USA MPC at Dublin

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Hi Folks

Has anyone used the MPC facility when clearning US Customs at Dublin airport? I seem to be getting conflicting reports on whether we can use it or not.

I've got the app for MPC. Got our ESTA but some people say you need to have used an ESTA first in the normal slow fashion before you can use this fast-track app - and others are saying otherwise. I can't really find any firm guidance online.

The last time is used a Visa Waiver was back in the 90s but wife & daughter have never been to States so this is their first trip.

Keen to expedite getting through US Border at Dublin as the connection (booked through Aer Lingus all the way) seems to be a bit tight on time.

Cheers.

[surbiton]

Would seem not from the wording in the App itself - goto settings, user guide, who is eligible.

You need to have travelled on an ESTA previously is how I read it.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Thanks. Will just have to queue and hope for the best!

It was booked as the full journey by Aer Lingus even though in other places it says to arrive with 3hrs to spare ahead of clearance.

I can see a panicked teen in my near future!

[Truckosaurus]

Pot Bellied Fool said:

....it says to arrive with 3hrs to spare ahead of clearance.

I'm sure airports say this just so you end up spending 2hr 30mins hanging around spending money in their shops and bars.

[Jordan247]

When I've travelled through Dublin to the States its always been relatively quick.

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Truckosaurus said:

I'm sure airports say this just so you end up spending 2hr 30mins hanging around spending money in their shops and bars.

Very true that!

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Jordan247 said:

When I've travelled through Dublin to the States its always been relatively quick.

Yup. Just to finish the thread off, it all went off ok.

Back in the day, I used to just grab a small bag & off I'd go with not a care in the World since I had a Company charge card - ahh, the good old days! But now I have a wife & teen who elevate worrying to Olympic levels. And any glitch is regarded as a major catastrophy...

So I was really thinking we'd be out of luck with the connection. Even though it was booked right the way through by Aer Lingus and part of me was saying "Don't worry, they won't want to offload transfer bags" and the other part was thinking, "If there's any delay at US Border, we're stuffed..."

It actually went just fine. Security scanning continues to improve, no faffing with liquids and through multiple winding barriers, only a few minutes to wait at the 'US Border'. Didn't even get the usual questions about our plans to overthrow democracy (guess they consider that's already been done by Washington) and through we went...

Great trip. Luggage all survived and ended up in the right place at the right time. Aer Lingus did a good job even though they position themselves as a lower cost carrier these days I think.

New York was great. Utterly bonkers mind!

Wife got shouted at by a lady on the subway for daring to get onto a crowded carriage (no way she was letting us go without her!) and I got punched in the head by a rather large chap on the street. (He was doing a TikTok and didn't see me - fortunately all resolved. My rather robust initial verbal response would've got me into trouble if he'd been a wrong 'un! At that point, I didn't know it was an accident...)

If you're in NYC, go see the SUMMIT art exhibition/viewing platform at Vanderbilt - absolutely stunning!

My other top tip - don't stay at Hotel Riu Times Square. Their 'Facilities Fee' is a price gouging compulsory ripoff! I know it's a common fee in NYC but they really take the proverbial and provide very little for it. And the Times Square Olive Garden (the teen's choice) gave me a bad time that night...

But everyone should visit NYC at least once in their life!