Best POE (Point of Entry) into the USA

[Michelangelo]

I'm thinking ahead, and wanting to present the USA in the best light to my fiancee when she flies into America.

In other words, I hope she is treated with respect and welcomed when she arrives.  And not mistreated or turned away...

I can fly her into any US airport with international flights.

So I'm wondering which airports are the least stressful for the arriving girl?

JFK sounds like a nightmare! Is it?

What experiences have people had?

What do you recommend?

Many Thanks

[jb]

Houston, TX (IAH) is very good.  They even have a special line for new immigrants, which is not normally crowded if someone is getting off an inbound flight from Europe.  My wife came through there and after passing through Passport Control, she, the new immigrant, was shown into a very comfortable waiting area while all the papers in the mysterious "Big Brown Envelope" are processed.  When her name was called she got all her needed stuff back, and a brief "Welcome to America" speech.  The whole thing took maybe 30 minutes.

She was pleased.

[GreginGa]

I've flew into the following airports.

Miami...Big airport,can be confusing
JFK..nightmare
Dulles...not bad but Atlanta is much better.

Atlanta was by far the best.

[rose]

LAX, 2AM, I was the only newcomer from the Paris flight. No lines, no waiting time. By the same time they brought my dog who was exhosted after 22 hour flight (we had 4 hours delay in Paris). As soon as my dog saw me she started barking, she was crazy and supertalkative, trying to tell me what she thought about me sticking her in a cage and leaving for so long in a weird place...
Her lowvoice barking was echoed and trippled. People were pissed off and first I thought that they will blame me for the abusing that poor creature. The imigration officer caught the whole situation in a sec, and it took him probably 3 minutes to take care of my paperwork. No "Welcome to America" speeches, just "take the papers, the dog and leave, please!!! " 

[Michelangelo]

Funny, Rose, funny :-)) thanks!

by the way, how many bags, other than the dog, did you bring?  Did you ship anything?

[Jet]

I've flew into the following airports.

Miami...Big airport,can be confusing
JFK..nightmare
Dulles...not bad but Atlanta is much better.

Atlanta was by far the best.

Hehe, same airports, different order for us:

JFK...Big airport,can be confusing
Dulles..nightmare
Miami...not bad.

We actually had a pleasant experience coming into JFK the first time. Our ONLY problem was the delay caused by a middle-eastern gent from a prior flight that somehow managed to get all the way to the immigration desk without any kind of documentation other than a foreign passport. Just remember to go all the way to the FAR end at passport control after you de-plane.

Dulles agents were INCREDIBLY rude and argumentative when Lil came back through there bringing Niko in for the first time (over 3 hours to proccess paperwork)

Miami has mostly just been iritatingly slow on the several times we've been through there (although pleasant and helpful enough WRT getting info...) Sometime this next year the newest terminal will be complete and things should get better, the POE area is scheduled to have 60 lanes 

[Michelangelo]

Sounds like Houston is the winner so far... :-)

[Michelangelo]

Hehe, same airports, different order for us:

JFK...Big airport,can be confusing
Dulles..nightmare
Miami...not bad.

We actually had a pleasant experience coming into JFK the first time. Our ONLY problem was the delay caused by a middle-eastern gent from a prior flight that somehow managed to get all the way to the immigration desk without any kind of documentation other than a foreign passport. Just remember to go all the way to the FAR end at passport control after you de-plane.

Dulles agents were INCREDIBLY rude and argumentative when Lil came back through there bringing Niko in for the first time (over 3 hours to proccess paperwork)

Miami has mostly just been iritatingly slow on the several times we've been through there (although pleasant and helpful enough WRT getting info...) Sometime this next year the newest terminal will be complete and things should get better, the POE area is scheduled to have 60 lanes 

How many bags did Lil bring?  Just two for her and two for Niko?  Did she also ship some?

[Wayne]

Hello Rose,

I am looking at the flight from Moscow to Paris, then Paris direct to Detroit--also, BRINGING A SMALL DOG IN THE CABIN!  That means, POE=Detroit.  There is only 1 hour 15 minutes between flights in Paris.  They say, the checked baggage is automatically transfered to the other plane.  I did this in London, and it worked out OK.  I am taking about:  AIR FRANCE. 

Does anyone else have experience bringing a dog?  What are the rules?  How much extra cost?  Shots for the dog? 

What about Air France?

What about DETROIT POE?

Any experience changeing planes in Paris?

[Michelangelo]

Any experience changeing planes in Paris?

Changing planes in Paris is more difficult than in many airports, becasue if you have a terminal change, you have to leave the secure area and go through security again at the new terminal.  But it is "do-able."  Good luck 

[jb]

IMHO, Air France, otherwise known as *Air Farce*, should be avoided at every opportunity.  If your girl uses AF, expect them to lose her luggage, and her dog.  She may eventually get the lost luggage back, but the dog will probably end up in some French stewpot.

The French run the worst airline in the business.

