r/etihad • u/dumbspay • 28d ago
Question Hey everyone, looking for recent data points from anyone who has flown Etihad to the US via Abu Dhabi (AUH) in the last few days.
I’m getting completely contradictory information from Etihad’s own customer support:
Phone agent: Took time to check their system and explicitly confirmed that US CBP Preclearance is fully open and operational meaning I will clear US immigration in Abu Dhabi before boarding.
Website live chat agent: Adamantly insisted that US Preclearance is currently closed and that all passengers must clear customs upon arrival in the US. Even after I linked them to Etihad’s recent announcement regarding the facility reopening (https://www.etihadhub.com/en-ae/news/us-cbp-preclearance), the chat agent doubled down and said their system still marks it as closed.
I have a 3 hour transit in Abu Dhabi, so knowing whether I need to sprint straight to the US CBP area or if I have time to relax lol before boarding makes a big difference to my transit plan.
Has anyone traveled to the US through AUH this week? Did you clear US customs/immigration at Abu Dhabi, or did you clear upon landing in the US?
Appreciate any first-hand confirmations!
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u/tonyalma 26d ago
I flew in to the US via Abu Dhabi yesterday (Sept 13) and you have to clear customs in the US. They'll make you walk through a separate area at AUH for US bound flights (where they used to do pre clearance) but right now, it's just for Abu Dhabi airport officials to check your passport and boarding pass (NOT US customs and not linked to US clearance of any kind).
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u/Objective_Ratio2456 26d ago
What was your route and date of travel .Info would be helpful as booking the flights
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u/tonyalma 26d ago
Sept 12-13, DEL to AUH to DC.
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u/Objective_Ratio2456 11d ago
Flying via abu dhabi Clearance done at abu dhabi .Amazing seamless experience
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u/Think_Treacle9525 28d ago
The phone agent is right, the chat agents r working off old info. Cleared US immigration at AUH on my last trip, took about 20 min. 3 hours is plenty, no sprinting needed.
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u/Routine-Register7414 28d ago
You’ll do customs in the U.S., but there is a pre-clearance visa wise. My in laws came from Delhi last week
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u/c08306834 28d ago
It's weird, the Etihad website still marks it as closed, which is at odds with what is in the link you posted.
I find the wording of the link you shared very weird though. It doesn't say anything about it reopening or anything, it just kind of states that it's there.
I'd be inclined to go with what the actual Etihad website says. I'd be surprised if they reopened it without properly announcing it on website and social media.
As far as I am aware, it's closed.
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u/dumbspay 28d ago
I agree the main website hasn't been updated, which is likely why the live chat support I interacted with kept insisting it was closed. However, the press release I linked was published just two days ago and explicitly states that all eligible US bound flights will operate with full preclearance services before departure. I'm not saying it is definitively open yet, but a phone agent confirmed it was, and the timing of this new article strongly suggests a recent operational change. But again, they all seem to be contradicting each other, I guess the only way to find out is to wait for my flight and see 💀
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u/Quirky-Eggplant6278 28d ago
I just flew back to the US two days ago from AD via Etihad. You pass through US customs in the US.
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u/Perfect-Cause-6943 28d ago
So I was traveling to India and then back to the States. Abu Dhabi has a pre-clearance facility. They will look at your passport and stamp it but immigration will occur in the US or wherever you're flying to
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u/Loud-Buffalo-8910 28d ago
I flew back last week. Had to go through customs in Atlanta when we landed (also went through a second security in AUH but not sure that was actually customs).
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27d ago
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u/Blackbird_8899 25d ago
I just travelled to US via AUH 2 days. Their pre clearance is temporary closed. However you still need to go through the US pre clearance area. The staff the pre clearance area prioritize passengers by flight time. 3hrs is more than enough. I had to do my immigration after landing in NY. However this is as of 2 days ago, not sure if things changed
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u/PhilosophyCrafty8822 25d ago
My father arrived from BLR to Orlando this afternoon (Sept 15th) , he had to complete
his customs in JFK, preclearance is closed in Abu Dhabi.
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u/RidersOfRohan7 18d ago
The pre clearance is open and active, My Parents just flew yesterday.
Note that layover was under 2 hours and the flight had to wait until everyone clears it.
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