Clearing Customs in Atlanta

lockingblock said:

I've found Atlanta to be the best airport in the US to clear customs.

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I live in Atlanta and did my first safari (SA) back in May. Completely agree on Global Entry, etc. I fly a lot for work (DL Diamond, approaching 2 million miles with DL). Through immigration in 5 mins. Had my checked luggage in 15 minutes after that. So far, so good.

My experience with CBP clearing my rifles was long and painful. Let's just say after all was said and done, took over 60 minutes to get my rifles cleared (in addition to the 20 minutes it took me to get my checked bag) and I was the only one there with a gun case the entire time. Had everything ready and all my paperwork/keys/etc. Was simply a case of the CBP officers not giving a hoot and taking their sweet time. If I'd have had a connection, would likely have missed it.

I haven't been out of the country this year. Last year I cleared US customs in Abu Dhabi on my return from Africa. (No firearms) This was extremely convenient. Especially since I was stuck in-transit anyway. It saved all the time having to clear customs once back on US soil.

Does anyone know the cities you can clear US Customs in prior to boarding your flight to the US? Is this something that is expanding and US customs is doing more of? Thanks

Wheels said:

I haven't been out of the country this year. Last year I cleared US customs in Abu Dhabi on my return from Africa. (No firearms) This was extremely convenient. Especially since I was stuck in-transit anyway. It saved all the time having to clear customs once back on US soil.

Does anyone know the cities you can clear US Customs in prior to boarding your flight to the US? Is this something that is expanding and US customs is doing more of? Thanks

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I've cleared US Customs when returning from Canada and also the Bahamas. Does make it nice.

I recently came through Atlanta, without firearms. The Delta flight from Lagos arrives about 6am and I had a connecting flight at 815am. I was through immigration (no Global Entry, as it expired a couple of years ago and I haven't gone through the renewal process and another interview), had my bags and through customs in less than 20 minutes. Still had time to go to the Delta lounge in Terminal F and shower, change clothes and grab a quick breakfast. Traveling with guns might be a different story.

I have been to SA 4 times.The first 3 I had the 2 hour lay-over. I made them all.....barely. This year I opted for the longer 4 hour layover. I had a bow and was able to make it faster through the CBP gun guys as they let the bow owners just grab their bows and go. It still would have been close on making my flight. I was able to grab a good breakfast at a good restaurant in the airport. That food on the plane is just not right to eat. I found the no stress approach was a lot nicer. After eating breakfast I was right on time for loading to begin. Leave yourself time. Those later flights may be already over-booked and you may be waiting awhile to get another flight. IMO Sonny

I myself would want just a touch more time. Came through Atlanta in Sept. and got to the gun room and no CBP officers. They finally showed up and, oh gee the computers are down. Five CBP guys standing there and not one knows what to do. By the time they got the computer up some guys were getting nervous about missing their connecting flight so we (8-10 people with guns) had arranged the line by layover time. I had 5 hours to kill so I was last in line.

Interesting comments about a "gun room" in Atlanta. Fortunately never had to transit Atlanta with a firearm. Have done Washington Dulles many times, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis-St Paul, Denver, and Vancouver Canada and never a hassle with customs and no "gun room.". TSA has been an issue a couple of times, but not customs.

Red Leg said:

Interesting comments about a "gun room" in Atlanta. Fortunately never had to transit Atlanta with a firearm. Have done Washington Dulles many times, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis-St Paul, Denver, and Vancouver Canada and never a hassle with customs and no "gun room.". TSA has been an issue a couple of times, but not customs.

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Red leg, as I recall my experience in Atlanta is, you deplane, go through customs, get your luggage, then go to the “gun room” where you wait lined up outside looking through the glass for your gun case. Then when called, you go in with your key and boots you hunted in. They spray and bag the boots. You present your 4457 and open your gun case. They OK you after checking something on their computer. Finally you load up on your cart and your off to your next TSA domestic gun check-in and then luggage check-in for your connecting flight.
A bottleneck/late flight/computer glitch at any point and you could be hosed.

Ridgewalker said:

Red leg, as I recall my experience in Atlanta is, you deplane, go through customs, get your luggage, then go to the “gun room” where you wait lined up outside looking through the glass for your gun case. Then when called, you go in with your key and boots you hunted in. They spray and bag the boots. You present your 4457 and open your gun case. They OK you after checking something on their computer. Finally you load up on your cart and your off to your next TSA domestic gun check-in and then luggage check-in for your connecting flight.
A bottleneck/late flight/computer glitch at any point and you could be hosed.

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Wow - I know of no other entry point doing that sort of drill. Never, ever had a boot looked at, much less sprayed. Could be awkward if you were wearing them.

Red Leg said:

Wow - I know of no other entry point doing that sort of drill. Never, ever had a boot looked at, much less sprayed. Could be awkward if you were wearing them.

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Yep they make you take them off, spray them and then you can put them back on once you’re outside the room.

Ridgewalker said:

Red leg, as I recall my experience in Atlanta is, you deplane, go through customs, get your luggage, then go to the “gun room” where you wait lined up outside looking through the glass for your gun case. Then when called, you go in with your key and boots you hunted in. They spray and bag the boots. You present your 4457 and open your gun case. They OK you after checking something on their computer. Finally you load up on your cart and your off to your next TSA domestic gun check-in and then luggage check-in for your connecting flight.
A bottleneck/late flight/computer glitch at any point and you could be hosed.

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Exactly the way it worked for my son and I in July.

Ridgewalker said:

Yep they make you take them off, spray them and then you can put them back on once you’re outside the room.

