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Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

nytimes.com

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Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#411

Post by Scoundreller »

jlg23 wrote: post #149
grecy wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While living in South America I talked to hundreds of travelers from Europe who were forced to connect through the USA on their way south, and they all had to clear customs, even if for just a one hour layover. The hoops they had to jump through, and the stories they told. 99% vowed they would never again board a plane to the USA.

True. I have to get from Medellin, Colombia to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic soon. I had three choices: * about 10h travel time via MIA and/or JFK for $240 (+ $50 for ESTA) * 4.5h via Panama City to Punta Cana plus 8h on a bus for $800 * 17h via Curacao, Aruba, Saint Martin to Santo Domingo and then 5h on a bus for $320 (+ $70 for night in a hotel on Curacao and transfers to/from the airport, + $20 Curacao Airport…

ESTA is $14. Make sure you're not checking on some unofficial ESTA website.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#412

Post by Scoundreller »

serge2k wrote: post #259
kogepathic wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> costs $1500 and about 6 months to process the paperwork that lets her stay Really not cool. Probably justify it by saying it takes a lot of time to process paperwork (that they created the requirement for in the first place...) Did you know that it also now costs $2350 for someone to renounce their US citizenship? It also takes an undefined amount of time (typically 12+ months) and they publish your name online on…

Because people were renouncing to avoid the IRS, since US tax laws are completely screwed up.

Painful for those not trying to avoid taxes. A drop in the bucket for those trying to avoid taxes...

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#414

Post by joelhooks »

occamrazor wrote: post #400
dionidium wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lighters are not forbidden. I was told to toss out all but one when coming back into the U.S. from Canada, once, but that's about as far as it's ever gone. I travel a fair amount and almost always with one or more lighters.

One can carry one lighter (and no more than one), of the gas type (no Zippo's) and must be carried on the person (not in the hand baggage). Having said that, these rules are usually not strictly enforced.

I carry 2-3 lighters in my backpack at any given time and fly regularly. Have never had to remove them or had them confiscated in the last 4 years.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#415

Post by germanier »

WildUtah wrote: post #362
JimboOmega wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Narita is the main airport for international flights to Tokyo. It's a bit of a hike to Tokyo proper, but there's a dedicated train. Anyway, I would imagine there are a lot of travelers (business, in particular) sensitive to time but not so much to price, for whom a direct flight is worth a few hundred $ - there was a solid market for the concord, remember. Anyway saving the connection, and a "normal" customs/security…

Tokyo International Airport at Haneda is the main airport for international flights to Tokyo -- at least for Japanese carriers. Foreign carriers are exiled to Narita -- a US$200 cab ride away -- as a protectionist measure. Haneda is right next to downtown Tokyo. --- The price difference persists for connecting flights from airports outside MEX and to destination airports outside NRT and Shanghai so it isn't based on…

International carriers are moving capacity from Narita to Haneda just as Japanese airlines added more flights from Haneda since the new runway opened. The latter still operate a lot of international flights from Narita.

Only US carriers seem to mostly not get Haneda slots but they are decreasing capacity in Narita as well as they now offer less connecting flights via Japan than they used to. There are currently negotiations and the Japanese authorities have agreed to assign more slots to American carriers. The problem seems mostly Delta, who would like to move their complete hub to Haneda which would take a large share of available slots there. Delta is lobbying hard (including loud in public which is a big no-no in Japan) for not increasing capacity for their competitors. [1]

In 2013 the US was allocated Haneda slots but they could not agree on a distribution among their carriers, so they remained vacant.

The problem at Haneda seems to be as much US-internal fights as Japanese protectionism.

(Sure, Japanese carriers have more than 2/3 of all slots of Haneda. Personally, I think it's fine that a country's carriers are given preferred access where capacity is limited.)

[1]: http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/delta-air-lines-our-wa...

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#416

Post by giaour »

superuser2 wrote: post #382
astrodust wrote: post #376

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Travelling by train is so ridiculously refreshing. Grab ticket online or at kiosk. Walk on train. Sit down. There's nothing even close in the air travel world. Even Nexus people have to endure the occasional cavity search.

Isn't Amtrak plagued by horrific delays? The Chicago to NYC time is 20 hours by the schedule, and anecdotally 5-7 more hours waiting for freight trains is pretty common. Don't have real data or personal experience though.

I took a Chicago-NYC train once, and the crew was happy that it was "only" 4 hours late. IIRC, the physical rails are owned by freight lines, so freight gets a higher priority at crossings.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#417

Post by ibejoeb »

hobs wrote: post #397

My cousin just got sent back to Europe this morning for no specified reason and was given 90 seconds to call his family before being ejected from the USA. Just on vacation and going to house sit for my mom. Still waiting on him landing so I can get more details. What a dumb world.

That's Customs and Border Protection.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#418

Post by xyzzy4 »

peteretep wrote: post #406
menage wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A criminal conviction could lead to a fine.

The OP's point was: they either think you're trying to bring down a plane or they don't. Punishing minor infractions is not on their menu.

Except for drug offenses

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#419

Post by WildUtah »

germanier wrote: post #415
WildUtah wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tokyo International Airport at Haneda is the main airport for international flights to Tokyo -- at least for Japanese carriers. Foreign carriers are exiled to Narita -- a US$200 cab ride away -- as a protectionist measure. Haneda is right next to downtown Tokyo. --- The price difference persists for connecting flights from airports outside MEX and to destination airports outside NRT and Shanghai so it isn't based on…

International carriers are moving capacity from Narita to Haneda just as Japanese airlines added more flights from Haneda since the new runway opened. The latter still operate a lot of international flights from Narita. Only US carriers seem to mostly not get Haneda slots but they are decreasing capacity in Narita as well as they now offer less connecting flights via Japan than they used to. There are currently negot…

Or the airport could do the right thing for its customers and auction slots to the highest bidder. Industrial central planning and picking protected industries continues to be a disaster for Japan (and every place else that tries it), decades on.

Re: Catching a Flight? Budget Hours, Not Minutes, for Security

#420

Post by dionidium »

occamrazor wrote: post #400
dionidium wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lighters are not forbidden. I was told to toss out all but one when coming back into the U.S. from Canada, once, but that's about as far as it's ever gone. I travel a fair amount and almost always with one or more lighters.

One can carry one lighter (and no more than one), of the gas type (no Zippo's) and must be carried on the person (not in the hand baggage). Having said that, these rules are usually not strictly enforced.

That explains why I was asked to toss out my extras. By the way, this document says that Zippos are fine:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/as...

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