Tagged With "Customers"
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Re: U.S. plans big increase in "pre-clearance" sites
If you've ever used one of the foreign country based US customs clearances, you know that this is easy to do. So this is a wonderful idea and will help improve tourism to the USA>
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Re: U.S. plans big increase in "pre-clearance" sites
That’s especially true for high-volume areas like Heathrow…I’d far rather use my waiting time there to be cleared than have to spend extra time waiting AFTER my flight at JFK!
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Re: U.S. Customs House, Battery Park, NYC (Where Gumbo was #110)
What an incredible building! Great reveal and photos!
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Re: Customer Nonservice/A First Step to Take
Travel Rob is right on about being persistent--and organized. What I will find and post later is information I got originally from Rob on how to figure the contacts when they're not listed! I'd also add: When you've got the contacts, write directly to the top, explaining how disappointed you are that a company with such a good reputation has done such a poor job for you. No heat, no accusations, no names: The point is to get your case in the hands of the assistant whose job is to smooth the...
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Re: Flood of new agents to speed up Customs at JFK and Newark
About time. I routinely fly in and out of Calgary International and have never had to wait more than 15 mins for customs/immigration (both US and Canadian customs located at this airport). That should be the standard they strive for everywhere.
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Re: Flood of new agents to speed up Customs at JFK and Newark
The hold up in NY is that passengers - mostly just changing flights - have to enter the US. Then leave the US before getting an onward flight to other parts of the world. In non-US countries you can enter the International Lounge to wait for your next flight with no customs or visas. Just onward boarding card and passport. Quick and easy.
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Re: Flood of new agents to speed up Customs at JFK and Newark
it's nice when the countries treat their transit people that way, GarryRF. Someone passing through. But I've had long delays with transit situations in the UK, Japan and most recently in Chile. It's unfortunately common.
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Re: Flood of new agents to speed up Customs at JFK and Newark
In transit once at Narita, our entire onward-traveling load of passengers was left locked standing in a narrow windowless hallway, not knowing why we were there or how long it might be. Treating passengers badly is not a behavior owned by any particular nation's immigration officers, as you say, DrF. It can happen even in countries supposedly known for their politeness.
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Re: Flood of new agents to speed up Customs at JFK and Newark
You're both right of course. No one has the moral high ground on delays. When you transit an airport with several terminals you do need to enter the country first. But hub airports like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bahrain have all been so polite and helpful it makes you realise that there is a better way. I use Philadelphia airport now to enter the US. It rates alongside Orlando as a pleasant experience. Last year I went through passport control in Philly. When asked, I told the officer that...
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April 17, 2020: Old Customs House, Key West
DrFumblefinger enjoyed this beautiful 19th century Customs House, now an art gallery, on Key West's historic waterfront.
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U.S. plans big increase in "pre-clearance" sites
If you've ever flown into the U.S. from overseas and missed a connection because of a long line at Customs, or had to collect and re-check your bags, you'll be cheering at the announcement that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is negotiating to add...
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Sheraton's 'Grand' plan to rise again
Sheraton, one of the best-known hotel brands, and the core of the Starwood hotel empire, hasn't had much respect lately; it's been seen as a weary and unexciting brand. Starwood has a plan to change that with upgrades, new hotels and a new tier of...
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Cruise to Nowhere update: The reason why
Last week, we reported HERE that Cruises to Nowhere are being dropped because of new U.S. regulations, and that the reasons were not fully clear. But now we know. Under U.S. laws, designed to promote both the domestic shipbuilding industry and...
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Is United floundering? You decide...
A few weeks ago, United Airlines seemed poised to make some big changes, with a new CEO on-board, Oscar Munoz, from rail giant CSX. Munoz acknowledged that United, one of the Big-3 legacy airlines, has struggled since its 2010 merger with Continental,...
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Department of Homeland Security Announces Changes To Visa Waiver Program
38 countries citizens that didn't need a Visa to come to the US because of the Visa Waiver Program, are in for some changes. Homeland Secretary Jeh Charles Johnson announced these following changes to the Visa Waiver Program Required use of...
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Travel Story of the Year:French Cafe Charges Rude Customers More.
I got a big kick out of this Cafe in Nice charging people more if they are rude in ordering.Excellent way to get free advertising! Read below. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tra...-customers-more.html
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Customer Nonservice/A First Step to Take
What happens when something goes wrong after dealing with a travel company? If customer service won't help, what is your next step? Below, I'll suggest a way to start. I hope others will add their suggestions too. I've had a string of bad customer...
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Customs Pre-Clearance to add 12 cities; Stockholm is next
Stockholm is next city to allow travelers to go through U.S. border before boarding the plane, and 11 more are in talks to follow.
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Visa-seekers: Have you 'friended' the U.S. government?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection wants to check your social media before you enter the U.S.
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TSA adds Facebook to customer outreach
TSA may keep you waiting in line, but they've got fast answers for you on line with Facebook Messenger and Twitter channels.
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Flood of new agents to speed up Customs at JFK and Newark
Good news for those of us who visit the U.S. or come home to New York area airports, which have had some of the worst customs delays for arriving passengers (a high of THREE HOURS last August 24!). Homeland Security has begun hiring 300 more Customs...
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U.S. Customs House, Battery Park, NYC (Where Gumbo was #110)
Sometimes you make a plan to see something, but don't get there for a long time. And sometimes you have no plan at all, and just find something worth seeing. The latter happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I was left with time to kill in Lower...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 8, 2014: Rural Tomb, Guangxi, China
On a walk along an isolated road in rural southern China, I came upon a wooded hillside dotted with tombs.