Hello all, I am looking at flights from Paris to Indianpolis and there is a great flight from (CDG to Dublin) Dublin ending in Indianapolis and I wonder if it would be a total headache to take this flight rather than the normal "fly into the US from Paris" and go through customs and immigration in a big city. I know (thanks to Delta in the good old days, sure wish it were here! ). that flying into Indianapolis ia MUCH easier than in a big airport but am sort of wondering how much hassle it would be to do that Dublin thing.
Thanks Caroline

The advantage of flying from Paris directly to your home country has nothing to do with customs. It has to do with any delays or change in schedule. You could get stuck overseas if your connection is before your transatlantic flight.. Depending on your situation, that could be wonderful or a big problem.

Dublin and Shannon are the only two European cities where you go through US customs and immigration before you board, eliminating the arrive-in-the-US-cattle call debacle. I found this out quite by accident, and any time I can go thru Dublin I do it for that reason. You will get right off the plane in the US at your destination and walk right off and retrieve your bag and go. No immigration, no customs...off you go. I loved it. One person disagreed and said his experience in Dublin was horrid. Entry into any US city is already more horrible, this was really good. Not sure how it works connecting when you start in Paris. You decide.

Transit in Dublin for sure if you can - pre-clearance is a God send.

I'd maybe even try for a close to 24 hours lay over to get some time in Dublin itself.

We have flown out of Dublin a couple times and loved being able to pre-clear immigration/customs. Arrival in the US was just like a domestic flight.

I flew from Brindisi to the US through Dublin. Loved going through customs/immigration in Dublin!

If you are saying you can stop in Dublin, board your flight and get dumped out directly in Indianapolis without having to go through the entry process in any major US city, then jump on that thing like immediately.

I agree that pre clearing US customs etc in Dublin is a good thing as long as you don't have a long layover in Dublin airport. In August I had a six hour layover in Dublin and it is the worst airport I have ever had a layover in.

If you go through Dublin make sure you have more than a 3 hour layover. I'm of the minority opinion that customs is easier in the US, but only if you have Global Entry.

When I came through Dublin, I thought my 2.5 hour layover was plenty of time. I moved quickly though the airport, making no stops except for the bathroom. The lines were HUGE at pre-clearance, and having Global Entry and TSA pre-check meant nothing. ( I did ask) By the time I got through this ordeal, I had to run to the gate, as my flight was already boarding.

This was in March 2023. If they have since changed the process for people with Global Entry/TSA pre-check, I will be happy to know that.

I should add that I've used pre-clearance coming from Canada and Aruba and it was fine. My only bad experience was in Dublin.

I usually fly through SFO and it's been really easy over the last several years with Global entry.

I'm interested to know if the OP has Global Entry. If customs is still a big hassle, I'm betting she doesn't. If that's the case, then Dublin would be a good option. Just make sure your layover is at least 3 hours, and go straight to pre-clearance.

I've transited Dublin multiple times doing overnights - - makes the tight connection issue moot, and keeps the pace casual. I actually prefer taking the bus up to Swords (a short ways north of the airport) and spending the night there. It has a totally local feel, easygoing shops and pubs, and is way cheaper than Dublin city. To me, Dublin city is ugly, scruffy, tacky, crapped-out-touristed and vastly expensive. Have also done an overnight in Malahide (east of the airport but no easy public transport), and even Drogheda (further north), and a Dublin airport hotel (also simple) but for me Swords has a certain earnest simplicity, and everyone there is actually Irish.

We flew from Zurich and had a layover in Dublin last year. It was a surprise that we went through Customs in Dublin which was fast before connecting to our flight to Seattle. As others have mentioned you bypass the US Customs on your return. We were thrilled to discover this.