I recently flew non-stop from Cleveland to Cancun, Mexico, via Frontier Airlines. The flight to Mexico was uneventful, although I would warn travelers that Frontier is a no-frills airline. Passengers flying with them would be well advised to stick a granola bar or a package of peanut butter crackers and a bottle of water in their carry-on unless you want to shell out their credit card for overpriced snacks or a $9 cocktail. You can get water for free — but must ask for it.
Frontier Airlines allows only one carry-on per person. So if you have a purse and a laptop as I did, you better figure out how to get the laptop into the purse or vice versa. Otherwise, there is a $50 fee. And your carry-on must be an approved size — otherwise you pay. Another tip: if you pay for your checked bag when booking your flight, you save a great deal.
But my complaint is not about Frontier Airlines but the treatment of international passengers arriving at Cleveland Hopkins Airport after and while going through U.S. Customs.
Like many tourists leaving Cancun, I purchased several bottles of vanilla flavoring — a Mexican specialty which is very reasonably priced. Lots of people bought alcohol and perfume at the duty-free shop. The bottles were all packaged at the duty-free shop and sealed with zip tabs.
Having gone through security in Cancun and knowing that Cleveland was our final destination, we all thought that we were done with security checks. Therefore, there was no concern about taking these liquids though TSA screening which limits the amount of liquids to 3.4 ounces or 100 ml. At least that’s what I thought.
As the flight was about to land in Cleveland, the pilot announced that all liquids had to be packed in your checked package or otherwise they would be confiscated. What? The reason being that once arriving passengers in Cleveland go through U.S. Customs, they must re-enter the main concourse area — which means another TSA check. Why?
Along with most of the liquid-carrying passengers departing the flight, I had to get my checked bag at customs, unlock it, open it up and cram in my bottles of vanilla. People were stuffing clothing into their carry-on bags — not a pleasant experience — before putting their checked luggage back on the conveyor to be shipped to the main baggage carousels on the airport lower level.
When I told a friend about what happened, he told me that when he flew into Cleveland on an international flight last year, he waited three hours to get through U.S. Customs — he landed at 6am and got through customs at 9am. Apparently there were not enough workers at the customs gate.
Other people told me that they had to take a minibus from their plane on the tarmac and then go through customs, while dragging their bags in the snow, which was pretty bone-chilling since they had just left the sun of a Caribbean Island.
There’s an adage that says that “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” Cleveland does not get a second chance to make a first impression on international travelers when they must go through needless TSA checks. A simple exit from customs to the main baggage carousel area would solve the problem.
Back in February of 2021, the city announced that it had a master plan to remodel and reconfigure the airport. In January of 2022 the city announced a proposed $2 billion plan for reconstruction of the airport terminal.
Whoever is making the plans for the new airport design will hopefully use part of the money to figure out a way to get international passengers from their flights, through customs and to baggage claim without having to go back through TSA. That’s what happens in every other international airport that I’ve been to and that is quite a few. As the City of Cleveland owns Hopkins, CoolCleveland reached out to Mayor Justin Bibb and his staff for comments, but no response has been received.
Cleveland wants to be a first-class international city. With antiquated facilities and apparent logistical problems that cause international travelers unneeded problems, I can understand why international carriers shy away from flying into Cleveland. If you want to be in the big leagues you have to treat people like you are a big-league city. Create a way to stop the hassle for international travelers. That should not take a rocket scientist.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
2 Responses to “COMMENTARY: Hopkins Not Welcoming to International Travelers by C. Ellen Connally”
Penny Jeffrey
I agree! I had a similar problem when my daughter and I traveled back on IcelandAir in 2018. My daughter was ill, and the procedure was tortuous.We had to recheck our bags and mine took nearly an hour to come through. I pity the Air Lingus passengers coming this spring, and everyone else who flies in from outside the US. I did not have the problem when I flew from Toronto to CLE last year.
Neil
Not sure if every airport in USA is the same but it is the same at JFK for international flights from France, Customs followed by TSA. So maybe we shouldn’t bash Cleveland. If I remember right there is USA customs in Toronto so a difference there.