New Etihad Abu Dhabi Preclearance Facility For US Flights

The AUH website must be the only one of a major airport in the world without a terminal map. It’s bizarre as there doesn’t appear to be one.

With Etihad moving to JFKs new Terminal One once it opens, does that mean that the terminal won't completely be an international terminal possibly making way for another domestic carrier such as UA if they were to return?

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/07/13/air-france-etihad-and-lot-named-as-anchor-airlines-of-forthcoming-jfk-new-terminal-one/#google_vignette

Authors dislike of USPC because “for those with Global Entry, clearing immigration on arrival actually isn’t much of a hassle at all.” is relating only a small fraction of the aircraft having access ti the facility. Their problem? What happens when they all sign up eventually … queues. “Furthermore, these US Preclearance facilities can lead to flight delays, since you have to wait for all passengers to be screened before departing.” Very rare. Less than any other type of delay (loading last bags/cargo, dispatch, crew checks, ect…). Very used to Ireland’s facilities and they are a godsend compared to arriving at US airports with some of the worst arrival facilities and staffing on earth.

I wish and hope countries stop allowing the US special treatment with this preclearance program. Maybe shore up our own airports instead?

You make a good point about Global Entry, though with the flight landing on the domestic side, does that also mean the end of long walks through secure corridors before you can meet CBP, your bags, and later other connecting passengers? Perhaps avoiding miles of hallways is worth some delay on the departure. (which is already guaranteed for US-bound flights)

Also, if passengers are technically in the US after you've passed Preclearance, is this something that should be taken into consideration for expats visiting family in the US who have maximum presence tax implications for the Foreign-Earned Income Exclusion?

I wish that were true. I've been stymied more than once when trying to find a terminal map on an airport's official site. CAI is the most recent example. You can find CAI's vision and mission statements on their website; not exactly what traveler's need.

The US airport arrival experience is indeed just like a domestic arrival; no long schleps to Immigration and Customs. I've arrived twice at CLT from DUB and was able to walk directly from the gate to my ride home. I've also landed at PHL from BDA and proceeded directly from the aircraft to the gate for my flight to CLT. In all cases I had only carry-on luggage. (Both DUB and BDA have US Preclearance facilities. )

But if you already have Global Entry, Pre-Clearance shouldn't affect you too much right since you can also do that at AUH. Additionally, the point about delays isn't that important IMO, since it isn't that often, and can easily be rectified with more agents, or earlier reporting times.

For the vast majority of pax without GE, Pre-Clearance is an absolute godsend, as you get way less waiting, especially at the end of what is often a long flight in Economy. Additionally, even for those with GE, you have to agree that if you're connecting to your final destination, Pre-Clearance makes things a lot faster for you.

Does being a completely international terminal stop UA from using T1? T4 is a hybrid and it was the former international terminal. Departure level of an airport in the US should be the same regardless of whether there are only domestic, only international, or both types of flights.

I was here just yesterday. Very smooth experience although it was a bit of a walk. They managed everything well and I got through in less than 20 minutes although I think it might have been a light time at the airport.

Speak for yourself.

To begin with, Americans don't benefit from those. Foreigners do. The US is GIVING special treatment to other countries.

If you want the US Preclearance to cease its existence, just make the US immigration more simpler.

But of course no one's gonna do that.

So suck it.

The departures level is irrelevant, but what about arrivals where all the carousels are sterile? Will there be an X number of carousels that don't lead to customs and maybe pave the way for domestic flights? That what I've been wondering especially that Etihad preclears in Abu Dhabi and lands in the U.S. as a domestic flight.

Another thing I've been wondering is if all the carousels at the TBIT @ LAX are also sterile?

It also helps to prevent and potential bad actors to reach American soil in the first place. Screen them in advance and prevent them from boarding rather than to having to deport and put them on the next flight out back to their origin.

The statement "for those with Global Entry, clearing immigration on arrival actually isn’t much of a hassle at all", has a major exception at present that CBP wants to see become the rule within the US - Seattle.

At Seattle, one has to collect their checked bags *before* immigration, thus requiring baggage handling be completed first instead of in parallel (which is the case normally).

The delay involved impacts *all* passengers with checked baggage regardless of whether or not they're Global Entry members.

Your name says it all.

Come on. All I need is AMS, CDG, SYD, AKL, BNE, and MEL. Why punish CBP agents to live in Dubai?

are all of EY's departures going to be from preclearance now? last I heard, before the preclearance opening, EY's 2-3 am departure bank, including the A380 flight to JFK, operated without preclearance

I took this flight last week and went through preclearance.

It is Abu Dhabi, but I don't think anything prevents them from living in Dubai.

Godsent indeed. 20 min wait at departure when you are rested versus three hour wait on arrival when you are tired. Major advantage.

I’m sure they get paid very nicely for the posting.

Seattle is not alone.

@Mike O.
It is highly naive to think that being the case. Any so called "bad actors" would either be caught in the ESTA and visa process or generally have no problem travelling at all.

Airport and pre clearance screening will basically only catch people who do not have their paperwork in order. But any "bad actors" would probably be quite sure to have their basic paperwork settled correctly.

Though I am sure the US government likes to pretend that pretend it is all to catch the "bad actors"

It's because of pre-clearance that travelling via Dublin is the ONLY way I'd fly to the USA from Europe.

I must admit I didn't even think of a map when transiting AUH earlier this year, as signage was really clear.

Your whine about pre-clearance potentially creating flight delays is seriously off the mark. Why? Because that's the reason the one hour cut-off prior to departure was instigated. And it works! Never had a flight delay in 80+ flights thus far. Pre-clearance is the best thing to happen to me as a frequent traveller since sliced bread was invented. Do try and stretch yourself by looking at these things from the perspective of someone...who is not yourself.

Almost all gates at TBIT are dual use gates. The doors near the jetbridge can be opened or closed allowing arriving passengers to go downstairs to enter the sterile corridor to the FIS (Federal Inspection Service) facility (aka immigration and customs) or have arriving passengers go directly into the departures level, which is what is used for domestic arrivals.

Allegiant, Breeze Airways, and Hawaiian Airline (and maybe a few others) use TBIT for domestic arrivals at LAX. American Airlines also sometimes uses TBIT for domestic arrivals as overflow.

The new terminal at JFK would have to have dual-use gates as well. For the same reasons as above.

Good to know... this time last year I flew the route and there was no preclearance. Thanks

I just flew through the new facility and it was such a a breeze. No more long wait lines at O'Hare or JFK. You just zip by security in Abu Dhabi, the new terminal is more like a local small terminal within . There is a bar, restaurant and nice bathrooms.

We were one of the first according to the agents to go through it.

What about baggage claim, how would that work if TBITs baggage claim is completely sterile? Unless there's a number of carousels that are not completely sealed off or you'll have to pick up your bags at the airline's respective terminal?

At JFKs Terminal 7, the gates are dual use where domestic flights lead you to departures and there's a carousel or two that's not sterile.