[Michelangelo]

IMHO, Air France, otherwise known as *Air Farce*, should be avoided at every opportunity.  If your girl uses AF, expect them to lose her luggage, and her dog.  She may eventually get the lost luggage back, but the dog will probably end up in some French stewpot.

The French run the worst airline in the business.

Some truth to that post...last month I flew away from Paris at noon, 3 hours before my fiancee's flight.  I carefully showed her the terminal and Air France security check-in point for her flight before I left.

Her 3 p.m. Air France flight Paris/Kiev was cancelled and she had to spend a day alone at the airport!!!  They did provide hotel and food, but it was a negative end to a great trip...

JB- Strike 1
Michelangelo- Strike 2

[Admin]

IMHO, Air France, otherwise known as *Air Farce*, should be avoided at every opportunity.  If your girl uses AF, expect them to lose her luggage, and her dog.  She may eventually get the lost luggage back, but the dog will probably end up in some French stewpot.

The French run the worst airline in the business.

No, I think the award for worst *international* airline would have to go to Garuda (Indonesia).

Air France is not great - that's for sure - and WHY Delta abandoned their partnerships with Swiss and Austrian (two of the BEST in the world), to link up with Air France remains a HUGE mystery to me.

Anyway - the Paris connections range from inconvenient to impossible. I don't much care for the airport at Paris - not much to do there if you are waiting, and the movement from one terminal to another, as I recall, was rather difficult. Probably changed now as the entire section of the terminal where I was waiting for my flight to Prague collapsed a few days after I was last there (two years ago), so I imagine things are *different* now - and probably not better.

It appears you are using the Delta partners (or Northwest, which is now teamed-up with Delta) - and you may want to see if you can connect through Prague and Czech Airlines instead of AF - though they have fewer flights to select from.

Best POE (IMO) on the East Coast?

None are very good for a first-time international traveller with limited English skills.

I *hate* NYC
Dulles seems OK - more considerate and caring of foreign travellers
Miami also seems OK
Chicago is tough - just too large
Detroit probably wouldn't be too bad.
Houston - I haven't done an international arrival there, but would guess it would be OK.
Atlanta is OK

I hope this helps.

- Dan

[jb]

and WHY Delta abandoned their partnerships with Swiss and Austrian (two of the BEST in the world), to link up with Air France remains a HUGE mystery to me.

Ditto. 

I know AF's former partner, Continental,  lost so much money, and prestige within the business, they just had to bail out of the relationship, either that or sink with the ship.  Too many cancelled flights, too much of a piss poor on-time record, too much lost baggage, too much lack of Customer Service, too much typical French attitude of *We know we're bad, but we don't give a damn*.   AF seems to be the kiss-of-death to all who touches them with the proverbial 10 foot pole.

My advice; pay a few more dollars and find another airline.

[Michelangelo]

Ditto. 

I know AF's former partner, Continental,  lost so much money, and prestige within the business, they just had to bail out of the relationship, either that or sink with the ship.  Too many cancelled flights, too much of a piss poor on-time record, too much lost baggage, too much lack of Customer Service, too much typical French attitude of *We know we're bad, but we don't give a damn*.   AF seems to be the kiss-of-death to all who touches them with the proverbial 10 foot pole.

My advice; pay a few more dollars and find another airline.

You can use United miles to fly to to Europe and then Austrian into Ukraine. I don't know about Russia or other FSU countries.

But the Dulles airport is terrible cuz United has a crowded remote terminal for domestic connections-- thousands of people and no food to speak of...

[Michelangelo]

That was last year when United was ok.

But beware of the "new" United.  They are using the Robin Hood Plan now...

I discovered this on a recent flight to China.  They have chopped coach into two sections.  They took about 8 inches from half of coach and gave it to the other half!  They call in Economy Plus. 

I was in Economy (I'll call it Economy minus)!

Passengers hardly fit into the seats.  As you know, coach is bad anyway, but if you lose 8 inches it is terrible!  80% of the passengers stood for most of the flight because of this tight seating.

If you fly United, pay the extra for Economy Plus.  If not, don't fly United.

Air France is looking better, as I think back to that United flight...

[jb]

I would happily give up 8 inches of leg room not to have to listen to a French accent, eat terrible french food, or to have to worry about lost luggage and missed connections.

Oh, and BTW, did you know that AF serves wine to the cockpit during the flight?  I'd also rather not be riding with a pilot who has been drinking, even a little bit.

[George_123]

Detroit is very good compare to Chicago. Good luck and best wishes to you.

[Zhena]

Changing planes in Paris is more difficult than in many airports, becasue if you have a terminal change, you have to leave the secure area and go through security again at the new terminal.  But it is "do-able."  Good luck 

Not difficult at all for those who can read english

[groovlstk]

Michael,

If she flies into NYC, you might want to use Newark instead of JFK. I find it much more relaxed than JFK or La Guardia and it's much closer to Manhattan, if that's your ultimate destination.

[Bruce]

The concensus here is that JFK is difficult. 

