The Pilot’s Playbook: 10 Top Tricks to Beat Long Customs & Immigration Lines

Ah, the joys of international travel – endless airport security lines, cramped flights, and then, after all that, the final boss: a painfully long customs and immigration line before you’re officially allowed to enter the country.

As an airline pilot, I’ve gone through customs more times than I can count — and every minute wasted there is time away from family, friends, or adventure. So I’ve made it my mission to master the art of getting through customs fast.

Here are the exact tricks my airline colleagues and I use to get through immigration as quickly (and painlessly) as possible.

Related: Pack More with Less: The 10 Ultimate Essentials Airline Crews Use to Save Space

1) Use the Mobile Passport App (Totally Underrated!)

If you haven’t heard of the Mobile Passport App, you’re missing out on one of the best-kept secrets in U.S. travel. It’s free, takes minutes to set up, and often gets you through customs faster than Global Entry.

• Available for U.S. and Canadian citizens
• Answer inspection questions before you land
• Dedicated “Mobile Passport” line (usually empty!)
• No background check or interview needed

Supported airports include: ATL, BOS, DFW, DEN, FLL, HNL, IAD, IAH, JFK, LAX, MIA, MSP, ORD, PHL, SEA, SFO, and many more.

Pro Tip: Fill out the form before landing while you still have Wi-Fi. When you land, you’ll just show the app’s QR code to an officer and walk straight through.

📲 Download Mobile Passport App on the App Store or Google Play.

2) Global Entry: usually the quickest way to get through customs in the US

If you travel internationally more than twice a year, Global Entry is worth every penny. It’s hands-down the fastest way to re-enter the U.S.

💸 Fee: $100 for 5 years (many credit cards reimburse or include it)
🕐 Interview: Quick, often available on arrival
🚀 Includes TSA PreCheck (so domestic security is faster, too)
🌎 Accepted in multiple partner countries

Eligible citizens: U.S., Argentina, Colombia, India, UK, Germany, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Mexico.

Pro Tip: Apply for Global Entry first, then use your account number (KTN) to automatically enroll in TSA PreCheck. That’s two upgrades for the price of one.

Pro Tip #2: Download the Global Entry app! Open it up on arrival, answer some questions, take a selfie, and make sure to hit submit. Just show your approval to the officer and you’re good to go!

3) Take the stairs! (Or the elevator)

Don’t laugh this one off – it’s one of the best ways to pass a LOT of people. You’d be surprised how much time people waste standing still on slow escalators. 

Walk fast and take the stairs. I guarantee that you will pass about half of the people on the escalators if you take the stairs.

Plus, it’s one of the best ways to stay healthy while traveling. Great way to stretch those legs after a long international flight. I always do this myself, even if I’m first off the plane.

In cases where you have to take multiple escalators (such as Washington-Dulles, Denver, and Atlanta concourse E), the elevator is often faster than the escalators as well (and easier).

4) Book a seat at the front of the airplane

It sounds obvious, but it’s one of the most effective tricks. Passengers in the first few rows often clear immigration 20–30 minutes earlier than those in the back.

✈️ Most planes exit from the front left (L1) or second left (L2) – and sometimes both on large airplanes
💺 Comfort+, Premium Select, or Business Class seats get you off first
🛫 On Boeing 757/767s, the L2 door (behind business class) is usually used

Splurging for a more expensive seat might be worth it just for the time you reclaim in return.

Related: An Airline Pilot Shares the 10 Best Ways to Avoid the Middle Seat on Your Next Flight

5) Watch for rear exit deplaning, and pick the right bus

Picking a seat in the last row might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But sometimes, depending on the airline (and if they use air-stairs), the rear exit is available.

This can feel like a stroke of genius – picking a seat away from most other people, and then being one of the first passengers off the plane. It, of course, depends on the airline (more typical with European low cost carriers like EasyJet or Ryanair, for example). Try to research this ahead of time when selecting your seats.

