connection time; if you don't make it no big deal the airline is liable and will just put you in hotel if needed and on the next flight to Chicago with space.
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6331 posts
I have Global Entry. If you check a bag, do you pick it up before entering the customs facility?
Your bag should be checked through. Your checked bags don’t go with you to preclearance; preclearance is within the secure part of the terminal so you only have your carryon items.
Also, there is a global entry kiosk within the preclearance area. When I went through in June, there was no one else in this queue. The agent asked if I had anything to declare.
When you arrive in Chicago it will be just like you arrived on a domestic flight. You’ll pick up your luggage at the domestic baggage claim area.