Harborside/Nassau Customs

[WI GAL]

Can someone who has been to Harborside Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, verify when returning to US did you go through US Customs in Nassau or when you returned to US were you required to go through customs in US? Trying to find written verification of this so we can determine how much of a time layover to allow when arriving back in Chicago. Thanks!

 

[okwiater]

Can someone who has been to Harborside Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, verify when returning to US did you go through US Customs in Nassau or when you returned to US were you required to go through customs in US? Trying to find written verification of this so we can determine how much of a time layover to allow when arriving back in Chicago. Thanks!

I was just there a couple weeks ago, and they pre-clear you in Nassau. They have a fancy new system that is all automated -- you scan your passport into a machine which compares your photo to your face, and then prints out a ticket letting you know either to speak with a customs agent or go through the bypass line. When you arrive in the US, you arrive at a domestic gate.

 

[SMHarman]

What okwater said. Consider it a domestic layover.

 

[WI GAL]

Thank you!

 

[lily28]

Make sure you give yourselves enough time to go through both customs. We almost miss the plane last year if not for multiple good people letting us go first. Also, Bahamas custom refused to accept the printed boarding pass from the resort and made me get one from United itself. So this year, I plan to go to the airport after I check out and no more wasting time printing out boarding passes beforehand.

 

[smitty2445]

Not to highjack this thread, how much of a concern is it if names on passport and plan ticket do not exactly match? First and last name match and the middle name is on passport and not middle initial on ticket. We are going to Atlantis in November.

 

[Free2Roam]

They seem to have relaxed the rules on middle names on plane tickets. The last few times I've flown, someone else booked the flights and didn't put my middle name or initial. My driver's license and passport have my full name...I had no problems at all. They didn't even mention it.

 

[okwiater]

I don't think TSA has ever been super-picky with middle names. I've noticed some airlines seem to have software limitations which limit the length of the name that can be displayed on the boarding pass. I've booked tickets using my full name and still received boarding passes that only contain my middle initial or improperly concatenate my first and middle names. I've never once had an issue.

 

[smitty2445]

Thanks for the info.

 

[dioxide45]

When you make a airline reservation they claim that the name on your ID must match the name on your reservation. That said, I have yet to see a boarding pass that prints with my full middle name, even though I have used my full middle name on the reservation.