Clearing Customs in Atlanta

We booked with the 2 hour 12 minute layover. Cutting the trip by 3 hours was worth the risk for us. There are worse things in life than a missed connection!
Agree completely, especially if your connection has a flight leaving out every hour or so, as I do. So it doesn't really matter to me. If you only have one or two connecting flights per day....that would be a different story!!!
 
Agree completely, especially if your connection has a flight leaving out every hour or so, as I do. So it doesn't really matter to me. If you only have one or two connecting flights per day....that would be a different story!!!

We fly from ATL to Indianapolis. There are several flights per day. Getting re-booked shouldn't be an issue.
 
Do you have Global Entry? If not then get it and you can do the 2 hour layover otherwise you need 3 hours to be safe. Are you in Comfort+ or Business class? The closer to the front of the plane you are the better. Go get in the gun line as soon as possible and ask others if they have a long layover to let you go ahead. Most of us would oblige if we can.
Philip

Philip, With all due respect, when this grouchy old fart gets off a 15-16 hour flight after a previous 1 hour flight and has been on the move for 24 hours or more, I'm in no mood to "oblige" anyone that is either too cheap or hasn't done their homework. I call that "enabling" and the person obliged, if caught with their pants down and "saved", will not have learned a damn thing. YMMV.
 
Philip, With all due respect, when this grouchy old fart gets off a 15-16 hour flight after a previous 1 hour flight and has been on the move for 24 hours or more, I'm in no mood to "oblige" anyone that is either too cheap or hasn't done their homework. I call that "enabling" and the person obliged, if caught with their pants down and "saved", will not have learned a damn thing. YMMV.
If it's a late flight due to the airlines is one thing, failure to do your homework is on you. You guys that have been to Africa 6 or 8 or more times probably don't have to do any homework, but for people like me, the homework takes close to a year, so there are no surprises!
 
Rant mode ON because I see too many hunters unprepared, clueless and standing around with their thumbs up their asses waiting to get in the gun room: Get your ducks in a row. Get Global Entry, go with Delta custom comfort seats and get off the plane quicker, be first or second in line at the gun room, have your shoes ready to spray, out of your luggage or on your feet, have your passport and customs forms in your hand when you enter the gun room. Have your gun case lock keys in your hand, not in your pocket. Don't have more than one key for all locks. I've seen jackasses with four locks and two different keys fumbling to open their cases. In other words get your shit together BEFORE you leave the United States. Help YOURSELF, don't depend on someone else to worry about your connection. Rant mode OFF. I was there three weeks ago, I was done in a half hour and on my way to the gate to Philly and have made previous connections in less than a hour layover.
Aside from that, it's a hundred bucks for five years for Global Entry, another four hundred bucks for the Comfort seats. Average safari is 7k plus, the extra expense for the convenience is minimal in the overall cost. From this chai, trying to save what amounts to peanuts is just plain dumb.

It not just the hunters, I’m in Calgary airport and the security line is a good 30 minute wait, the guy 2 in front of me gets to the table at security and spends 10 minutes rearranging stuff
 
It not just the hunters, I’m in Calgary airport and the security line is a good 30 minute wait, the guy 2 in front of me gets to the table at security and spends 10 minutes rearranging stuff

TSA Pre helps in the U.S. The lines are shorter but one does run in to the occasional blocker. Is there any protocol like that in Canada?
 
For my USA brethren. Get Global Entry, my last entry - Emirates business flight (off the plane early), no gun at DFW was under 10 minutes. At IAH last year with a gun, BA flight was 20 minutes. Several Credit Cards will reimburse you the $100 fee. Yes those cards are more expensive, but they usually also have no FOREX fees too and some come with a Priority Pass Select (lounge access) . Very handy if you travel at lot (one trip the annual fee will pay for itself). For those that don't want to spend the $100, get Mobile Pass for your phone, it will speed you thru immigration, but no special exit at customs with Mobile Pass like Global Entry.
 
TSA Pre helps in the U.S. The lines are shorter but one does run in to the occasional blocker. Is there any protocol like that in Canada?

We are in Calgary to do the interview for Global Entry AKA Nexus
 
Global entry is a hundred bucks for five years, twenty bucks a year and you get TSA Pre with it. Now if you have a shaky background record there may be an issue. If not, even one trip, in my opinion, it's worth the money. Then again, you can stand in line for an hour when two triple sevens unload at the same time.
 
Global entry is a hundred bucks for five years, twenty bucks a year and you get TSA Pre with it. Now if you have a shaky background record there may be an issue. If not, even one trip, in my opinion, it's worth the money. Then again, you can stand in line for an hour when two triple sevens unload at the same time.
It depends on airports, flights and the amount of US citizens on the flights. My return through Phili, no wait because my gun was last off and all the US citizens were cleared so that line was wide open. Second return into Seattle was again all about the luggage with another (Emirates, I believe) getting their luggage off first. They have the kiosks for entry so that made life easy and the gun actually speeded things up. They delivered it to Customs who cleared and inspected me in a seperate line. Next will probably be in Anchorage, which gets a single international flight at a time. The difference between US citizen line and Global here is trivial at that point. Atlanta may be different.
 
