Flying from New Zealand I arrive at this airport in February 2019. Later the same day I connect with a United flight to El Paso.
Could anyone advise on these questions please ?
1.) At which Terminal do international flights arrive ?
2.) To which Terminal must I go to connect with the flight to El Paso ?
3.) How long should I allow to move from terminal to terminal ?
4.) I am arriving with a firearm. I am familiar with the entry procedure for this. However I presume TSA needs to inspect my firearm before the connecting flight to El Paso. At check in would United summon TSA to the United counter, or would United escort me to a remote TSA booth ? If neither of these is SOP please advise what is.
Thanks in anticipation of comments and advice.

(1) if Air New Zealand you will arrive "E".
(2) Have not the slightest idea, could be any terminal United operates out of and could change at any time.
(3) with a gun at least 3 hours
(4) Don't know all details, as I don't nornally connect out of IAH, but yes TSA will have to inspect the gun.

Grant,

Right now, flight tracker says that the flights from Houston to San Antonio depart out of Terminal C at IAH.

you will have to claim your firearm at the baggage claim in Terminal E, clear customs with it ( you will need to declare it there ), and following that, re check it at the far side of customs, with your carrier. When you re-check it, that is when TSA will be called to examine it. Sometimes this exam is nothing more than running it thru the extras machine, sometimes they will ask you to unlock it and they will check it to be unloaded.

You will claim it in El Paso as usual.

Goes without saying not to give the keys to anyone, you must retain the control of those keys. You will probably do the reverse going out, although if your carrier and ANZ have an interagency agreement you won't have to touch it at all in Houston.
You will need about two hours to complete all the transfer stuff coming into IAH.

Very helpful comments guys. Thankyou very much.

Frank, is Flight Tracker showing United flights to El Paso and San Antonio departing from Terminal C ?

Cheers

Here is my recent experience in Houston. http://forums.accuratereloadin...8121043/m/2721095542

quote:

Originally posted by 30.06king:
Very helpful comments guys. Thankyou very much.

Frank, is Flight Tracker showing United flights to El Paso and San Antonio departing from Terminal C ?

Cheers

Grant,

I don't know why I typed San Antonio. The IAH flights to El Paso also leave Houston from Terminal C

Terminal C is right next to the United International terminal so it's less than a 10 minute walk or about the same time on the tram.

The tram stops are not as conveniently located as DFW, and quite frankly it's easier to to walk from "D" to "C".

Don't count on your flight actually leaving "C". Two months ago, I had a flight "leaving" "C", then a text now leaving "E" get to "E" and then another text now leaving "C". Rather pissed off by the time I boarded. I hate United.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
The tram stops are not as conveniently located as DFW, and quite frankly it's easier to to walk from "D" to "C".

Don't count on your flight actually leaving "C". Two months ago, I had a flight "leaving" "C", then a text now leaving "E" get to "E" and then another text now leaving "C". Rather pissed off by the time I boarded. I hate United.

Grant's got to get his Air New Zealand Airpoints.

quote:

Grant's got to get his Air New Zealand Airpoints.

Frank

True. United is not my favourite airline either but as they partner with Air New Zealand I just have to gird my loins and go with it. Hopefully it won't become a total rodeo.

This may seem obvious, but is important nonetheless - After you clear Customs and hand your rifle off to recheck for your domestic flight, make sure that an actual TSA rep gives you the go ahead to proceed to your connecting gate after inspecting your rifle. There are usually baggage handlers assisting in the recheck area and if they don't recognize that your case contains a firearm, they may just place it on the conveyor and wave you on. If this happens, you will get to your gate and then be called back to open your case and you will likely miss your connecting flight. I speak from experience unfortunately...Just make sure that you are dealing with TSA and not a baggage handler and you'll be fine.

That's good advise.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
The tram stops are not as conveniently located as DFW, and quite frankly it's easier to to walk from "D" to "C".

Don't count on your flight actually leaving "C". Two months ago, I had a flight "leaving" "C", then a text now leaving "E" get to "E" and then another text now leaving "C". Rather pissed off by the time I boarded. I hate United.

I go thru IAH all the time and don't find the tram stops that inconvenient. DFW used to have the ALL TIME WORST tram: that thing on rubber wheels took about an hour to travel around the airport. I noticed last month some of the remnants of the concrete "tray" it road on are still there.

.30-06: you didn't mention your connection time...what is that?

Also, don't forget if you are Gold or higher on Star Alliance you get into their clubs even if you are not a member. Just don't expect United Clubs to be as nice as Air NZ clubs.

quote:

.30-06: you didn't mention your connection time...what is that?

Also, don't forget if you are Gold or higher on Star Alliance you get into their clubs even if you are not a member. Just don't expect United Clubs to be as nice as Air NZ clubs.

AAZW,
Arrival IAH 2:05 pm, depart for El Paso 6:25 pm
Considering all advice received here I'm guessing it's ample time to endure all the rigmorale involved.
I'm not a Club member so don't utilise the lounges. I can't expense the costs ( it's all out of my pocket ) so don't bother. Might change that one day though.

