MPC app is now unusable 9 times out of 10 to skip the US immigration queue

I had been one of the last to resisting the allure of the MPC app, or Mobile Passport Control, which allows those who pre-register for free to have a fast track upon arrival in the U.S., I had been stalling precisely because I feared the catch.

If the U.S. has the worst airports in the world, it is because the whole ecosystem is falling apart. Outdated terminals, crumbling infrastructure, minimal staffing in all areas.

Arriving in the EU, let alone Asia or the Middle East, feels like traveling into the future and the problem is all in the DNA of the average American: taking a plane here is like taking a bus in Italy, and consequently that is the service.

The MPC app

This is not new, it has existed for years, but in the U.S. where everything is paid for, it is not comparable to Global Entry, Clear or TSA Precheck, privately run fee-based services.

The operation is simple, but the problem I have pointed out since the use of the service was extended to ESTA passengers is that it has only been a flash in the pan. If you have 1,000 people disembarking from 3 planes and you only have 6 immigration officers, it does not change much whether the 10% of these will use the app or not, they will always be in the queue, at a different counter, but still in the queue.

Evidently, however, it got out of hand, so they ran for cover and changed the rules.

In the past 12 months, I have entered the U.S. 15 times. at several airports: LAX, ATL, JFK,EWR,ORD, IAD just to name a few. For example in Atlanta, Delta's hub, I arrived at a terminal that was not active with MPC. At all other times I either found myself (miracle) zero queues or I was nicely bounced.

JFK or EWR same scene: "There's no MPC lane, you wait in line."

 

My last visit to JFK was tragicomic with the attendant who really "took me by the ...". Situation that was also told to me by several community members.

Last night, I landed in Newark at 11:00 PM and found myself bounced in the generic line and discovered that they made up the double line here: MPC for Americans and that for everyone else.

Looking up then I noticed that the directions to the MPC were different based on nationality. Basically if you are a U.S. citizen or have one of several visas that treat you (almost) like one, you can use the queue

Moral of the story Over 70 minutes waiting in line between turnstiles like at Disneyland. The paradox? despite the fact that I am a "non-standard" traveler given my frequent visits, with one-way tickets and a stay in the U.S. of only a few hours, I took less than 60″ to pass the screening.

What has been your experience with the app? Tell me in the comments