Several foreign airports have US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facilities, where you clear immigration prior to boarding your US-bound flight. I recently flew Aer Lingus from Dublin (DUB) to Boston (BOS), and Ireland is the only country in Europe to have such a facility.
I’ve been through these facilities several times before, but there were a couple of things I found strange, and I’m curious if anyone has any insights.
In this post:
Bags get extra security screening, but not people?
At US Preclearance facilities, it’s common to have to clear security through a dedicated checkpoint before you pass through US immigration. These security checkpoints are typically separate from the standard security checkpoints at the airport, and I’ve been through these many times before, at airports like Abu Dhabi (AUH), Nassau (NAS), Toronto (YYZ), etc.
However, the security screening in Dublin was different than what I’ve seen before. After entering the Preclearance facility, most passengers have to go through a security screening process (in addition to whichever one they previously went through, whether it was in Dublin or at another airport).
But here’s what I can’t make sense of — all bags had to be placed onto an x-ray machine and be screened, while there was no metal detector or body scanning machine. So while all bags were thoroughly screened (including needing to remove laptops), passengers weren’t checked in any way.
That… ummm… doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, so what am I missing? If you’re carrying anything prohibited, you’d simply keep it on your person, rather than in your bag. Is this actually an approved screening method, are they running a rogue operation, or what’s going on?
Perhaps the US thinks that a European Union airport is up to the standard screening requirements for the US, so perhaps as thorough of a screening isn’t needed. But what’s the point of doing any screening if it’s literally only of bags and not of a person? And for what it’s worth, this wasn’t some sort of agricultural screening (as you might find in Hawaii), based on the things that had to be removed from bags.
Some people get to skip the security checkpoint altogether?
Here’s the second element to this security screening that surprised me. As you enter the US Preclearance facility in Dublin, your boarding pass is checked.
A vast majority of the passengers seemed to be directed to the standard security line, while a small percentage of passengers were directed straight into the immigration queue, bypassing the security check.
Pardon my curiosity, but does anyone know what’s going on here? For what it’s worth, it’s not like I had “SSSS” on my boarding pass, or anything, so it’s not that the security line was for those who needed secondary screening.
I tried to ask one of the people working there what the situation was, but I didn’t get a good answer. It doesn’t matter in any way, but this one stumped me — I thought I fully understood how US Preclearance facilities work, but this one was unlike the others that I’ve experienced.
Bottom line
While I’ve traveled through US Preclearance facilities many times before, the Dublin experience was different than I remember, particularly with the security check.
It’s standard to have to go through a dedicated security checkpoint for US-bound flights, but here only bags were scanned, and not people, which just seems odd. Furthermore, some people were able to skip that completely.
Since Ireland has the only Preclearance facilities in the European Union, my theory is that maybe screening doesn’t have to be as stringent as it does at other airports. That being said, I’d still love to understand if this is actually how the system is intended to work, or what was going on here.
Can anyone make sense of the quirks of the Dublin Preclearance facility?
They only do extra security for connecting passengers. If you originate in Dublin they don’t as the normal security you have already been through is deemed good enough for the US CBP. So the only passengers pulled for additional screening didn’t go through Dublin security.
Went thru Toronto pre-clearance last week. Lines were very long at 5 am as only one person at a time was to come forward and put luggage in bins to X-ray. With the ATC issues even there we were delayed and had plenty of time to get thru the screenings etc! Not very efficient
It sounds quite akin to the procedure when busses cross Canada/American border crossings. Every passenger has to leave the bus with all their belongings. First, there's passport/immigration control. This is followed up by all the luggage going through the X-ray scanner, but they don't search you. Could it be for agricultural controls?
Your bags are scanned but you aren’t at customs in the US as well
Over the years, I have pre-cleared in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Dublin. Why are the US Customs people so incredibly unpleasant ? is it just me ?
CBP are mainly ex military or police and have a control complex. Plus, your are guilty of something, since you dared to leave the USA. The are suspicious of everyone, and it makes for a very unpleasant arrival for anyone visiting the USA. With all of the database searches, Passenger API, AI, video scanning, etc. they should keep their rudeness to the selected few that come up for secondary screening.
We recently did pre-clearance in Bermuda and it was and odd experience as well. They had photographed all our checked luggage and showed the pictures to us, asking each time if that bag was ours. This was in the global entry line.
