clearing customs in Dulles?

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Dd is flying to Heathrow from Dulles in March. I was just notified that her return trip has been changed. Instead of leaving Heathrow at 11 a.m., she is now leaving at 7:40 a.m. There is a noon flight, but that will get her into Dulles with a little under an hour to make a connecting flight. I'm assuming she will need to go through Customs in Dulles. The agent was trying to see what terminal she was coming in to, I'm thinking if it's the same as the departing they may allow her to take the later flight. But, I'm thinking that would still be cutting it close. She changes domestic flights through Dulles all the time, and has made it easily in under an hour even when changing terminals. Anyone with experience? TIA

[somerville Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somerville]

I always terminate my international flights at Dulles. However, after departing the airplane, passengers with connecting flights on United are split off and go through customs separately. I believe that they stay in the terminal. The terminating passengers get shuttled over to the main terminal to clear customs.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Found it:

Customs at Dulles


Welcome to the United States
Passengers arriving at Dulles on International flights will be directed to U.S. Customs.

Note: Passengers arriving from the Bahamas, Aruba, Bermuda or Ireland may have already pre-cleared U.S. Customs at the point of departure. Through this system, travelers are treated as domestic passengers upon arrival and will deplane directly into the Concourse. From there passengers can go directly to their connecting flight or to the Main Terminal and exit the airport.

At U.S. Customs there are two queue lines: one for U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents and one for Non U.S. Citizens. Please ensure you are in the correct line in order to speed the process. Wait times vary depending on the number of arriving international flights at that time. Please have completed customs forms handy when you reach the front of the line.

After clearing U.S. Customs at Washington Dulles International Airport, passengers must claim their checked luggage before proceeding in to the Main Terminal or to a connecting flight. All luggage in the U.S. Customs area is subject to inspection. To check-in luggage for a connecting flight, simply hand it to an agent in the baggage re-check area before exiting.

Passengers transfering to a connecting flight will need to clear screening by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA). After entering the Main Terminal, go up one flight to the Departures (Ticketing) level. Present the boarding pass for your next flight along with photo identifcation. Click here for more detailed information about TSA screeening guidelines.

For more information:

Please click here to visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
Global Entry (International Registered Traveler) program for U.S. Citizens - click for more information.
Click here for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website.
The phone number to U.S. Customs at Dulles is 703-661-2800.
U.S. Residents, click here for information about obtaining a Passport.

[moldtech Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close moldtech]

No problem

Never a problem for us.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Never a problem for us.

What do you mean? That you can get through Customs and connect to another flight in another terminal in under an hour? United is not allowing her to book that tight of a connection.