When you fly on an international flight, you always need to pass through a passport control security checkpoint at some point during your journey. While this is true for all destinations, some countries and zones operate a little bit differently than you might naturally assume. The United States is one of these places.
Many travelers are unsure of how customs and immigration work when flying into the United States, and this confusion gets even worse when they hear things like “you will need to recheck all of your luggage during your layover.” To be honest, I was nervous the first time I was flying back to the U.S. on a flight with a connection because I had no idea how it was supposed to work. Experiences like that are what drive me to write posts like this to help fellow travelers!
This post is going to break down everything you need to know about customs and passport control on international flights to the United States with a connecting flight before the final destination. If you are asking the question “Do I have to go through customs for a connecting flight?” this post was written exclusively for you, and you will probably be able to breathe much more easily by the time you get to the end!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How Does Customs Work on International Flights to the United States?
Do You Have to Recheck Baggage on Connecting International Flights to the United States?
How Much Time Do You Need to Clear Customs and Immigration on a Flight to the US?
2 Tips for Passing Through US Customs and Immigration Quickly to Get to a Connecting Flight
How Does Customs Work on International Flights to the United States?
Any country that you fly into requires you to pass through customs and immigration. These two areas are part of every country’s protocols, and there is no way to get around them, even if you are a citizen of the destination country. The main flight attendant on your original flight will likely provide some instructions over the airplane’s speaker system before you land, but this is not always the case.
Customs when Arriving on a Direct Flight
If you have a direct flight, things are very simple. You will land at your final destination, get off the plane, wait in the passport control line, pick up your bags at the baggage claim, and pass through the appropriate customs tunnel.
For most people, there is nothing to declare to customs, and you will almost never have to wait in line. Once you have your baggage and clear customs, you can leave the airport and continue with your trip.
Customs When Arriving on a Flight with at Least One Domestic Connection
If you don’t have a direct flight, things might be a tad trickier. When you fly into the United States, the rule is that you must pass through customs and immigration at your first point of entry in the United States. Therefore, if you fly from Paris to Chicago with a layover in New York, you will need to pass through customs and passport control in New York, not in Chicago.
Your flight from New York to Chicago is technically a domestic flight, and it would land at a domestic terminal in Chicago. As a result, there would be no chance to pass through customs and immigration in Chicago. To ensure that all passengers immigrate properly, immigration is always done immediately upon landing at the first airport, and everything after that is considered domestic travel.
Do You Have to Recheck Baggage on Connecting International Flights to the United States?
Nonstop Flights to the United States
If you have a direct flight to the United States, you will simply complete the immigration process with your passport and boarding passes, pick up your baggage at the baggage claim upon arrival and then pass through the US Customs inspection. There is no need to do anything else.
Flights to the United States with at Least One Domestic Connection
If your flight to the United States includes a layover somewhere else in the United States, and you pass through customs and immigration anywhere other than your final destination, you will need to recheck all of your luggage at that point. Essentially, once you land at your first point of entry in the United States, and you pass through passport control, you will need to wheel your bags through customs, recheck them at an expedited counter designated for connections from international flights, and continue on to your next gate.
The check-in desks at this point are usually entirely separate from the ones at the entrance to the airport. These desks are normally exclusively for passengers arriving from a foreign country and connecting to another city in the United States. As such, there is not usually much of a line, and you will likely not need to pass through security again before heading to the gate for your next flight.
How Much Time Do You Need to Clear Customs and Immigration on a Flight to the US?
Airlines and airports recognize that transit passengers often have very short connection times. The airport does all it can to ensure that the customs declaration, security screening, border control, and baggage rechecking processes move as swiftly as possible for passengers with flight connections, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) works tirelessly to safely and efficiently help passengers clear security and arrive to their gates with plenty of time remaining.
With that being said, you need to put yourself in a good position, too. You never want to pick the flight itinerary with the minimum connection time between your first flight and second flight, as it is your job to make sure you have enough time to complete all of these steps. International connections in the United States have a lot of moving pieces, and it is not uncommon to experience a long wait in immigration and customs lines during peak periods.
