So I flew to San Francisco for work and there were a few things about this trip that were different from any other trip I have done.
USA Pre-Clearance
In order to arrive in San Francisco and not have to do Border Security, you do it before in Dublin, Ireland. It's just like going through it in the states, as you know when you arrive in Dublin and go through security you have to send all your bags through the x-ray machine, take off your shoes, belts etc. well in the USA Pre-Clearance you do it all gain, and then you produce yourself in front of a US police office and he checks your passport, does the eye retna scan, asks you loads of questions, they took a few people off to a private room who were in front of me, and the girl directly in front of me was kept there for 20 minutes, but luckily for me I was probably only there for 5 minutes and then let through.
I was so early for my flight but it was fine and I bumped into a few colleagues I knew as well. They don't tell you until you are on the plane that you cannot buy anything duty Free on the flight as you have already gone through border control, and of course you can't go back into the Duty Free area once you have done the US pre-clearance.
FOOD
If you haven't pre-ordered your vegetarian or halal meal then you get the mandatory Chicken or Beef. I had the Beef which was Beef Stroganoff, it wasn't too bad actually, it came with a tiny noodle salad and btw there was not a lot of Beef either, a tiny chocolate mousse a piece of bread with butter and water. After that you do not get anything else for at least 10 hours, so remember to order a few drinks or bottles of water to see you through the loooooooooooong flight!!!! I had to go hunting for water during the flight.
Some time during the flight we were given some Mullins ice-cream which was very nice, and then about an hour before landing a pre-packed tiny chicken wrap. I think you can buy drinks and food during the flight! Also there is NO FREE alcohol. Which perhaps is a good thing! However €6.00 for a miniature??? Total rip-off
AIR HOSTESSES
Mainly very rude, you are not allowed to congregate near the toilets so if you can't get up and exercise we will all end up with DVT!
LUGGAGE COLLECTION
The great thing about the US pre-clearance is there is no security when you get off the flight, you walk straight through to Baggage collection ..... and then wait and wait and wait, wow I thought Johannesburg was bad, San Francisco was terrible.
BART
Thank goodness a colleague was picking us up from the airport as the airbus to the BART was cancelled - NIGHTMARE for travellers.
However a wonderful City .... Welcome to SAN FRANCISCO
USA Pre-Clearance
In order to arrive in San Francisco and not have to do Border Security, you do it before in Dublin, Ireland. It's just like going through it in the states, as you know when you arrive in Dublin and go through security you have to send all your bags through the x-ray machine, take off your shoes, belts etc. well in the USA Pre-Clearance you do it all gain, and then you produce yourself in front of a US police office and he checks your passport, does the eye retna scan, asks you loads of questions, they took a few people off to a private room who were in front of me, and the girl directly in front of me was kept there for 20 minutes, but luckily for me I was probably only there for 5 minutes and then let through.
I was so early for my flight but it was fine and I bumped into a few colleagues I knew as well. They don't tell you until you are on the plane that you cannot buy anything duty Free on the flight as you have already gone through border control, and of course you can't go back into the Duty Free area once you have done the US pre-clearance.
FOOD
If you haven't pre-ordered your vegetarian or halal meal then you get the mandatory Chicken or Beef. I had the Beef which was Beef Stroganoff, it wasn't too bad actually, it came with a tiny noodle salad and btw there was not a lot of Beef either, a tiny chocolate mousse a piece of bread with butter and water. After that you do not get anything else for at least 10 hours, so remember to order a few drinks or bottles of water to see you through the loooooooooooong flight!!!! I had to go hunting for water during the flight.
Some time during the flight we were given some Mullins ice-cream which was very nice, and then about an hour before landing a pre-packed tiny chicken wrap. I think you can buy drinks and food during the flight! Also there is NO FREE alcohol. Which perhaps is a good thing! However €6.00 for a miniature??? Total rip-off
AIR HOSTESSES
Mainly very rude, you are not allowed to congregate near the toilets so if you can't get up and exercise we will all end up with DVT!
LUGGAGE COLLECTION
The great thing about the US pre-clearance is there is no security when you get off the flight, you walk straight through to Baggage collection ..... and then wait and wait and wait, wow I thought Johannesburg was bad, San Francisco was terrible.
BART
Thank goodness a colleague was picking us up from the airport as the airbus to the BART was cancelled - NIGHTMARE for travellers.
However a wonderful City .... Welcome to SAN FRANCISCO
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