Bits: bonus Heathrow Rewards points, immigration kiosks for BA at New York JFK

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• Mike says:

  30 Jun30 June 04:12

  The kiosks are brilliant, used them at DFW two weeks ago and have used them at LAS last year. Ironically the queue was then shifted to customs at DFW!

  • Alan says:

    30 Jun30 June 09:02

    This is why Global Entry is still worth paying for (under $20/year) if you make a few trips to the USA every year – as well as bypassing CBP queues you also get a special lane to bypass customs queues. The only hold-up I have now is waiting for checked bags, if on HBO I can be through customs at JFK and out in about 5 min from stepping off the plane!

    • Ian says:

      30 Jun30 June 15:59

      The only downside is to get TSA precheck when departing you must fly on an American carrier.

      Apart from that I agree.

      However used these machines in Dublin and they were fine.

      • Alan says:

        1 Jul1 July 18:09

        Agree this is annoying although I think they’re looking at rolling out PreCheck to more airlines. For domestic US flights it definitely makes a big difference having it!

• Daniel says:

  30 Jun30 June 04:20

  They have also installed these kiosks in Dublin. Though you can only use them if you have previously entered using an ESTA under the visa waiver scheme. First time users of the scheme had to join the main line. Overall it certainly does speed things up considerably.

• Michael says:

  30 Jun30 June 04:51

  The kiosks were at SFO for a while but they are only for returning ESTA visitors, not for B1/B2 visa. However the main line had less manned desks so not a big help for first time visitors or visa holders.

  • Raffles says:

    30 Jun30 June 08:53

    As an Esta expires after 2 years, do you mean 2nd time on the SAME Esta or is it OK if you applied for a new one?

    • Callum says:

      30 Jun30 June 09:31

      The wording implies second entry on the same ESTA, but I did it with a new ESTA and it was fine.

      • Steve says:

        1 Jul1 July 23:27

        I used the kiosks on a new ESTA and got a big black X printed on my slip, this meant I had to join the regular line

  • The_Real_A says:

    30 Jun30 June 10:13

    They need to collect your fingerprints and photograph on the first entry…

• Flyoff says:

  30 Jun30 June 06:40

  I used the machines at JFK last Summer after flying on the London City service. You could only use them if you had previously entered the US with your current ESTA. It took us longer to enter than the main queue. After queueing to use the machines, followed by the slow process of using the machine we then had to queue afterwards for a final check with an official. It wasn’t a great experience.

  • Deb says:

    30 Jun30 June 07:26

    We had the same in Miami last summer. Queue for an hour to use the machine with current ESTA, then everyone who had completed the process at the machine placed in a queue to see an officer. Luckily all the US citizens had gone straight through one short line so by the time we made it to the carousel there were just a few bags going round and no people. Was very glad we were shuttling to an airport hotel and not worrying about a car hire slot!

    • zsalya says:

      30 Jun30 June 21:55

      I recently moved my Easyjet Flexi ticket to be eight hours later, and called Avis (UK) to put back my booking and said – don’t bother to amend – one can collect up to 24 hours after scheduled time.

• harry says:

  30 Jun30 June 06:41

  Post Brexit £366/ 33750 = 1.07p (SPG)

  whereas GBP has come back against EUR and IB route @ 150K = 0.985p

• Julie says:

  30 Jun30 June 06:59

  Have used the kiosk at Chicago. Got through in under 5 mins. Thought great until it took over an hour to get through the next bit.

• Matthew says:

  30 Jun30 June 07:07

  Used in Miami couple years ago with returning ESTA, scans passport, does a biometric check and prints a receipt you wave at a immigration officer as you walk through a new queue, very quick. Initially slow for the Kiosks to work well, some software glitches and little explanation of how to use (albeit there aren’t many options).
  Kiosks were in the USA queue with staff denying we could use them until all USA passengers were gone, then they admitted we could use them.
  Does this mean we can use them in any airport we see them, whether advertised as good for ESTA or not?

• Leo says:

  30 Jun30 June 07:12

  Used kiosk at terminal 4 JFK 3 weeks ago. Very quick. There is a further queue at customs afterwards altho this was also quick. Was waiting for the sky train 20 minutes after getting off the plane! Never done it so quick – was probably an hour quicker than terminal 7 in December.

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