It has not been my wife's or her sister's experience. 

However, her sister is extremely able and is unfazed by any hassle I can imagine. My sister in-law arrived at JFK two years ago and this May 31 on J-1 visas.  Her first flight was with Finn air - no problems.  Her last flight was with Air France.  I did not like that they lost her luggage and made her wait on a huge line (with me, since I picked her up) with only one attendent to give a description / provide an address for next day delivery, until naturally it was just about our turn when they did bring two more attendents.  Air France was however, on time - plus the extra hour on line with just about half the passengers on the plane who had lost luggage.  I suspect it was everyone who connected in Paris.  She says customs was a breeze for her.

For my wife, I flew from Moscow with her.  I went up to the foreigner line at JFK and presented my wife and I to the customs girl.  She made things very easy for my wife - and I suspect they would treat any FSU woman here for the first time alot better if their husband or husband to be arrived with them. 

JFK is good for me because it is the closest airport and I have been familiar with it my whole life (it is always under construction).  I have to pick up a Russian couple this Monday when they arrive at terminal three (Delta / Aeroflot) - so I'll let you know if it is a disaster for them.  They are visiting their daughter and grandchildren who married an American a long time ago.  I believe they met through LTP 7 or 8 years ago.  They now have three children.   The woman was a University English teacher in Tver and is a former teacher / good friend of my wife - so they will stay with us for three days until they head up to Massachusetts to visit her daughter / family.

[viking]

Wayne,

Brought home a Black Russian Terrier pup from Moscow to JFK. I do not know if this is your dog (for years) or a new one. My pooch was a new purchase. I had to go through LT. COl. Nurse Kratchett EX KGB at the vets office before being able to go through customs. She triple checked all paperwork, very very carefully. Give yourself some time for this when arriving at the airport. And there could be a line.Word of caution. The papers are for 24 hours only. 24 hours and 5 minutes delay means you need to go through this all over again. Customs was a breeze as eveyone wanted to pet the dog.

The pup was with me in the cabin. I was flying Delta. Check the airlines as they only allow up to two animals in the cabin. And there are restrictions weather wise as well. She was quiet the whole way. Gave her soom water now and then from a cup but no food. She was also in 'bumpers' (pampers) as a means of flood control, but it still was a bit of a smell up close and personal. Bring some deodorant. the dog not you.

When I took her out, (got yelled at for this as it is not allowed), but anyway, everyone wanted to pet her, so gave me a  rest.   Make sure the cage can fit under the seat in front of you. Mine was flexible,and try for an aisle seat as you will have no leg room.

Lastly, customs in JFK was basically, "Nice dog, don't forget her shots" and adios. Three minutes. Guess they figured the Russians did all the work and the paperwork was all in Russian. Go easy on feeding for the first few meals. It will take time for them to adjust. FYI. Tasha was all of 8 pounds when she got on the plane. Today, 9 months later, she is close to 90 and still growing.

[Captmonk1]

If you really want to go out of the way but perhaps land at a "smaller" airport, how about flying her to Amsterdam and then to Memphis. That's what we intend to do with my wife's mother.   

[Michelangelo]

Interesting suggestion; I'll think about it.  Nice introduction to America.

And I could take her by Graceland to meet the ghost of Elvis :-)  That would make her day 

[Wayne]

I have only made three trips to Europe so far.  I would rate the food and service on Turkish Airlines poor.  United and American are OK.  British Airlines was good enough, with a two hour transfer in London.  Did not require re-checking in.  Also, I flew Detroit/London then London/ Moscow and finally on Kras-Air, Moscow/Krasnoyarsk.  The Krasnoyarsk Airlines tickets were purchased from BA, as they are partners.  Surprisingly, the Kras-Air flight was much better than the BA flights! 

There is a big problem with a dog and BA--they don't allow dogs changing planes in UK.  Also, there was an overnight stay in London required on the return flight.

Overall, I would rate LOT Polish Airlines as having the best service, by far, of any of the airlines that I flew.  They have daily, I believe, non-stop flights Chicago/Warsaw.  The airport in Warsaw is small and easy enough.  Chicago is so large and you need to know how to use the suspended little train.  Also, parking is expensive.  Istanbul has a large, only a few years old excellent airport. 

All of the airlines based in USA raise their tickets sky high in Summer.  Air France, Aeroflot and Aerosvit seem to hold the cost better in Summer.  Also, they do not require 30 days notice to get the cheaper flight, just subject to available seats. 

I think that I should be at the POE airport to meet them, not having them change flights in the US.  That means Detroit or Chicago would need to be the POE. 

Remember, the flights to USA have free baggage such as two 70 pound bags less than certain size--while the flights in Europe have, like, a total of 20 kilograms baggage.  That means, the more flights in Europe, the more it would cost for excess baggage--and the dog!  On Kras-Air, I saw even very large dogs in the cabin, and many more than two.  I think every airline has its own rules, and some of them several pages of rules, while others, only a simple paragraph.