I was very appreciative of not having to clear immigration upon landing, though, so the trade off was worth it.
I'm not sure this article is clearly written. From the way I'm reading it, you never had your body screened. You don't mention ever getting your body screened before boarding your flight.
That there are things that you or I do not understand is a desirable part of the process. If we understood everything, so could any bad guy. What makes Europe safer for such facilities is the amount of pre-profiling taking place, and that would, in the US, put every NYCLU AND ACLU in trances. No such worries over the pond... and a less cumbersome experience for most.
If you fly from another place you enter the US at the port of entry and go through immigration there. They don't screen your person there just your luggage.
Holder of Global Entry get to enter the US in most PoE by way of a biometric face check without even showing the passports.
That's what's happening in DUB and similar to some Canadian airports where you clear US Immigration and Customs and the flight is then "local".
Nothing strange other than your ignorance.
Recently came home to the US from my honeymoon in Ireland. We were prepared for the new system and everything, except we never got checked. We did the standard security check, went in line for the customs check, they scanned the passports and let us go. It was very bizarre.
They seem to be trying lots of new things with immigration these days. Like the OSS on AA flights from LHR-DFW. Don't have to pick up your bags and recheck them and go through security again when transiting. Caught me off guard on recent return to US. Rather we were just dumped straight into the secured part of D gates near AA Flagship lounge. Being one of the first people off the plane I thought I had done something wrong.
I am flying EDI to DUB to LAX on Aer Lingus. Will I have to go through immigration when transitioning? The schedule is 2 hours between flights in Dublin. Is this enough time?
Yes and yes.
I had both of these exact questions too!! I recently flew same route and was wondering exactly the same. And for what it’s worth I have global entry and was sent to secondary screening for the bags too.
Keep in mind the screening is not just security but also usda so these scanners might be able to pick something like an apple or meat.
Shannon doesn’t have a second set of security for pre-clearance. Just immigration very chill. It surprised me because I was expecting one more security check to “US standards”
CBP preclearance use to scan all passengers and bags. Basically a 2nd security system.
A couple of years ago Dublin (and a number of EU aurports) upgraded their scanning machines. Thus passengers (and bags) who have already gone through these machines don't need additional screening to satisfy TSA requirements.
Is this not just a customs x-ray check, done in an unusual manner?
I still think this was a customs screening. As part of the US's willingness to trust foreign security on a reciprocal basis (eg: the LHR pilot), it makes sense that the body scanners have gone, but the bag check always doubled as a customs screening and has remained.
I agree you could be concealing something on your person, but consider arrivals into the US where bag searches are quite common (in my experience) but searches...
I still think this was a customs screening. As part of the US's willingness to trust foreign security on a reciprocal basis (eg: the LHR pilot), it makes sense that the body scanners have gone, but the bag check always doubled as a customs screening and has remained.
I agree you could be concealing something on your person, but consider arrivals into the US where bag searches are quite common (in my experience) but searches of of your person they're quite rare.
Removing laptops doesn't make much sense, but did you ALSO have to do all the other TSA-style stuff (3-1-1 bag, etc)? If you didn't, then I'd speculate CBP just think removing laptops makes their life easier to spot potential contraband. And if you did, I'd speculate that there has been a failure to engage logic, which would not be unprecedented ;-)
It's bizarre that Ireland has two airports with pre-clearance. Ireland is not an ally of the United States. It isn't in NATO, etc. You would think, of all European countries, that the UK would have pre-clearance.
Being an Ally is NEVER a criteria. If it were the UAE wouldn't be there either.
It's all about money. Ireland paid to get the "cooperation>"
What are you two going on about?
If Ireland isn’t a US ally who is?
The US and UAE have a deep relationship with the US having army bases in the country.
Ireland is not an ally of the United States. It's somewhere between a "friendship" and a "partnership." In government and foreign affairs, an ally is the highest level and closest of relations. Ireland is not an ally. Ireland's foreign policy and its lack of a military have kept it from becoming a U.S. ally.
Remember Ireland was neutral during WW2..... how could they have sat it out ? free ride, cowards, or just plain cheap..... Ireland gets a free ride from the UK, Nato and others with security and would the first to whine if they got occupied... If the UK wasn't in the way, they would have been occupied in WW2.