Thanks for all the input guys. I am keeping an eye on this thread.

Heaps of time; don't sweat it.

I meant to post this followup of my actual experience some time ago. So finally getting it done due to wet weather today.
After the advice received to my initial questions my experience was quite different to that anticipated but in a good way and all went relatively smoothly.
After landing at Houston airport staff directed Air New Zealand passengers to designated CBP kiosks. There, I was identified by CBP as having Firearms luggage as was escorted by a CBP officer to the top of some stairs which he told me to descend and report to the downstairs CBP counter. There I handed over my Passport and was escorted by a young CBP lady to the baggage claim carousel to collect my bag, then the oversive baggage outlet to collect my firearm. We returned to the counter, I collected my Passport and was directed to the CBP baggage check. The officer had trouble locating my info but finally found it in their system, checked that rifle serial number matched the computer and waved me on. My connecting flight to El Paso departed from Terminal B. IIRC before I went there I passed a United counter where you could leave connecting flights luggage ( called "drop & go" I think ). I went to the United counter asking if I could leave my bag and firearm and if TSA should inspect my rifle. The counter staff had no idea about TSA but said to deposit the firearm anyway. I also asked the United guy collecting the luggage at the conveyor if it was OK to deposit the firearm. He said "no problem". He put my bag on the conveyor and the firearm aside on top of another gun case. I rode the sky tram to Terminal B and walkd to the flight gate. I listened carefully to all PA announcements fully expecting to be summoned by TSA, but nothing. At this point I was slightly concerned that my rifle might not get to El Paso.
Arriving that evening at El Paso my bag came out on the carousel and I stood around waiting for the rifle case, a bit unsure of the local procedure. I guess my concern was obvious as a young soldier came up to me, correctly guessed I was waiting for a firearm and assured me it would come through the side door shortly. We conversed pleasantly for several minutes and sure enough a baggage man appeared with my rifle and escorted me to the United baggage enquiry office where the young lady checked my documents and allowed me to claim the rifle. Well, all good and proper at this point. I met my contact and we set off for a few days of very good hunting.
The outward leg of my journey was almost as smooth. Before explaining allow me to say that El Paso is one of the nicest airports I have been through in the USA. I returned to the airport in daylight and was quite impressed by the architectural aspect and the interior layout, unlike some airports I actually felt quite relaxed going through there. This airport would have to have the cleanest public toilets I have ever used, anywhere. A small point maybe but obviously somebody has their eye on the ball here. In fact everywhere throughout this airport has the appearance of a high maintenance standard. Very well done.
I checked in at the United counter explaining that I also had a firearm. I checked my luggage through to Auckland, NZ. The United clerk was very friendly and we chatted about my holiday and hunt. He had me open the case and he inserted the United Firearm Declaration ticket. I enquired about TSA inspection and he asked me to remain within sight for 30 minutes, saying TSA could come for inspection but would take me to a back office for this. While I waited there were quite a few personnel in TSA jackets bustling to and fro so I anticipated an inspection at any moment. Nothing happened. Checking again with the United clerk after 30 minutes he advised that I might as well proceed to the gate, which I did. After landing at Houston I proceeded to the gate for the Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. This is where the systems wheels fell off slightly. I can only assume that maybe the baggage loaders here realised my rifle had not been TSA inspected. Via PA I was summoned to the gate desk three times. First time was to confirm my "special item" was a firearm, have my Boarding Pass inspected and to sign some Air NZ form. Second time I was summoned by a different person for the same treatment but she was happy when I explained I had already given the info earlier. The third time was to yet another person during the boarding process. I was asked to wait aside at the gate while my Passport and Boarding Pass were held for a few minutes until I was cleared and allowed to board the plane. This was the only inconvenience of the entire journey so all in all not much to complain of and I was just happy that all my luggage arrived with me in the USA. I have read accounts of USA AR travelling hunters experiencing any manner of inconvenience and hassles from law enforcement officials but again my own experiences travelling in and out of the USA, mostly with firearms, have been both cordial and pretty smooth sailing. Travelers luck I guess !
I collected my rifle on arrival at Auckland. These days firearms are supposed to go into a locked cupboard and Police should walk you there, unlock the cupboard and allow you to collect the firearm prior to the Police inspection. While waiting for the Police to arrive I got talking to a Swarovski guy visiting for a hunt. He already had his rifle. He told me it was on the oversize baggage plinth. I walked over there and mine was there too ! Seems NZ also has some issues in following their own procedures.

Grant,

I'm glad everything worked so well for you.

Not too bad of an experience. What were you hunting?

Frank,
Thankyou. Certainly pleasing that all went more smoothly than thought. I hope my luck stays good !

DCS,
Hunting Aoudad. A photo in the link
https://drive.google.com/file/...7AV/view?usp=sharing