Comments

1. I had a similar issue at DFW in December. Migrants are pouring over the border by the tens of thousands yet CBP insists we must be checked upon legitimate arrival.

2. Government at its finest. In my opinion CBP has far too much power to work away from the border–100 miles inland (including all coastlines of the oceans and Great Lakes) basically makes it an unaccountable national police force. But it should be able to at least do its job where it belongs in airports. Anyway, in a situation like this having Global Entry could really help (as well as giving one Precheck status), though sometimes the machines don’t work

3. Global Entry still needs “1” CBP agent sitting there so it doesn’t help under this situation.

4. Considering how many Indians and Britons of Indian ancestry (including the Prime Minister) there are in the UK I call BS on that actor’s claim. Just a publicity seeker.

5. Everything is going SWIMMINGLY! Thanks Joe!

6. But, Marriott delayed granting soft landings until after the first of the year. Marriott wanted to ensure people had the opportunity to do mattress runs (aka unnecessary spending) to preserve tier status on their own. Don’t think this wasn’t a calculated delay. Even when Marriott gives you something, there’s an element of being Bonvoyed in it.

7. Customs and immigration has been a nightmare in Chicago all summer. Some people wait in line up to three hours. It’s ridiculous what happened all the customs and border agents? Why are we cutting back during the busiest times?

8. “ Considering how many Indians and Britons of Indian ancestry (including the Prime Minister) there are in the UK I call BS on that actor’s claim. Just a publicity seeker.”

   I think you and others may have missed the point. He was probably perceived as being “Paki” and thus responded by saying “because we are Indians”.

   Racial prejudices about South Asians still exist in England — even in London. And having an Indian-origin PM and a Pakistani-origin mayor of London won’t wipe away all of that.

   The US had Obama as President, and racism in the US didn’t die with his election as POTUS.

9. GE is a must at Dulles. I’ve seen the regular line like that sometimes even with more CBP agents.

10. Not skeptical at all about the incident. I travel through London a few times a year between EU and the US, and have had similar incidents from BA and LHR staff over the past years. I’m usually travelling in sweats and a puff vest for comfort and only last month at LHR, the BA staff asked me if I was lost as I was heading their First Class lounge (not the Concorde Room mind you) as an OW Emerald. I showed her my ticket and she directed me to the business class lounge (I was flying Biz back to the US), even as it clearly stated on the ticket EMERALD. Had to remind her that I was an OW, Emerald and though apologized, definitely did the elevator look. Funny how she didn’t ask the couple that were heading to the F lounge next to me about them being lost, or asking for their ticket. Granted they were better groomed than me! Only for that couple to actually be directed to the business class lounge…

11. Re: CBP – when you have open border policies like this regime does, CBP feels useless, and thus will act like it and create problems like this until they feel appreciated. Management 101 – except I think most in this regime skipped that course at their elite Ivy league universities mommy and daddy paid for.

12. I agree Don….

13. CBP wastes too much time asking questions of returning US citizens.

    In Europe, all EU citizens get better than Global Entry – they get to go through automatic passport gates, with a very small possibility of being pulled aside for a customs check when leaving the baggage hall. Unless pulled aside for the customs check (which has never happened to me in over 100 EU entries), there is no contact with any customs or immigration officials. This contrasts with Global Entry where there is always some level of interaction with a CBP official.

    In fact, at UK airports, Americans get to use the automated machines, which means that it is easier for an American to enter the UK than it is for an American to enter the US, even with Global Entry.

14. @Don… Momma and daddy didn’t pay for the education. Once the student loan bailout is underway, you and I are the ones footing their Yale bill.

    On another note…..was that Biden’s press secretary being yanked off the plane? Just wonderin’.

15. US citizens are high on the list for smuggling back drugs and goods…so there is THAT to consider when talking about interactions with agents.
    Just because the EU virtually gave up their sovereign rights to borders does not mean every other country needs to follow suit.
    As for the Southern border…has always been a problem. But when they start talking amnesty and citizenship for illegals thjen thewy all want to get in before the cut-off date.
    If we made it a felony to come or be here illegally…and fined/jailed those employing and aiding them…THEN we might get somewhere.
    Airports are already short staffed and are mandated to send Officers to the border to help.
    CBP can’t ever seem to get the funding for proper staffing. EVER!

16. All EU citizens do not get to go through automatic passport gates to enter the Schengen area. All of the Schengen airports currently restrict EU citizens from using the automatic passport control egates if they or their accompanying family members are minors below some age or another. It’s part of the reason why the passport control messes are what they are at Schengen airports of entry/exit at times.

    The EU/Schengen countries’ passport control folk don’t waste time asking questions to retuning area citizens as much as US CBP. Part of that difference is because the US more extensively marries customs control with passport control and because the US is more paranoid about illegal drugs and other contraband getting into the US at airports
    and able and willing to throw more money at the problem at US airports than the EUropeans are.

17. “ Just because the EU virtually gave up their sovereign rights to borders….”? Seems like you are unaware of the fact that EU countries have not.

    Went through hundreds of passport control checks when crossing borders WITHIN the Schengen area during the pandemic. Still encountering some from time to time.

    EU countries never gave up their sovereignty over borders. They did what the US has long done: enter into legally binding agreements with other nations where nations make operational deals about how things should go for border crossings. It’s an exercise in national sovereignty to make such deals with other nations, when not under duress.

18. I travel a lot between the EU and the US (at least once a month). Mostly to MIA, LAX, SFO, IAH and ORD. My average wait time – as an EU citizen – at immigration is probably more than one hour, and I’ve waited more than 2 hrs many, many times. Security is also a mess. In contrast, I’ve never waited more than 10 minutes at e.g. IST (either at immigration or security), where I often connect. Based on my citizenship, I’m not eligble for Global Entry, Clear, TSA Pre, etc and my experience is that business class and status seldom gives me any type of fast track in the US anymore.