US Immigration in Dublin. Worth doing?

[DJSteves]

Booking flights to Boston and this is one of the options. I've heard some good things about it but this was pre pandemic. Can anyone advise?

Have done it a few times into JFK and Orlando, and was definitely worth it for us, travelling with 3 DC. Quick hop from LHR, we usually catch an earlier flight in case of delays and to have breakfast. Then US immigration. It can be a long-ish line but it moves quickly and is far less stressful than in the US. Then straight off the plane at the other end and out.

This was pre-Covid.

My friend always does it when he flies to LA.

I did it, was fine. Queue was absolutely massive and the US officials were, to a man, unhelpful arseholes, but they are that anyway IME.

The Aer Lingus staff came out to sort the queue and put them all to shame.

I'd be interested to know too! We used it once in Shannon years ago and it was very efficient but it sounds like there'll be queues in Dublin. How long should we expect the queues to be?

Yes! The joy of not waiting 3hrs in an immigration queue (yes Miami I am referencing you) and walking off that flight as a domestic passenger is priceless, plus the agents in Dublin also seem pleasant with a sense of humour.

I've done it v recently. Loads of desks and a very well organised queuing system, by flight.
Previous trips to NY, and Boston, resulted in up to 3 hours of queues to clear immigration in US and that's a massive pain, at the end of a mid-length flight when you just want to get going. The Irish/US immigration people were less 'inquisition' in their approach.
The aer lingus flight was nice too.

I did it a year ago from Manchester to Orlando.

It was a longer travel day, but I actually found it so relaxing compared to going through Orlando customs with a child (2hours carrying a 2 year old in 2019 was not fun).

It took us less than 30 mins from walking out of the Burger King in the main departure lounge to get through security and customs and getting to our gate.

Would definitely consider it again, dependant on price.

We went with Aer Lingus btw.

Definitely worth it if travelling with children. It's much easier to do immigration early in the trip!

We did it before Covid in Dublin, I didn't know it was a choice, we just ended up going through. All US passports for us and they seemed friendly enough. Much faster getting out of the airport on the other end.

Highly recommend. I too found the US immigration officers in Dublin polite and a lot friendlier than those in US Border Control on landing. But everyone can have an off day I suppose!

It is such a great feeling to pick up your bags at the carousel and walk straight out. All the hard work is done in Dublin (or Shannon). I was travelling to SF and on another occasion NY.

I also found staff just much nicer (and fast).

Agree the staff are polite and calm.

The real benefit is to avoid long stressful queues at the end of a long travel day when everyone is tired and just wants to get to the destination.

Thanks all! Have taken all your advice booked with Aer Lingus!

We live in NI but always travel from Dublin to US, doing pre-clearance there saves so much hassle and kills some time once you have checked in and waiting for departure anyway. If you have an earlyish flight the queues at immigration are never that bad in our experience. Great to be able to just land in US, grab your cases and go!