Latest news with #MobilePassportControl
Global News
26-07-2025
- Global News
Calgary airport limiting U.S. customs access to 2 hours before flight time
It's a busy time at Calgary International Airport, with thousands expected to travel through the hub during the summer months — but some heading stateside are finding themselves waiting longer than anticipated. According to officials at YYC, travellers flying to the U.S. can only access security screening and U.S. customs no more than two hours before their scheduled departure time. It's called timed entry, otherwise known as metering, and was reintroduced this past December during peak travel periods to 'reduce wait times, streamline security and make the passenger experience smoother.' 'These measures were brought back to help manage passenger flow and create a more consistent, predictable screening experience,' an airport spokesperson said in a statement to Global News. The measure doesn't apply to passengers who require extra time or support, including those traveling with small children, mobility aids or with accessibility considerations, the statement said. Story continues below advertisement Some passengers who arrived for their U.S.-bound flights on Friday weren't aware of the procedure. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I didn't know about a cap on the time so I went to the gate and they asked me where I was going,' Tim Goldmann told Global News. 'I told them and they said, 'Well, you need to wait.'' Tannis Johannson travelled from Fernie, B.C., to catch her flight to Los Angeles, and said her assumption was to arrive early as most airlines recommend. 'I thought it was three hours,' she told Global News. 'That's what we came here with in mind.' Processing and screening through YYC are managed by agency partners, the airport said, but the airport authority introduced the procedure to ensure facilities run smoothly. Airport officials are encouraging passengers that will be going through U.S. Customs and Border Protection to download and complete the Mobile Passport Control app ahead of their arrival to speed up the process. 'We value the feedback we have received and continue to monitor the experience to identify improvements that support our guests, partners and overall operations,' the airport's statement said. However, some travellers forced to wait are taking the situation in stride. 'I'm here, I'd have to wait on the other side anyway,' Goldmann said. Story continues below advertisement YYC is still encouraging passengers to arrive early to 'account for travel conditions' and to allow for sufficient time to check in with their airline and check baggage.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Flying from London to the US just got easier for these connecting travelers
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are piloting 'One Stop Security' at London Heathrow for select US-bound flights. Passengers connecting through Dallas-Fort Worth or Atlanta may skip baggage rechecking and TSA screening. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Passengers flying from London Heathrow to the United States and connecting onward may now experience faster transfers under a new pilot program. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines , in coordination with US authorities, have launched 'One Stop Security' for select flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, removing key bottlenecks like baggage rechecking and secondary security program currently applies to American Airlines Flight 51 from Heathrow to Dallas, and select Delta flights to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Travelers on these routes will no longer need to pick up and recheck their bags or pass through TSA screening again before their onward domestic American Airlines, eligible passengers will remain within the secure area at gate level in Dallas. They will undergo a smaller passport control check and proceed directly to their next process in Atlanta differs slightly. All passengers will be routed through a dedicated customs area. However, only those enrolled in Global Entry or using the Mobile Passport Control app — available to US citizens and lawful permanent residents — will be able to bypass TSA said this new system can save up to 40 minutes during the connection Transportation Security Administration has not issued an official comment, but TSA Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News that more international airports would join the pilot 'in the coming months.'The program, which began earlier this year in the reverse direction — from Dallas-Fort Worth to London Heathrow for travelers connecting onward to non-UK destinations — is part of an effort to reduce friction in transatlantic travel. American Airlines confirmed that it is currently offered on five daily outbound flights from Dallas to airlines have established dedicated customs zones for participating flights. While procedures vary, the goal is the same: make international-to-domestic transfers more seamless for eligible travelers.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Skip long customs lines this summer: How to use Mobile Passport Control for faster U.S. entry
Upon touching down in the United States after traveling internationally, a slow-moving customs line can make a long trip feel even longer or, worse, can cause you to miss a connecting flight. But did you know that even if you don't have Global Entry, you can still get through customs quickly. The trick is to use the free Mobile Passport Control app to help 'skip the line' essentially. About 1.8 million travelers used Mobile Passport Control in 2023, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Still, at some airports across the U.S., the lines at Mobile Passport Control are often significantly shorter than the regular lines and, depending on the airport, MPC users can often clear customs as quickly as Global Entry members. This is especially helpful during the busy summer travel season, when airports swell with vacationers returning from tropical escapes, European getaways, and family reunions abroad. With peak international travel happening between June and August, Mobile Passport Control can be a serious time-saver at notoriously congested airports. If you're headed to Europe for a summer adventure or coming back from a Caribbean cruise, keep in mind that summer return flights often arrive in the late afternoon—prime time for long customs waits. Using MPC could mean the difference between making your evening connection or scrambling to rebook. Here's everything you