Clearing Customs in Atlanta

[mikecatt13]

Great you guys are making me feel better. All except the stories of the Shield Maiden TSA lady that likes to man handle and abuse your firearms.

I forget who it was but I remember reading that a member on here fixed that by offering help and when met with a hostile response, kindly asked if she could afford to repair and replace those items. I can tell you that if they do anything close to that with my double rifle they will "respectfully" become aware of how much it costs

 

[JKS]

Personally, I schedule longer than necessary layovers. I am not one for feeling rushed when traveling, even on the return leg. The worst that can happen is you use your elite flier status, airline branded credit card, or whatever and spend some time in a business/ first class lounge. Have a snack, a drink, maybe even a shower!

 

[WAB]

I have terminated i ternational flights in Atlanta with firearms over a dozen times. Sometimes it’s quick, other times it is not. My range of outcomes is 35 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. I am a diamond on delta, have global entry, and know the paperwork drill. If I were connecting I would want 4 hours.

Oh, and if you only done it a few times you may not have experienced the wide range of procedures. It’s almost like they are doing it for the first time every time. Give yourself time and roll with the punches.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I've done Atlanta and Dulles. Dulles was quicker and easier.

 

[WAB]

I have terminated i ternational flights in Atlanta with firearms over a dozen times. Sometimes it’s quick, other times it is not. My range of outcomes is 35 minutes to 2 1/2 hours. I am a diamond on delta, have global entry, and know the paperwork drill. If I were connecting I would want 4 hours.

Oh, and if you only done it a few times you may not have experienced the wide range of procedures. It’s almost like they are doing it for the first time every time. Give yourself time and roll with the punches.

Fat fingers, I was trying to say that I’ve terminated more than a dozen international flights with firearms in Atlanta.

 

[autofire]

2 hours is asking for all the stars to align in your favor ie. Departing flight leaves on time/arrives on time, etc. One trip numerous Global Entry kiosks were down expedited Custome line was extremely slow/backed up. If you are traveling during May to Sept probably lots of returning hunters and you never know how TSA gun room check will go. Last year TSA made you wait until they have a group of rifle toters to escort to the domestic baggage checkin so you can recheck your rifle case. For me downside of missing connecting flight is worse than doing an extra 2 hour layover-roll the dice and see what happens.

 

[fourfive8]

Lots of good points here- pay attention if you are inexperienced! I've re-entered through both Atlanta and Dulles. Dulles seemed a little less organized but a little quicker and much less volume than Atlanta. Atlanta has the famous "fish bowl" gun room. Interesting about Atlanta is that even after the gun room had been in operation for a few years, one year you had take firearms into the separate shake down room where non-resident aliens get processed. Then the next year back to the fish bowl. Go figure? The longest delays I've experienced for firearms re-entry were in Atlanta. One huntress (don't shoot the messenger) packed her firearm in the guncase, still loaded! The other long and often witnessed delays are when unorganized packers insist on adding clothes and all manner of gadgetry and gear intermingled with their firearms in the end loading "golf bag" cases. Really causes a cluster and delay when the agents are trying to inspect a firearm coming back in. Some travelers won't learn, don't learn, don't want to learn or simply suffer from "center of universe syndrome".

Bottom line, as has been posted multiple times here and on various threads, plan for plenty of connection time. 3-4 hours is not too much time. And remember, everyone will be tired, lagged and not thinking clearly upon return from such trips. Agents don't care if you are tired and mentally foggy.

 

[Hogpatrol]

"Center of universe syndrome" I've seen those guys. They're usually accompanied by a babysitter.

 

[barbells.and.arrows]

If you are going, and don't have global entry (we didn't do it because the nearest global entry place is forever away from where we live, not really, more like 4 hours), look into Mobile Passport. I filled out all our customs stuff on the plane, snapped some photos of us and when we landed we went through the mobile passport line. We beat the global entry guys to the gun room.

 

[Hogpatrol]

If you are going, and don't have global entry (we didn't do it because the nearest global entry place is forever away from where we live, not really, more like 4 hours), look into Mobile Passport. I filled out all our customs stuff on the plane, snapped some photos of us and when we landed we went through the mobile passport line. We beat the global entry guys to the gun room.

Checked it out and it's a recent update of the GE/TT program. Bypassing the kiosk is definitely a time saver. Thanks for the tip.