Which Flights Use Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Pre-Clearance Facility?

Which Flights Use Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Pre-Clearance Facility?

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I’ve written extensively about Etihad’s Pre-Clearance facility in Abu Dhabi, whereby you clear immigration for select US-bound flights before even leaving the UAE.

Etihad-Pre-Clearance-Ad
Description of Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Pre-Clearance facility

My two experiences with the facility were really disappointing. It was just a total mess, and in both cases the flight took a substantial delay because of the facility. And that was the norm for months, when US-bound flights were running next to a zero percent on-time record.

Apparently the Pre-Clearance facility has improved

First of all, based on all the feedback I’ve received lately, I think it’s worth noting that the Pre-Clearance facility has apparently improved substantially. Flights are actually departing (close to) on-time, and apparently the facility isn’t a mess.

Abu-Dhabi-PreClearance

When I spoke to Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Airport duty manager recently he admitted that the facility wasn’t properly staffed at first and that they learned from it, and insisted that it’s now actually an asset and that they get good feedback. Apparently they’ve staffed it properly, have tried to organize the queues more logically, etc.

So kudos to Etihad for working to fix the facility. I’d like to give it another shot at some point.

Not all Etihad flights use the Pre-Clearance facility

I recently wrote about the 28-hour Etihad flight between Abu Dhabi and San Francisco, and I literally received dozens of comments emails, and messages saying “Lucky, you’re missing the obvious, this flight uses the Pre-Clearance facility, which is why they couldn’t leave the plane for 12 hours.”

Except they don’t. It’s worth pointing out that Etihad only uses the US Pre-Clearance facility for their morning flights out of Abu Dhabi. That’s because the facility is only open for a limited number of hours, and that’s when most US-bound flights leave.

The following Etihad flights do use the Pre-Clearance facility:

  • DFW — EY161
  • IAD — EY131
  • JFK — EY101
  • LAX — EY171
  • ORD — EY151

The following Etihad flights don’t use the Pre-Clerance facility:

  • JFK — EY103
  • SFO — EY183

That’s because those flights leave around 2AM, when the facility is closed. It’s also worth noting that these flights happen to be operated by the Jet Airways 777-300ERs, so the hard product will be a bit more tired and not quite as good as the hard product on the Etihad Airways operated flights.

Jet-Airways-First-Class
Jet Airways first class

Etihad-First-Class-A340-01
Etihad first class

Bottom line

The Pre-Clearance facility doesn’t seem to be as much of a negative as before, though regardless it’s worth understanding which flights do use it and which don’t, so you can plan accordingly. Those nighttime flights don’t use the Pre-Clearance facility, so that shouldn’t have factored into the 12-hour tarmac delay that Etihad experienced.

Conversations (22)
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  1. Venkat Guest

    Ey151 - CBP services no longer available as they Etihad moved new terminal.. I was using Etihad only for this to skip the immigration queues at ord.. and now I cannot.. I have to be on that queue after 15 hrs being in the plane

  2. Israel Caleb Guest

    I have to travel to Dallas from Bangalore by Etihad and what flights i must choose to avail this preclearance? Next, will the connecting flight will WAIT and take off until the clearance over for its passenger? By the way thanks for your informative blog.

  3. FBKSan Guest

    @Brian,Daniel,JD
    Currently transiting Abu Dhabi, and I'm sitting in the lounge post-immigration (the "U.S. Premium Lounge"). I hadn't seen this mentioned on the blog, and the desk agent tells me the lounge has been open about six months. It's small but reasonably nice, with a decent amount of seating, food, etc. Certainly better than a barren gate area.

  4. Harsha Guest

    Is the preclearance only for those using ETIHAD Airways? I shall be flying to Houston by Air France which has a lay over in ABUDABHI and Paris...does this AIR FRANCE flight also has Pre clearance at Abudabhi or is it directly done at Houston?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Harsha — It’s only for those traveling on Etihad nonstop to the US.

  5. Cece Guest

    Will be connecting in Abu Dhabi enroute Johannesburg. My layover is 15hrs. Am planning on checking in my luggage all the way to final destination, and booked a room at the Premier Inn at the airport. Here's my Q: since I won't be allowed to carry liquids over 100 fluid ounces on board, will I not have total access to my checked luggage until I reach Joburg, or is there a way to have access...

    Will be connecting in Abu Dhabi enroute Johannesburg. My layover is 15hrs. Am planning on checking in my luggage all the way to final destination, and booked a room at the Premier Inn at the airport. Here's my Q: since I won't be allowed to carry liquids over 100 fluid ounces on board, will I not have total access to my checked luggage until I reach Joburg, or is there a way to have access to them even in Abu Dhabi w/o having to carry the heavy bags all around with me?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Cece -- You could probably check them as far as Abu Dhabi and then collect them, but then you'd have to hang onto them for the entire layover.