UAE is as close to being a U.S. ally as possible. It's considered a "major defense partner."
The 2 catholic presidents signed deals with fenian governments to get them special treatment for nothing in return.
It’s the large number of politically active Irish-Americans. They’re in almost every Congressional district. The Congressional “Friends of Ireland” caucus is one of the largest in existence.
@FNT Delta Diamond: That's funny. Imagine LHR having a pre-clearance US facility in T5, T3, T2 with the sheer volume of flights / nationalities to the US. Not going to happen.
Ireland has it because of historical reasons & agreements/size/limited flights, and that it's achievable. UK - no chance.
I found the pre clearance really annoying.
Recently did LIS-DUB-ORD FR to EI. Had to clear Irish immigration and customs so I guess it looked like I was originating at DUB.
Wish I had realised there were no services beyond the pre clearance, unlike YYZ or YUL. Hard to guess how long I would have hung out in the lounge or shopped for whisky.
Then there are so many layers; a boarding...
I found the pre clearance really annoying.
Recently did LIS-DUB-ORD FR to EI. Had to clear Irish immigration and customs so I guess it looked like I was originating at DUB.
Wish I had realised there were no services beyond the pre clearance, unlike YYZ or YUL. Hard to guess how long I would have hung out in the lounge or shopped for whisky.
Then there are so many layers; a boarding pass scan upstairs, another one downstairs, then the immigration officer themselves. And you’re separated from your checked luggage anyway so not sure where they are screening that.
On this day almost no one was sent to that additional security screening area.
Russ, there is a lounge beyond: 51st and Green.
The 51st and Green lounge is truly awful. I'd much rather pay and sit at a bar outside of the pre-clearance area.
51st & Green is just fine. Not quite to the level of a Centurion or Chase lounge, but for a low-cost one-off lounge experience, it works.
At Munich Airport, a similar thing happened. There appeared to be a secondary passport control and security screening for flights departing for the US, but after passport control, my group (I was traveling in a group) was directed straight to the waiting area, without needing to go through security. Maybe it was because I was traveling in a group? I kind of found that strange to me.
Usually in Europe airports, the secondary screening for US flights is conducted on selectees of SSSS (random security search). It's not as common these days due to advancements in tracing methods, but it isn't unknown either.
It is my understanding that it is a liquids and agriculture check. Making sure you aren't bringing a large bottle of alcohol into the U.S. as you get let out in the domestic hall items prohibited in the US that you may have bought at the airport.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskIreland/comments/1muepza/why_do_some_people_go_through_extra_security_at/
Looks like there is a reddit thread on this too!
From what I understand, it's for US Trusted Travelers that originated in Dublin (not connected). That is my take, but I am not 100% sure if it's fact.
I'm guessing it's for duty free so you don't sneak stuff into the US
No, that's unlikely the reason at all.
Besides, with duty free, depending on the airline and the airport, items may be delivered to the passenger at the time of purchase or at the boarding gate.
Only connecting passengers have to go through the additional check before CBP. If your journey starts in Dublin, you won’t have to do the the additional check.
@ Marko -- Interesting. I'm curious, how do they know if you're originating in Dublin? My connection was booked on a separate ticket, so do they stamp your boarding pass if you clear at the main checkpoint, or what?
If you clear security at Dublin, your boarding pass gets scanned before entering the security check. That's how they know if you clear DUB security or not.
Ben, for Aer Lingus, they put a D at the top of the boarding pass for TATL passengers originating in Dublin to distinguish them for preclearance.
And, yes, Dublin Airport meets security meets TSA standards as of a few years ago. It can lead to some odd edge cases where they’ll take certain length of scissors off you if you’re traveling to the US but not if you’re traveling elsewhere (they ask to see your boarding pass when they find anything that’s breaks one set of rules but not the other)
That said, I still find it odd that they allow...
And, yes, Dublin Airport meets security meets TSA standards as of a few years ago. It can lead to some odd edge cases where they’ll take certain length of scissors off you if you’re traveling to the US but not if you’re traveling elsewhere (they ask to see your boarding pass when they find anything that’s breaks one set of rules but not the other)
That said, I still find it odd that they allow passengers to mix after screening, but I guess that’s the “risk based” approach they deem appropriate.