I've found Atlanta to be the best airport in the US to clear customs. Full disclosure...I worked there for a few years too. They finished up the new international concourse a couple of years back and it is beautiful. Clean, spacious, good food, good lounges, and very efficient processing of people. It's still an airport...get there early enough to do your business, but it is nicer than any others I've used. The Customs folks had a big hand in the design of the new concourse and it works well as a result.

The worst for me would be anything around NYC and maybe Dulles as those people movers get old. Chicago wasn't bad...but there was a ton of walking.

YMMV.
 
For anyone that has American express cards, check your benefits as some of the cards will reimburse you for global entry. You have to make sure you use your card for the payment and they just put the credit onto your statement. Nice feature for sure as it's now free so it just costs you your time to go down and get it done.
 
Rant mode ON because I see too many hunters unprepared, clueless and standing around with their thumbs up their asses waiting to get in the gun room: Get your ducks in a row. Get Global Entry, go with Delta custom comfort seats and get off the plane quicker, be first or second in line at the gun room, have your shoes ready to spray, out of your luggage or on your feet, have your passport and customs forms in your hand when you enter the gun room. Have your gun case lock keys in your hand, not in your pocket. Don't have more than one key for all locks. I've seen jackasses with four locks and two different keys fumbling to open their cases. In other words get your shit together BEFORE you leave the United States. Help YOURSELF, don't depend on someone else to worry about your connection. Rant mode OFF. I was there three weeks ago, I was done in a half hour and on my way to the gate to Philly and have made previous connections in less than a hour layover.
Aside from that, it's a hundred bucks for five years for Global Entry, another four hundred bucks for the Comfort seats. Average safari is 7k plus, the extra expense for the convenience is minimal in the overall cost. From this chai, trying to save what amounts to peanuts is just plain dumb.
So true.
 
Just came through ATL on Saturday with rifle. Wife made it through non-Global Entry faster than I could go through Global Entry...not as beneficial as it once was (both through in ~10 min). Took about 20 minutes total to clear rifle and I was 3rd in line.
Yea now it’s all electronic. Depending on when you get off plane GE helps a lot.
 
I've found Atlanta to be the best airport in the US to clear customs. Full disclosure...I worked there for a few years too. They finished up the new international concourse a couple of years back and it is beautiful. Clean, spacious, good food, good lounges, and very efficient processing of people. It's still an airport...get there early enough to do your business, but it is nicer than any others I've used. The Customs folks had a big hand in the design of the new concourse and it works well as a result.

The worst for me would be anything around NYC and maybe Dulles as those people movers get old. Chicago wasn't bad...but there was a ton of walking.

YMMV.
Yes those people movers are like ancient technology! Only in DC.
 
For the first timers, coming from Joburg, after clearing your rifles in the gun room, you'll get an escort over to the rifle check station, a short walk. There they will do whatever they're inclined to do that day, take your rifles and your other checked bags (you did get the checked all the way through, didn't you?). You are now on your way to your connection terminal, security and gate.
 
Yea now it’s all electronic. Depending on when you get off plane GE helps a lot.
My last trip, with GE, I had one person in front of me at customs, not even two minutes in line.
 
Its a two hour layover only if the 17 hour flight is on time. I'd rather find myself with 3 hours to read a book and chill in the ATL airport than find myself missing a connection by 5 minutes and needing a place to stay for the night because the next flight is already overbooked. The only plane you can be damn sure will take off on time is the plane you need to catch after the plane you are on is an hour late.

I agree that often times you will be OK with the 2 hour stay, especially if you have your ducks in a row. I agree 100% with all of the people who have encouraged you to have your ducks in a row; it is incredibly annoying to be stuck behind some idiot that doesn't know where his keys are or has 4 different keys for 4 locks or has his boots at the bottom of his luggage in some inaccessible and time-wasting place or... But the number of people who have emphasized the need to have your ducks in a row indicates to me that 2 hours is cutting it close.

It is personal preference. I prefer a longer layover and not having to worry about everything breaking my way to make it work. Others prefer a short layover and accept an increased chance of it occasionally not working out. But either way, don't be the doofus holding up the line.
 
Its a two hour layover only if the 17 hour flight is on time. I'd rather find myself with 3 hours to read a book and chill in the ATL airport than find myself missing a connection by 5 minutes and needing a place to stay for the night because the next flight is already overbooked. The only plane you can be damn sure will take off on time is the plane you need to catch after the plane you are on is an hour late.

I agree that often times you will be OK with the 2 hour stay, especially if you have your ducks in a row. I agree 100% with all of the people who have encouraged you to have your ducks in a row; it is incredibly annoying to be stuck behind some idiot that doesn't know where his keys are or has 4 different keys for 4 locks or has his boots at the bottom of his luggage in some inaccessible and time-wasting place or... But the number of people who have emphasized the need to have your ducks in a row indicates to me that 2 hours is cutting it close.

It is personal preference. I prefer a longer layover and not having to worry about everything breaking my way to make it work. Others prefer a short layover and accept an increased chance of it occasionally not working out. But either way, don't be the doofus holding up the line.

I'm old and don't need the stress, surprises and the inevitable SNAFU's therefore I leave 3-4hrs, Cliffy a member here is a former pilot and that was his suggestion
 
I'm old and don't need the stress, surprises and the inevitable SNAFU's therefore I leave 3-4hrs, Cliffy a member here is a former pilot and that was his suggestion

Yep. "Time to spare, take to the air". (y)
 

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