I recommend leaving yourself several hours of time, if possible
Leave Several Hours of Time to Pass Through Customs
I recommend leaving yourself several hours of time, if possible. While the time you will need varies greatly depending on the airport, the time of day, and the time of year, it is always better to give yourself a little too much time than to give yourself too little time.
Long layovers are often frowned upon by travelers, but I am a big fan of 4-hour layovers on long-haul flights. The departure area and gate areas always have plenty of options for places to eat, and you won’t even need to haul around any checked luggage during this time.
While nonstop flights are usually best, having a nice meal or work session at your connecting airport is always a great plan, too. While the international terminal at an airport is usually the nicest one, you can still usually expect plenty of great food options in domestic terminals when waiting for your connecting flight.
2 Tips for Passing Through US Customs and Immigration Quickly to Get to a Connecting Flight
During our time living in Mexico, we took a lot of flights from Mexico City to various places in the United States, and we learned pretty well how to have a hassle-free experience. Here are a few of our top tips, based on lessons that we learned.
1. Different Airlines Require More Connection Time
While different airlines have different rules regarding connection times, we found that some airlines are very unreliable with their baggage handling. British Airways and American Airlines are two of the worst major airlines when it comes to baggage handling. Ironically, they are partners.
On one trip to Europe, we flew from the U.S. to Italy with a stop at London Heathrow airport on British Airways. They lost our bags for a full month and took over 6 months to compensate us for the thousands of dollars that we had to pay to purchase all new things for our month-long trip.
Stories like this are not uncommon with American Airlines, and we have personally been with people on two different occasions whose baggage was left behind at a connecting airport. If they can’t do it right on a domestic flight, odds are they can’t do it right on an international flight.
We almost always fly with Delta or with one of Delta’s partners, and we have never been disappointed. The Delta App allows you to track your bags, and Delta even has a 15-minute guarantee. If your bag doesn’t appear at the baggage claim within 15 minutes, they will give you free SkyMiles.
2. Global Entry is Worth Every Penny
Global Entry is a program sponsored by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that expedites international arrivals for U.S. citizens. You pay a fee and go through an application process, and once approved you get to skip the entire passport control line when arriving on an international flight to the United States. This extra time is a major advantage when you have a connection flight, as you also get to beat the rest of the travelers to the U.S. Customs lines and the check-in counter to recheck your bags.
Global entry doesn’t even require you to bring any extra travel documents with you. Your passport is all you need, and there is a kiosk that will scan your face to make sure you are who you say you are. Once it approves you, you pass through a dedicated Global Entry line and move along quickly.
On one flight home from Abu Dhabi during the airport terminal’s peak times, Global Entry enabled us to skip past a 1-hour-long border protection line. To sweeten the deal, Global Entry applications also include TSA Precheck, which makes security a breeze when leaving on flights within the United States.
Thanks for reading my post about passing through customs on an international flight to the United States with a connection. Hopefully, this post answered any questions you have about passing through customs when flying to the United States, including how to recheck your baggage.
If you have any questions or thoughts, drop a comment below.
Tags: Customs
FAQs
Travel Tips: Do You Have to Go Through Customs for a Connecting Flight? ›
Do you have to go through customs on connecting flights? If you have booked international connecting flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport. This is particularly true of the United States and Canada.
Do I have to go through customs if I have a connecting flight? ›Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.
Do you go through US customs before connecting flight? ›You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening.
Do you go through customs in a connecting country? ›Many wonder, “do I have to go through customs for a connecting flight?” This is a common question amongst international travelers, and the answer is usually “no.” As long as you're not leaving the airport, your bags are checked through to your final destination and you have a boarding pass for your next flight, you won ...
Do you have to go through customs twice on a layover? ›For most domestic layovers, you won't have to go through security again. However, some airports have separate security checkpoints for each terminal, so if you land in one terminal and your next flight is in another, you would have to go through security again.