But that's quite stupid since the two groups of passengers mix before going through the secondary check. So any bad actor could just hand the prohibited item to someone else cooperating with them and avoid the check.
My daughter lives in Dublin, so we've been many times, and when we first started going there (~2018 IIRC), everybody was screened a second time. But about 4-5 years ago I'd say they allowed Dublin originating people to bypass the second screening.
My guess: if you originate in Dublin, you (and your carryon and checked bags) all get screened at the DUB airpot, and I assume it is to the standards required by the...
My daughter lives in Dublin, so we've been many times, and when we first started going there (~2018 IIRC), everybody was screened a second time. But about 4-5 years ago I'd say they allowed Dublin originating people to bypass the second screening.
My guess: if you originate in Dublin, you (and your carryon and checked bags) all get screened at the DUB airpot, and I assume it is to the standards required by the US. At that point, you and your bags can go straight to the plane without further pre-clearance checks. If you connect through Dublin (but remain in the secured area) you, your carryon luggage, and your checked luggage would only have been screened at a different airport, and I'm guessing there are too many variables to ensure that the screening protocols at all of the different airports that connect through Dublin (and because Ryanair is based there, that includes a ton of airports) are sufficient for the US.
I think you’ve put your finger on it, Chiller. In recent years, I’ve departed from Ireland on EI bound for Boston once from SNN, once from DUB, and once from LHR connecting through DUB. Only the connection triggered the more adventurous security screening for me.
Skipping the extra security check may be correlated with being a member of a US trusted traveler program, so it's a TSA Precheck-like benefit. But that is probably not the only criterion.
@ putout -- I have PreCheck, and wasn't eligible for the line, so...
Do you get security scanned upon arrival at CBP in the US? Usually no, but some pax get asked to send bags for secondary screening....This is exaclty what's happening here. The Preclearance is a CBP facility run by US CBP personnel, not Irish security, so the processes reflect what would otherwise typically happen upon arrival into the US. They are mainly interested in contraband, which is primarily intelligence and exception based rather than physically inspecting...
Do you get security scanned upon arrival at CBP in the US? Usually no, but some pax get asked to send bags for secondary screening....This is exaclty what's happening here. The Preclearance is a CBP facility run by US CBP personnel, not Irish security, so the processes reflect what would otherwise typically happen upon arrival into the US. They are mainly interested in contraband, which is primarily intelligence and exception based rather than physically inspecting every passenger.
@ PDS -- If that's the case, this would be the only Preclearance facility I know of where that's how it works. Also keep in mind that part of the reason there's an extra security screening (at least as I understand it) is because you land in the US as a domestic passenger, and are let out airside.
If you were returning to the US and cleared CBP and had a connecting flight, you...
@ PDS -- If that's the case, this would be the only Preclearance facility I know of where that's how it works. Also keep in mind that part of the reason there's an extra security screening (at least as I understand it) is because you land in the US as a domestic passenger, and are let out airside.
If you were returning to the US and cleared CBP and had a connecting flight, you *would* have to go through security, and I was under the impression that was intended to reflect that.
i get your point, . . . but then again, US TSA .... is a joke to begin with and with the entire US security theme (TSA PRE and and and just pay and you're free to go :-) easy US way) there is NO consistency anywhere.
I never did any of those Pre-clearance airports except Nassau to Miami, but as the area you are referring to is already under US control and "standards"...
i get your point, . . . but then again, US TSA .... is a joke to begin with and with the entire US security theme (TSA PRE and and and just pay and you're free to go :-) easy US way) there is NO consistency anywhere.
I never did any of those Pre-clearance airports except Nassau to Miami, but as the area you are referring to is already under US control and "standards" i would say, that's how it's OK with BOS or any other US destination airport, otherwise i'm sure they would have changed it, way before you got there.
You mention Hawaii Agricultural scan, that's a joke too, right? ;-) just flew to ORD from there and plants i too made it well and alive, not to forget how many passengers still take Pineapples and other food, that could just as much bring any pesticides or even unwanted animals into the Mainland, same for the PreTSA . . . it's all a joke and in all honesty flying within the US is by far NOT as safe as anywhere within the EU, with modern security screening devices and check points as well as NO exceptions for people who might be except from REAL screening compared to those who don't want to fund US TSA. so relax and take it easy, the entire US TSA is a "joke", period!
