Brussels Airport to become third in EU to get US Preclearance, reports say
A new Preclearance checkpoint could make future travel out of Europe easier.
One of the biggest hassles of returning from international trips is long customs and immigration lines. If you have Global Entry or even the Mobile Passport Control app, you could skip some lines but even with those tools, clearing customs before you even start the journey home can be even better.
The United States implemented a series of "Preclearance" checkpoints at departing airports, so that when you land you can simply get off the plane and go about your day. And now American passengers flying out of Brussels Airport will eventually be able to get their documents checked before arriving in the United States.
According to Belgian Finance Minister Alexander De Croo, Belgium and the U.S. just signed an agreement that officially gave the green light for Brussels to have a Preclearance facility, according to European media reports.
Brussels Airport had been under consideration by U.S. officials ever since the Obama administration released a list of potential airports for Preclearance facilities back in 2015.
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A Preclearance facility allows U.S.-bound passengers to go through immigration and customs before arrival, essentially allowing the international flight to be considered as domestic upon arrival. Passengers can seamlessly connect onto other flights and check their luggage to the final destination without having to leave security. Global Entry members can take advantage of their membership at Preclearance locations as well.
Brussels would become the third European airport to have this service after Dublin and Shannon in Ireland, and the fourth airport on the eastern side of the Atlantic if including Abu Dhabi (AUH) as well.
Related: 14 things to know about Global Entry before your next trip
The U.S. government also signed an agreement with Sweden to operate a Preclearance facility at Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) in 2016, though that has yet to be implemented. It also committed to a new Preclearance facility opening at Bogota Airport in August of last year.
While no official timeline has been released yet, the plan is for 30 American customs agents to be stationed at the airport to conduct checks on U.S.-bound passengers. According to The Brussels Times, this is expected to help lighten the load of customs services at New York (JFK) and Washington, D.C. (IAD), which host most of the routes to the U.S. from Brussels.
Officials are also hoping that the new installation can help the financially struggling Brussels Airlines, which has a hub operation in the namesake airport. They predict that this facility can help make Brussels Airport more popular with American passengers, which could translate into an increase in feed for the airline's hub operations — especially into its African network.
As success for Brussels Airlines is critical for Brussels Airport's operations, it was actually the airport management that requested the agreement.
"The work is only now beginning," airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli said to the Brussels Times. "We are now going to work with the airlines and other partners to see what the impact will be on operations and costs, and how we can organize everything practically."
In the meantime, U.S. is currently working to add an additional 20 countries to its Preclearance operations. The next most likely airport to get Preclearance approval is expected to be Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.