  6. Randy Guest

    @Bri -- you might be confusing Global Entry with TSA Pre-Check. Global Entry is based on your passport -- if enrolled you are eligible regardless of which carrier you fly on. Pre-Check is per flight and dependent on the carrier. If your flight is operated by an airline that participates in Pre-Check, then the airline will submit your PNR to the TSA several days before the flight, and the TSA marks the PNR if you...

    @Bri -- you might be confusing Global Entry with TSA Pre-Check. Global Entry is based on your passport -- if enrolled you are eligible regardless of which carrier you fly on. Pre-Check is per flight and dependent on the carrier. If your flight is operated by an airline that participates in Pre-Check, then the airline will submit your PNR to the TSA several days before the flight, and the TSA marks the PNR if you are are granted Pre-Check for that flight. There is no Pre-Check at pre-clearance facilities.

  7. Bri Guest

    In order to use Global Entry at Abu Dhabi's Pre-Clearance facility, does a Known Traveler Id need to be linked to the Etihad reservation or are the passport details sufficient? I did not see an option under Etihad reservation passenger detail fields or in their frequent flier program to add a Known Traveler Id.

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Bri -- No need to enter it. Global Entry is linked to your passport.

  8. Randy Guest

    Nice that there are now GE kiosks. However, I'm quite concerned about the reports that the security screening is Draconian (pulling shoes out of suitcases, rifling through carry-on bags, etc.) Can anyone who's gone through lately comment on this?

  9. JD Guest

    For what it's worth a lounge post immigration has been in the works for a couple years, but efficiency isn't a thing for some involved.

  10. Steph New Member

    FYI, a tweet from Etihad this morning:
    @EtihadAirways: #News - All outbound flights to the #USA from #AbuDhabi (from 15 Jan) will be able to experience the benefits of US Preclearance! #Customs

  11. Anthony Thomas Guest

    Due to be on EY103 in November, shame that it's not currently being used for that flight. For me, on a visa, pre-clearance is great even if awful. 20-30 minutes is better than the potential 30 - 60 at JFK!

  12. Bgriff Diamond

    Even if that flight had precleared, they could still unload the plane, they'd just have to send everyone back through AUH customs. I've done it in Canada before when a flight cancelled due to last-minute mechanical problems.

  13. Daniel Guest

    Used pre-clearance for the first time a few weeks ago, for a EY101 departure. Left the lounge at 9.40am, and I was one of the last passengers to go through. There was barely a queue or anything at security or customs - and we ended up making an on-time departure, much to my amazement!

  14. Steve Guest

    The pre-clearance facility is still terrible. Take for example the experience of this first class passenger:

    http://milesdownunder.com/2014/12/etihad-need-to-focus-on-ground-service-at-its-hub/

  15. Joe New Member

    I have an almost 4 hour layover in AUH before boarding EY101... Realistically, how long should I leave to clear pre-clearance, and do they have separate premium lines?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Joe -- Yes, there are separate premium lines. I'd say an hour before departure should be enough.

  16. nazgul Guest

    I just used the pre-clearance facility on 1/9 for EY 101 and it was a breeze. There are even two Global Entry kiosks available. Also, as an FYI, the 9W JFK flight and the SFO flight will get pre-clearance on 1/15/15.

  17. Dan Guest

    EY103 is going to be operating under pre-clearance soon last I saw on the Etihad website.

  18. Brian Guest

    You know, if they would just put a lounge past immigration it would be an improvement. Look at YYZ for example: T1 has a (decent) contract lounge + an Air Canada lounge, and T3 has an AA lounge. Plus there is Global Entry in both terminals.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Venkat Guest

Ey151 - CBP services no longer available as they Etihad moved new terminal.. I was using Etihad only for this to skip the immigration queues at ord.. and now I cannot.. I have to be on that queue after 15 hrs being in the plane

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Israel Caleb Guest

I have to travel to Dallas from Bangalore by Etihad and what flights i must choose to avail this preclearance? Next, will the connecting flight will WAIT and take off until the clearance over for its passenger? By the way thanks for your informative blog.

0
FBKSan Guest

@Brian,Daniel,JD Currently transiting Abu Dhabi, and I'm sitting in the lounge post-immigration (the "U.S. Premium Lounge"). I hadn't seen this mentioned on the blog, and the desk agent tells me the lounge has been open about six months. It's small but reasonably nice, with a decent amount of seating, food, etc. Certainly better than a barren gate area.

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