Walk Me Through Coming Home From SA

OK, I'm a newbe and perhaps this is the ultimate newbe question about coming home but I got to ask it and I am sure that there are some on here that are wondering the same thing. So please bear with me and be gentle.

On my way home I'll be flying through Washington Dulles airport and will need to go through customs. So I understand that once off the plane from SA I will have to go through customs and then go pick up my bags and rifle case then recheck it and my bags to get home. So when I do this is it at the regular airline check in counters or is there something else in place for a first timer to get lost at? I'm sure that I'll be able to figure it out but I do like hearing it from the voice of experience.

So could one of you veterans please walk me through what I'll be doing just so that I have a idea of what to expect?

This should help a bit. From Dulles Website.

Clearing Customs and Border Protection into the United States
We have two U.S. Customs and Border Protection locations: The International Arrivals Building (IAB) in the Main Terminal and a Transfer facility in the C-Gates.

• All International passengers whose destination is Washington will board a mobile lounge and ride to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) at the Main Terminal to clear U.S. Customs. If someone is meeting your arrival, he/she can wait for you on the Arrivals (baggage claim) level near the carousel #15 sign.
• In general, International passengers arriving in the C-Gates who are connecting to another flight will be directed from the gate to U.S. Customs in the C-Gates. Some connecting passengers may be directed to the IAB depending on the time of day or your airline's procedures.
• International passengers arriving in the A or B-gates who are connecting to another flight will board a mobile lounge to U.S. Customs in the C-Gates or to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) at the Main Terminal to clear U.S. Customs, depending on their airline's procedures.
• Note: International passengers arriving from select countries may have already pre-cleared U.S. Customs at the point of departure. Through this system, travelers are treated as domestic passengers upon arrival and will deplane directly into the Concourse. From there passengers can go directly to their connecting flight or to the Main Terminal and exit the airport.

At U.S. Customs and Border Protection there are two queue lines: one for U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents and one for Non U.S. Citizens (Visitors). Please ensure you are in the correct line in order to speed the process. Wait times vary depending on the number of arriving international flights at that time. Please have completed customs forms handy when you reach the front of the line. If you are enrolled in Global Entry you can proceed directly to the kiosk without waiting in line.

After clearing U.S. Customs at Dulles, passengers must claim their checked luggage before proceeding in to the Main Terminal or to a connecting flight. All luggage in the U.S. Customs area is subject to inspection. To check-in luggage for a connecting flight, simply hand it to an agent in the baggage re-check area before exiting.

Passengers transfering to a connecting flight will need to clear screening by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA). If you cleared Customs from the C-Gates, you will go through TSA screening immediately afterwards then go up one level to the C-Gates Concourse. If you cleared Customs in the IAB, you will enter the Main Terminal where you can follow signs "TO ALL GATES" for TSA screening.


http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/884.htm

thank you i was curious as well

Typically, and in our ever changing security and protocal world, typical is not a certain.... You will enter the USA at an International Terminal, you process through for entering the country (Customs, Immigration, USDA, and I forget the other agencies which may or may not ask you a question or two). Your weapons (firearms) are checked by the local police and Border Patrol, once you show the customs form and they verify serial number, you move with the masses to a tram to ride to the Domestic Terminal, then it's either check your baggage and declare the firearms, OR it's handled in your connection to your final destination.
In ATL, it was the worst experience of my entire trip to RSA, the people in ATL were rude and unorganized and have no empathy for people flying half way around the world (OK 1/3 - 1/4 of the way).
Also, depending on who's on duty and what THEIR interpretation of the law, regulations, or SOPs are, maintain a positive atitude (YOU JUST RETURNED FROM AFRICA !!!!) and Lord love 'em, give them a little authority and watch it go to their heads...

You might get your boots sprayed down with insect killer for fear that you are tracking in some sort of plant seed or bug that could damage crops! No big deal!

I think it was Dulles where I had to take my firearm to another terminal to recheck it. Had to wait for a local police officer to come ck the numbers to be they matched up. I waited 1/2 hour and then got lucky and a couple of officers "happened by" on their way to get a donut. The agent grabbed them to do the ck or it could of been another 1/2 hour. Make sure you have lots of time before your connecting flight. Like 3 hrs. Bruce

It is not a big deal really. Just a bunch of lines to go through answer some question and get checked back in and head home thinking of getting back to africa. Main thing is give yourself time in between flights as yoiu never know how long it will take.

From all I have heard about dulles and atlanta I am glad I fly out of jfk. Have not had one problem or dealt with people who think they have more power then they do.

Thanks, this is the kind of information that I was looking for. I have heard all different kinds of stories on what I'll need to do. I just wasn't too sure if I was going to need to recheck my baggage at the general aviation terminal and go through security again but it looks like I will.

I have 4 hours at Dulles as long as my flight arrives at the sceduled time I should have no problems.

greyfox said:

In ATL, it was the worst experience of my entire trip to RSA, the people in ATL were rude and unorganized and have no empathy for people flying half way around the world (OK 1/3 - 1/4 of the way).
Also, depending on who's on duty and what THEIR interpretation of the law, regulations, or SOPs are, maintain a positive atitude (YOU JUST RETURNED FROM AFRICA !!!!) and Lord love 'em, give them a little authority and watch it go to their heads...