WHY is a natural dangerous country making such a stupid effort to make people think, they are special or super efficient. . . personal questioning before boarding a US bound flight, who packed, have the bags been with you ..... blah blah blah . . . well it's too late at the gate area, because my bags are all gone then! United in Berlin, Amsterdam or Munich. a Joke, sorry to repeat myself, but that's how it is in my eyes!
US standard, which is NO STANDARD, .... and your experience in DUB is the best proof for it!
TSA and CDP, customs for instance at CLT . . . compared to MIA a dream!
... see, no standard! So DON'T try to question that non existing US system too much!
1 more and funny thing i just noticed at ORD:
AA flight to Cabo San Lucas.
1/3 of the plane was photoscanned at boarding (as the US now does, . . . sorry, TRIES TO DO! to be correct), stand still, look at camera when leaving the country before you board, after roughly 1/3 of the plane was boarded and the system failed several times at the gate, they switched to old scanning the passports of passengers on that flight at boarding, the after about 70% of the passengers being boarded, they realized the modern photo scanning at the beginning took too long, and scanning was taking too long too, they just checked physically Passport (NO scanning anymore!) and match name of passport and boradingpass only. ;-) this is HOW the US system works! as a former airlines, this made me laugh so loud that i could not help but loose the trust in ANY system that i was still trying to believe in any of the US habits, that just DON'T make sense!
So, just accept and as usual, most things in the US is just to keep people busy and entertained, BUT SON'T make sense!
You made that experience in DUB now! At least you're all "Lucky" to not pay as much for security as people in the EU do, but maybe the ""system" in the US is a good reason to proof, why it is that way!
US$ 6,50 HNL-FRA instead of EUR182,- MUC-KOA. THAT tells a story already, doesn't it. Outdated screening at mayor US airports vs. modern scanners at EU airports and REAL scanning, without exceptions with any goofy paid prescription membership!
It is interesting how each Preclearance facility handles things, often differently.
At AUA (Aruba), there are often huge lines outside (not fun if it's raining or super hot), just to get to exit immigration, then it's security, then passport control to 'enter' the US, often requiring a good 1-1.5 hours before you're in the secured area of the terminal.
AT YYZ, it's security, then immigration to 'enter' the US, that's it.
While DOH...
It is interesting how each Preclearance facility handles things, often differently.
At AUA (Aruba), there are often huge lines outside (not fun if it's raining or super hot), just to get to exit immigration, then it's security, then passport control to 'enter' the US, often requiring a good 1-1.5 hours before you're in the secured area of the terminal.
AT YYZ, it's security, then immigration to 'enter' the US, that's it.
While DOH and SIN (and many others) do not have preclearance, they do the additional security at the gate for US-bound flights.
And, of course, all this can change; new rules at any time. None of it is standardized, really. Odd.
There’s an additional security screening at the gate in MNL for United’s MNL-SFO nonstops with no bathrooms (or concessions) within the gate hold room area.
Simply put, if one needs to use the bathroom or wants to purchase a drink or snack while waiting to board the aircraft, they must exit the gate area & reclear security each time.
And one must finish the drink before going thru security, so snacking inside the gate hold room area is not very palatable.
There’s an additional security screening at the gate in MNL for United’s MNL-SFO nonstops with no bathrooms (or concessions) within the gate hold room area.
Simply put, if one needs to use the bathroom or wants to purchase a drink or snack while waiting to board the aircraft, they must exit the gate area & reclear security each time.
Apologies for the duplicate reader reply comment post; it was not intentional.
Ben, if possible, please delete the duplicate & this post!
SNN has it as well
Thank you Ben, for advertising to potential wrong doer’s the security failures at DUB. I am sure that the Irish authorities will close the loophole now that you have let the cat out of the bag.
Are you trying to re-start The Troubles?
Do be brief 1990, read my post and if necessary come back to me. I will be pleased to clarify anything which you might have misunderstood.
Not sure how they do it but it does seem like most people get waved thru these days.
I've actually seen many passengers being allowed through Pre-clearance at DUB without a secondary security check. That was started about 2 years or so ago. I think it's because Dublin's airport security is a lot more thorough these days, and the technology has advanced. You can even take large liquids through.
Yeah my consistent experiences the last couple of years is that more people than not get to skip the extra screening.