security at US airports

[keziah]

Just come back from Orlando.

When we landed at Orlando International we had to queue for 45 minutes to have our fingerprints and photos taken! Just what you need after a 9 hour flight! I know they've stepped up security but anyone know if we do this to foreigners arriving in UK?

 

[lagunn]

probably not....

 

[angel659]

Hiya

When we went to Florida in May last year we flew to Sanford and waited for an hour. After all that all they did was took our photo, but they appeared to take other peoples finger prints. Its a stupid amount of time to wait, we are worried as we are taking our 5 yr old and our twin boys who will be 23 months old. Apparently they dont give your pram till you get to baggge re-claim. What a pain for families. I think this is way to strict, considering they call the british thier friends

I dont know I am just fed up with all this VISA requirements and now entry requirements and delays when you arrive at the airport. What a great start

 

[nicknsara]

we have upgraded to sunshine first with TCD which is supposed to beat all the ques at sanford.it also lets u have priority disembarkation to beat the 45 minute wait.is this true?


nick and sara

 

[rich_84]

I understand that is a long time and as you said not what you want after a 9 hour flight but you have to concede that hopefully this make the USA a safer place and within that, you may feel safer being there.

 

[steve_rob]

we have upgraded to sunshine first with TCD which is supposed to beat all the ques at sanford.it also lets u have priority disembarkation to beat the 45 minute wait.is this true?

Yes, you will be the first (or among the first) off your flight, so will probably have a shorter wait, but if there are a lot of other planes from the UK arriving at Sanford at roughly the same time (or just before you) you will still have to queue behind the people from these flights.

 

[magicmouse2]

Do they take photos and prints every time you go to Orlando or once they have you on file is that it ??

 

[Red-Snapper]

I have waited longer than that at Gatwick for them to tell us which conveyor the bags are coming off on !!

 

[IanBond]

If these measures are to make TRhe USA a safer place to visit,Whats the problem?!

 

[lagunn]

I have waited longer than that at Gatwick for them to tell us which conveyor the bags are coming off on !!

me too!!!!

 

[magicmouse2]

I have always waited longer at MCO than at Sanford. I prefer Sanford. As long as they treat us respectfully which they have always done I will be happy. Hitting the airport and going through the passport controls always gives me that feeling of elation- that we are in Florida!! I even run straight to the drinking fountains to take in that sulphur water that only Florida has...and the toilet cubicles with gaps down the sides so people can see you peeing.....The most lax security I have experienced is Ireland, they dont even look at your passport

 

[snookhams]

We had a long wait last August and this was before they started photographing and finger printing everyone. We had to wait on the plane once we had landed for at least 30 mins due to to many planes arriving at once, no problem we thought we are PE we'll get off the plane first, not so I'm afraid until someone complained they were allowing economy passengers off and we could not get down the stairs, eventually they stopped the economy passengers as they felt it too dangerous to have us queueing (did I spell that right!) up the stairs, the imigration hall was so crowded and we waited at least an hour. We are hoping that it won't be like that this year. I don't have a problem at all with the extra security, but they only had about 8 desks open, could they not have extra staff available at the times they know more than one plane lands, after all we've just travelled 9 hours most of us with children and even if they are too old for pushchairs they can still be tired and cranky.

 

[vicky1bfc]

We landed at sanford and waited no longer than 10 mins.I guess its luck of the draw.They did seem to be quick though, and we were not one of the first off by a long way.

 

[angel659]

Hi

I agree it maybe safer, but there must be a way they can provide families with the pushchairs, whilst waiting. Young children are so tired.

I have no probs with extra security, just wish there was a way they can provide families with pushchairs or something.

 

[KK Cat]

Thankfully we will be able to do this in Dublin airport before boarding, it's handy to have US immigration on site. I wonder why they don't have this in UK? I suppose there would be too many airports, we have US immigration in both Dublin and Shannon airports

 

[Miffy2003]

I am always just glad to get out of the cramped plane, LOL

 

[patdavies]

Do they take photos and prints every time you go to Orlando or once they have you on file is that it ??

Every time that you enter the US.

 

[juliebro]

Sorry - duplicate post!
Julie

 

[juliebro]

We flew indirect via Philadelphia on 16th March. We arrived at 4:30 pm in Philly and had to go through immigration, security and customs before getting our onward flight to MCO. Our flight was leaving at 6:50 pm. They took photos, fingerprints and wanted to know what DH did for a living and who I worked for, had we ever been to the US before and why were we here this time. It took so long to get through all the queues that we had to literally run to the gate to make the flight. I didn't even get chance to go to the loo!

Julie

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Every time that you enter the US.

And soon also on the way out of the country.

At Orlando we have only waited about 25 mins since the implimentation of phot/fingerprint i.d.
After 8 hours on a plane its good to strech those legs