What if I miss my connecting flight due to customs? ›And if at all your missed connection is a fault of your airline, might be due to immigration and custom checking, then the airline should re-book your ticket on their next flight. And if the flight is late, then the airline should also provide meals and accommodation to you.
How do international connecting flights work? ›To put it simply, having a connecting flight means you will have to change planes. You will not be flying directly from A to B, but there will also be C. You will fly from A to C, and then from C to B. Sometimes there will be more than a single stop.
Do I have to go through security again for connecting international flight at JFK? ›Between all other Terminals:
For journeys between terminals, it's free. To make your connection, follow signs for AirTrain. You will need to reclear TSA security once you arrive in your departure terminal.
When do you go through customs on international flights? Usually, you go through customs when you exit the airport at your final destination. However, if you have a layover in a different city in your destination country, you may need to go through customs before your connecting flight.
Do I need to go through immigration for a connecting flight at JFK? ›Flight Connections at JFK
For international-to-international or international-to-domestic connections, passengers will have to clear Immigration, claim baggage, and then clear Customs. After passing through Customs, there are recheck counters available for bags tagged to an onward destination.
What countries have U.S. Customs preclearance? ›
Today, CBP has more than 600 officers and agriculture specialists stationed at 15 Preclearance locations in 6 countries: Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Aruba; Bermuda; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; and Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, and ...
Am I supposed to go through customs? ›Everyone arriving at a port of entry to the U.S. is subject to inspection by Customs and Border Protection officers for compliance with immigration, customs and agriculture regulations.
Where is customs on connecting flights? ›When you fly into the United States, the rule is that you must pass through customs and immigration at your first point of entry in the United States. Therefore, if you fly from Paris to Chicago with a layover in New York, you will need to pass through customs and passport control in New York, not in Chicago.
Is 2 hour layover enough for connecting flights? ›Two hours. Mayers recommends two hours as a standard buffer between flights to be safe. This gives you a cushion in case things go wrong during your journey. You'll definitely want at least a two-hour window if you've booked a “hacker fare,” as opposed to flying with the same airline your entire trip.
What is the difference between a layover and a connecting flight? ›What is the difference between a layover and connecting flight? While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. A layover is the time you spend at the airport between two flights. A connecting flight is the next flight in your itinerary that you're waiting at the airport to take.
Is 1 hour layover enough for international flight in Atlanta? ›The ideal layover time for most people on a domestic flight will be 45-60 minutes. For an International to Domestic flight the ideal connection time will be about 90 minutes. Connecting in ATL is easy, fast, and pleasant. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Is 3 hours enough for an international connecting flight? ›The rule of thumb is that you leave AT LEAST 3 hours from arrival to departure for international flights and 1.5 hours for domestic. You still have to get your bags, clear customs, re-check your bags and then go through security for your next flight. All of this can take a couple of hours.
Do I need to check in again for connecting international flight? ›In cases where the connecting flight is one another airline or another terminal, passengers must go through a security and baggage check once again before you get on board the connecting flight to reach your destination.
Do international flights wait for connecting passengers? ›How much time do you need between connecting flights internationally? There is no one-size-fits-all answer here, it can vary greatly from one airport to another. Some international airports have a minimum connecting time as low as 30 minutes. But usually, when traveling internationally, the MCT is at least an hour.
Is one hour enough for a connecting international flight at JFK? ›If you must connect via JFK, make sure you have sufficient time: For connections from domestic (US or Canada) flights to other destinations in the US or Canada, allow 2–3 hours; for transfers from domestic to international destinations, allow 3–4 hours; for international to domestic, 3–5 hours; and for international to ...
Is 2 hours enough time for international flight layover at JFK? ›
You should aim for 3 hours minimum. Immigration is hit-or-miss. I have gone through JFK immigration within 20 minutes, while the next day, my friend spent about one hour coming in at the exact same time on the same flight.
Is 2 hour layover enough for international flight JFK? ›Minimum connection times at the John F Kennedy Airport in New York can be as low as 30 minutes for domestic flights (if you're flying the same airline). However, it can take as long as 3 hours if you're coming off an international flight and you need to do a terminal change in order to make your connection.