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Some misinformation being posted here. They do not ALWAYS make you take off your shoes. You do not have to take them off. You do not put them on outside the room. Came back in October, ten to fifteen guys in line. My buddy was wearing his boots. He asks "Take them off". "NO, step in to the tray". Standing in the plastic spraying tray on the floor with his boots on, the TSA guy sprayed the tops and sides. My buddy asked "do you want to spray the bottoms". Answer: "No, your're good to go". Now I ask you, does that make any sense? If there's going to be any shit or whatever, it's going to be in the lugs of the soles.
The first time I transited Atlanta in 2015, we didn't go to the "gun room" initially but a special area for "special" passengers where we removed our boots from checked bags and had them sprayed. Then off to get the guns at the gun room.
Point is, you can't depend on anything being set in stone when coming through an airport, international or domestic. It's all random. That's part of the security protocol, surprises. The bad guys are being forced to play the odds. When flying, you just have to be prepared for the unexpected.

My experience twice at Dulles was getting in a special C&I line off to the right of the regular five mile long one. Protocol there was open the gun case, verify serial numbers, check with supervisor to see if the springbok flatskin my PH gave us was ok to bring in (it was) and off to the parking lot, no shoe spraying.

Looks like this thread is a little old. Are there any new hoops or improvements when coming back thru Atlanta??

Edster said:

Looks like this thread is a little old. Are there any new hoops or improvements when coming back thru Atlanta??

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Following!

I cleared ATL again in June 2019, was on the direct DL flight from JNB. Loads of hunters on the flight, guessing there were 30+ gun cases. This time around, the CBP was ready and had four agents work the flight. Used the gun room - each of the gun cases were delivered to the gun room and that's where we were all cleared.

I have Global Entry and am a Diamond Medallion so I was through immigration quickly and my bags came out fairly quickly. I think I was 4th or 5th in line at the gun room.

Process this time:

• Clear immigration;
• Retrieve your non-firearms luggage;
• Get in line for the gun room;
• Open gun case in gun room, verify serials, re-lock gun case;
• Get your boots sprayed - I had mine on, so they made me hold up a foot at a time while standing in a little 24"x24" tray where they sprayed, then there was a mat to wipe off excess; and
• Wait outside the gun room with other guys who'd been cleared with their luggage and gun cases until a CBP officer escorted us all out of the baggage area.

Guessing I was done about 20 mins after I had my non-firearms luggage, or about 35 mins after they opened the airplane door. But if you were towards the end of that line, I bet it took 2-3x that long.

Goose Cracker said:

I cleared ATL again in June 2019, was on the direct DL flight from JNB. Loads of hunters on the flight, guessing there were 30+ gun cases. This time around, the CBP was ready and had four agents work the flight. Used the gun room - each of the gun cases were delivered to the gun room and that's where we were all cleared.

I have Global Entry and am a Diamond Medallion so I was through immigration quickly and my bags came out fairly quickly. I think I was 4th or 5th in line at the gun room.

Process this time:

• Clear immigration;
• Retrieve your non-firearms luggage;
• Get in line for the gun room;
• Open gun case in gun room, verify serials, re-lock gun case;
• Get your boots sprayed - I had mine on, so they made me hold up a foot at a time while standing in a little 24"x24" tray where they sprayed, then there was a mat to wipe off excess; and
• Wait outside the gun room with other guys who'd been cleared with their luggage and gun cases until a CBP officer escorted us all out of the baggage area.

Guessing I was done about 20 mins after I had my non-firearms luggage, or about 35 mins after they opened the airplane door. But if you were towards the end of that line, I bet it took 2-3x that long.

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Ok sounds good. I have a 3 hr layover coming back so it sounds like I should be good. No Global entry and I’m all back of the bus on the plane as well.

I came back thru Atlanta mid June 2019. After clearing Customs and got to gun room. There were about 25 of us. All the bows and rifles were in there. 3 guys working room. I had both bow and rifle case. He had me open rifle case and verify Serials on 4457, didnt want to look at bows. Waited for escort to recheck rifles and bags. This is were it got interesting. They unpacked everything out of bow cases and rifle cases. Then dumb lady tried putting stuff back in where it didnt fit. I said “I will put it back”
Wrong words. I was abruptly told don’t touch it.
Well after a few words I did put it all back in. Took along time to get thru it all. Luckily had a 3 hour layover. Made it to next gate about 20 minutes before boarding and found out it was delayed. 3 hour layover turned into a 7 hour layover. Never did get boots sprayed tho. Never even asked. That is 2 trips back thru Atlanta and never asked about boots or sprayed. Never know from trip to trip thru Atlanta what it will be.

Semi-related question (if too off topic, mod please let me know and I'll post elsewhere).

Anyone travel with a gun and a bow in the same case? Any issues with this?

In Atlanta in July, after clearing customs with your firearm, then the TSA lady strip searches your case and contents again, and yes ...she just crams things back in with no regard for damage....while you stand twenty feet away and cringe..she even removed the foam lining from from my Pelican....I also asked to help rearrange....stand back...don’t touch was the reply. Returned thru Chicago in November...no issue there. No spraying of boots either..no line for firearms either...Flew Qatar Air...Qatar Air rep collected my firearm off the carousel and escorted me to Agriculture and customs clearing of my firearm. Smooth

Edster said:

Ok sounds good. I have a 3 hr layover coming back so it sounds like I should be good. No Global entry and I’m all back of the bus on the plane as well.

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3 hour layover is ideal and any less can be cutting it too close. You never know if your flight may be delayed, Customs are slow, gun room is slow, etc. I’d not book less than 2.5 hour layover.

Philip Glass said:

3 hour layover is ideal and any less can be cutting it too close. You never know if your flight may be delayed, Customs are slow, gun room is slow, etc. I’d not book less than 2.5 hour layover.

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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.