You know what I hate at the end of a long flight? I hate having to stand in line– any line. If you have a long flight from overseas to the United States, you are usually going to stand in a long line just to be admitted back to the country. There is a solution to that problem, however. U.S. Preclearance allows travelers to clear customs and immigration before their plan even leaves. We have been through U.S. preclearance in Dublin twice now. So what is it like?
Checking in to the Dublin airport is pretty much the same as at any other airport in the world. You check in, go through security, and them immediately walk through a duty free store. Seriously, you can’t avoid the duty free store in Dublin Terminal 2. So far, you haven’t cleared U.S. customs and immigration. There is a nice selection of restaurants, lounges, and… wait for it… more duty free stores. You will wait in this area until 2-3 hours before your flight.
When your flight is called, you can go to the U.S. preclearance area. That will usually happen 2-3 hours before your flight. This is not like clearing security. Rather, you go up to a desk and talk to an immigration officer. There are separate lines for Global Entry and MPC (Mobile Passport Control). Once you clear that, you are properly in the U.S. pre-clearance area. As a functional matter, you have entered the United States.
What amenities are in the Dublin U.S. Preclearance Area?
There is a trick here. There are some spots to wait inside the preclearance area, but there is more to do before you go through customs and immigration. That suggests waiting before you go through preclearance, but you also do not want to wait until the last minute. Check out the video above if you want to see exactly what amenities there are.
Perhaps the nicest option is the 51st and Green Lounge. This is where all airlines send you if you have a business class ticket. They also sell day passes. While this isn’t the nicest lounge in the world, it comes with quiet spaces, decent food, and an open bar. The second YouTube video is a walkthrough of that lounge.
If you don’t have access to 51st and Green, and if you don’t want to pay for a day pass, there is still a small restaurant. There is also a bar, and there is a small duty free area. There is a far better product selection in Terminal 2 before you come to U.S. preclearance, though. On balance, I love the Dublin airport U.S. preclearance since it means I do not have to wait in another line at the end of my flight. I make it a point to fly direct to the U.S. from Dublin just for this benefit. Just make sure you know what amenities are available to you before you go. Happy travels!
More airports and lounges
- Dublin U.S. Preclearance area (YouTube video)
- 51st and Green Lounge Dublin (YouTube Video)
- American Airlines Flagship First Dining (web page)
- American Airlines 5 Star Service (web page)