should know about Mobile Passport Control ahead of your next international trip. Mobile Passport Control is a free app that's available to download on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store and is among some of the lesser-known travel tricks that helps reduce airport stress. After you download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) App, you can create a profile with your passport or Lawful Permanent Resident card information. If you're traveling by plane, you'll select your arrival airport and then will be prompted to ask a series of Customs and Border Protection questions. The app will then ask you to snap a photo of yourself. Once you submit your application, you'll receive an electronic receipt with a QR code and you can skip ahead of the regular line and go into a line that's marked with the Mobile Passport Control sign. Oftentimes, it's shorter than the regular line and more on par with the Global Entry queue. Pro tip: While you can fill out your application ahead of time and save it, don't submit it until you land—otherwise it could expire before you get to the customs line. You will need cellular data or a Wi-Fi connection to submit your application, but you can complete your profile without being connected. Mobile Passport Control users still present their physical passport to a CBP officer for inspection once they enter the United States. 'Always make sure your phone is charged before landing, as you'll need to show the QR code to customs officers,' says Sam Charlton CEO of Fast Passports & Visas. For families, the app is a time-saver because it allows grouping multiple members under one submission—just make sure every family member's profile is updated in advance, Charlton says. Mobile Passport Control is available to U.S. citizens as well as lawful permanent residents, Canadian travelers entering with a B1 (business) visa or B2 (tourism) visa, as well as returning Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers. When you download the app, you can create up to 12 profiles for family members and upon arrival in the United States, households can submit one MPC transaction. Mobile Passport Control may sound too good to be true. It's a free app and can cut down on the time you spend in line at customs. But, yes, Mobile Passport Control is legit. 'The use of MPC streamlines the traveler's entry process into the United States by reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time,' said Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operation for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Detroit Field Office, in a press statement last summer when the program expanded to the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). Americans are traveling abroad more than ever before, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection which says the Mobile Passport Control app is designed to help make entry back into the U.S. easier and more efficient by cutting down on some of the administrative tasks before you get in line. 'Using Mobile Passport Control is a no-brainer, and its benefits are certainly hard to pass up: Free and immediate use, expedited CBP lanes, and it's remarkably little-known,' says travel expert and journalist David Yeskel, 'The Cruise Guru.' Yeskel, who has been covering the cruise industry for 25 years, is in the air almost as much as he's at sea, and while he uses Global Entry for his frequent travels, he recommends Mobile Passport Control to others who don't want the up-front hassle of acquiring Global Entry, including the wait time, cost, and in-person interview. One drawback, he points out, is travelers do need to populate the app with current trip information for each arrival. Mobile Passport Control is available at 52 locations, including 14 Preclearance airport locations, four seaports, and 34 U.S. international airports. You can see the full list of locations here. These are the U.S. international airports where the Mobile Passport Control program is available: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Denver International Airport (DEN) Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) Dulles International Airport (IAD) Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Houston William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU) John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Kansas City International Airport (MCI) Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Miami International Airport (MIA) Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Oakland International Airport (OAK) Orlando International Airport (MCO) Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) Portland International Airport (PDX) Sacramento International Airport (SMF) Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) San Diego International Airport (SAN) San Francisco International Airport (SFO) San Jose International Airport (SJC) San Juan Airport (SJU) Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Tampa International Airport (TPA) The Mobile Passport Control app is also available at preclearance locations, allowing users to clear the CBP inspection process before boarding flights headed to the United STates. MPC is available at all 14 Preclearance airport locations including Abu Dhabi; Aruba; Bermuda; Dublin and Shannon, Ireland; Nassau, Bahamas; and Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg, Canada. Mobile Passport Control is free to download and free to use. Unlike Global Entry, Mobile Passport Control doesn't require pre-approval or a background check. While Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control can both provide a fast track to clear customs, they are separate programs. Global Entry is a trusted traveler program that expedites clearance for low-risk travelers who have been vetted with a background check and gone through an interview. Global Entry is best for frequent international travelers who take four or more trips a year, according to Homeland Security. Global Entry costs $120, but it comes with TSA PreCheck enrollment, and the membership lasts five years. Members of Global Entry breeze through customs by scanning their passports or legal permanent resident cards at kiosks, which will ask them if they have any goods to declare and provide a receipt that they can take to the exit control. The Mobile Passport Control app, on the other hand, is often a great option for those who aren't frequent international travelers or for others who haven't gotten around to scheduling a Global Entry interview or are waiting on approval into the trusted traveler program.