When boarding buses, try to get on the first one to depart (usually the one parked closest to the aircraft nose). The difference can easily be 15+ minutes. At most airports, you can walk around the cones at the edge of the wing safely to grab a better bus.

6) Choose the right line

This one’s an art form. Don’t just follow the crowd. Stay back and analyze.

👀 Look for:

• Lines with more open counters
• Lines with business travelers or families (they move predictably)
• The Mobile Passport or Global Entry line, if eligible

Sometimes, the “Visitors” line may actually move faster than “U.S. Citizens,” depending on staffing.

Pro Tip: Avoid lining up behind large groups or flights that landed just before yours. Watch which lines officers call passengers from most frequently.

7) Use the lavatory before descent

It might sound trivial, but using the lavatory before the seatbelt sign comes on can save you serious time later. Many passengers make a beeline for the restrooms right after landing – and the few minutes they lose there cost them 10-15 minutes waiting in line.

I always see hoards of people rushing to the toilets at the airport after landing. If you can save 3 minutes there, you might save yourself 10-15 minutes of waiting in line.

Pro Tip: The best time to go? Right before the captain announces “cabin crew, prepare for arrival.”

8) Avoid bringing forbidden items, such as fruit and meats

A quick way to get detained and ruin your day is by bringing in stuff you’re not supposed to.

Some countries, like New Zealand and Palau, have strict biosecurity laws. You can be fined over $10000! The US is especially keen about checking for food, and you could lose your global entry privileges – permanently.

The “gotcha” here is that these are sometimes given to you by the airline on your flight (example: an apple, banana, or a slim jim), so make sure to discard them before getting to customs.

9) Watch your alcohol!

Customs officers love finding travelers who “forgot” how much they bought duty-free. Every country has a limit – usually 1 liter per person for spirits entering the U.S.

Check out this list to see how much you can take. Don’t try and drink it all while waiting in line, that will probably take even longer (or get you arrested)!

Pro Tip: If you buy duty-free alcohol on your flight, keep the receipt handy and make sure it’s in a sealed bag.

10) Avoid bringing items you need to declare.

Bringing more than $10000 with you in cash or foreign instruments? Good for you! I’m kind of jealous.

But you will need to declare them — and that means a slower line.

Here’s the list of prohibited items and here is a sample declaration card.

Pro Tip: If you use Global Entry or Mobile Passport, you won’t need a paper declaration unless you have restricted or high-value items. Keep a digital note on your phone listing anything you might need to declare – it saves time and avoids surprises. If using the app, make sure to declare your items then.

See you on the other side of customs!

10 Tips to Get Past US Customs & Immigrations Fast Summarized

1. Use the Mobile Passport App
2. Consider applying for Global Entry: usually the quickest way to get through customs in the US
3. Take the stairs! (Or the elevator) – instead of the busy escalators
4. Book a seat at the front of the airplane
5. Pay attention to exits and buses
6. Choose the right line
7. Use the lavatory on the airplane before descent
8. Avoid bringing forbidden items, such as fruit and meats.
9. Watch your alcohol! Don’t bring too much.
10. Avoid bringing items you need to declare, like fruits and plants.

Bonus Tip: Be Polite and Prepared

Smile, say hello, and have your passport open to the photo page. Customs officers appreciate it – and while it won’t get you special treatment, it never hurts to make their job easier.

Pro Tip: If you’re connecting to another flight, make sure your bags are tagged to your final destination, and double-check whether you need to reclaim and recheck them after customs (common for U.S. arrivals).

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or an occasional adventurer, getting through customs quickly is part art, part strategy. A little preparation – and a few insider pilot tips – can save you hours or even days over the course of a lifetime of travels.

So next time you land after that long international flight, skip the line, stretch those legs, and breeze through customs like a pro.

✈️ Related Reading:
👉 Pack More with Less: 10 Genius Space-Saving Hacks Airline Crews Swear By
👉 10 Best Ways to Avoid the Middle Seat on Your Next Flight