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I had a decent TSA agent in Atlanta....the whole problem was people were trying to get their guns .....and luggage.....and get their boots spray by USDA....and make their connections.....The agent was friendly, and once they got to my firearms, they checked the form against the serial number and sent me on my way. Guess I was lucky.........
I think that part of the problem is people line up thinking it was "first come; first served", when (or at least in my case), it's "we get a bunch of gun cases and start calling names".

billc said:

. Main thing is give yourself time in between flights as yoiu never know how long it will take.

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Got to agree with this......most people say minimum 3 hours between flights.....I'd even up that an hour or two to be safe.

My only advise is DON'T pack anything in your carry-on or purchase anything at JO airport as souvenirs that might be confiscated by U.S. Customs. I purchased three of those decorative ostrich eggs at the airport and Customs seized all three of them. Even though they were basically art work.....not something fresh off the farm. I was furious! I turned around and ordered the same eggs from a company out of England, and they were mailed to me just fine. How's that for making sense?! Good news though....they didn't get my porcupine quills and guinea fowl feathers from some of our hunts that I had tucked away in my checked-in luggage. That'll show 'em!!

WALKINGPREY2 said:

My only advise is DON'T pack anything in your carry-on or purchase anything at JO airport as souvenirs that might be confiscated by U.S. Customs. I purchased three of those decorative ostrich eggs at the airport and Customs seized all three of them. Even though they were basically art work.....not something fresh off the farm. I was furious! I turned around and ordered the same eggs from a company out of England, and they were mailed to me just fine. How's that for making sense?! Good news though....they didn't get my porcupine quills and guinea fowl feathers from some of our hunts that I had tucked away in my checked-in luggage. That'll show 'em!!

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You got ripped off by customs, on two different occasions I bought eggs at Tambo and once I bought two springbok horns and have never have had a problems.

I have never had a problem going through Dulles Or Houston, this time I going through Atlanta and hope it goes ok.

BTW what are the busiest months in Atlanta for hunters?

Walkingprey2 at what at what airport did they steal your souvenirs ?

jeff said:

Walkingprey2 at what at what airport did they steal your souvenirs ?

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Dulles. I kept trying to explain to the woman that they were artwork purchased at the souvenir store. We were warned about ostrich eggs. I can guarantee the people who work at U.S. Customs have a free-for-all Christmas shop for their end of the year pleasure. I would love to see all the items they confiscate without reason.

My experiences have been really pretty good coming in from MSP even though we had some waiting as other passengers were being processed. Mostly foreign people trying to bring in huge stashes of food, which understandably is NOT ok.

Our biggest delays have been in Paris. A USDA guy told us that flight is regularly late. So if flying through Paris, allow extra time if connecting further.

I would like to say.. PLEASE have your boots sprayed!!! Things like foot and mouth disease is rampant in much of Africa and especially in the Buffalo. So in particular if you are in an area with cattle and/or buffalo... You need to have your boots cleaned and sprayed by USDA. And wash your clothes in sanitizing detergent AND dry them... and if your not positive you have everything sanitized, stay away from any domestic livestock for 3 weeks, the bacterium lives that long.

People might think this is not their problem but if you eat, it is your problem to maintain the health of your countries agriculture.

@WALKINGPREY2 I am very sorry for the eggs being confiscated but did you properly declare them and check the regs? And to sneak in feathers is NOT ok! There are restrictions in place to protect our livestock, wildlife and people. How would you feel if you transported some exotic bird flue or the like back here? Not saying that is likely, but some parasites or who knows what might be in those feathers.... I do think there is ample warning against bringing the eggs in as well. We wanted them as well but were aware of restrictions. There is no guarantee that those eggs made into artwork in Africa have been properly sanitized, chances are they are not. I think those people were doing their jobs, not ripping you off...... The rules are in place to protect us and our country from invasive species, parasites, bacteria, protozoa, virus', etc.

Agreed. And declaring the eggs was probably why they were confiscated. They would have gone unnoticed. I always declare anything I purchase when overseas. Staying honest keeps me from spending far too much when out of the country.

Thanks @WALKINGPREY2 Sanitize those feathers and quills.

Mr. 16 gauge said:

Got to agree with this......most people say minimum 3 hours between flights.....I'd even up that an hour or two to be safe.

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Not bad advise, a 2 hour layover in Toronto became 20 min when my plane was delayed and a 3 hour layover in Paris became 45 min when that flight was bumped up an hour after I had booked it then the plane was an hour late and then sat on the runway waiting for a terminal. I can say from experience, I arrived minutes before they closed up the plane both times after running as fast as I could (I can run pretty good) across the airport and being fast tracked through screening (thank god). planning a little bit more extra time would have been preferable to say the least.

P.S. All those self involved travellers who are in no real hurry but jump up and clog the isles immediately after the pilot announces "several passengers have very short layovers so please allow them to exit the plane first" can kiss my lilly white A.....!!!!!!!!

That is my rant for the day. Now I can chill for awhile lol

They looked in my souvnier bag and then sent me on my way, also didn't declare them as I didn't think a few cheap tourist things were reqired to be declared if under a certain amount.