Do I have to go through US customs for a connecting flight to Canada? ›International-United States
If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage and you have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you will be asked to proceed via a connecting flights corridor, avoiding Canadian customs. You will, however, have to go through U.S. customs.
If separate tickets are being issued, verify there is enough time for your customer to claim any checked baggage and proceed to the downline airline's check-in area for the continuing flight. The customer is required to collect their baggage and re-check within the appropriate time allowance required at that city.
What do I need for a connecting flight through the US? ›In general, travelers in transit through the United States require valid C-1 visas.
Do I have to go through customs for a connecting international flight at LAX? ›Flight Connections at LAX
If you're arriving on an international flight, you will need to clear immigration at your arrival terminal. You will then need to collect your bag and clear customs — if the bag has been tagged with a final destination, you can drop it off at the transfers service desk after customs.
ESTA is required in all cases of entering the U.S.
Travelers must apply for and receive ESTA even when transiting in the U.S. to a third country without a visa. You must apply for ESTA in any of the following cases: transit, transfer, or stopover (layover).
There is no legal requirement for you to hire a Customs Broker to clear your goods. However, many importers opt to do so for the convenience. Customs Brokers are licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct CBP business on behalf of importers.
How long does it take to clear customs in US? ›Typically, customs clearance takes less than 24 hours, however, there are times where it can take several days or weeks for goods to be inspected. When is customs clearance needed? Customs clearance is necessary for all packages entering the U.S. from other countries.
What are the preclearance procedures? ›Preclearance Procedures means that a proposed transaction shall be precleared in writing by a Review Officer prior to proceeding with a transaction.
What is the fastest way to get through customs? ›
Trusted Traveler Program Enrollment
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
Is 1 hour enough for customs? Based on historic clearance times, 1 hour should be enough time to get through Immigration and Customs. Most airports in the U.S. will get passengers through in less than 30 minutes, while others (such as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport) will take longer.
What is the minimum layover time for international flights? ›International Travel
Allow at least two hours to claim luggage, clear Customs, go through security screening and get to your next gate. Definitely allow a longer layover for this kind of flight connection.
For domestic flights, a short layover is usually 1-1.5 hours, as you will not have to go through security. For the reasons mentioned above, for international flights 2 to 3 hours layover is a good time to calculate. But often, flights come with 4-7 hours or even 10 hours and longer in this case.
Is it OK to arrive 2 hours before international flight? ›The General Guideline for How Early You Should Get to the Airport. Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.
What are the cons of connecting flight? ›- The most common issue that you experience is carrying hand baggage. There are chances that you may have to carry baggage from one terminal to another.
- Connecting flights takes extra time for reaching the destination and it can be a frustrating task for you.
International-United States
If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage and you have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you will be asked to proceed via a connecting flights corridor, avoiding Canadian customs. You will, however, have to go through U.S. customs.
When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.
Where do you go through customs when you have a connecting flight in USA? ›When you fly into the United States, the rule is that you must pass through customs and immigration at your first point of entry in the United States. Therefore, if you fly from Paris to Chicago with a layover in New York, you will need to pass through customs and passport control in New York, not in Chicago.
How long does it take to get through U.S. Customs? ›How long does customs usually take? On average, it takes travelers 17 minutes and 53 seconds to get through Immigration and Customs. This number will vary based on the airport you're traveling through, the time of year you're traveling, and the time of day you're arriving at the airport.
Is 2 hours enough between connecting flights at JFK? ›
If you must connect via JFK, make sure you have sufficient time: For connections from domestic (US or Canada) flights to other destinations in the US or Canada, allow 2–3 hours; for transfers from domestic to international destinations, allow 3–4 hours; for international to domestic, 3–5 hours; and for international to ...
Do you have to go through security again for a connecting to an international flight in Chicago? ›International Connections
If your connecting flight is in Terminals 1, 2 or 3, you can take the free, 24-hour Airport Transit System (ATS). All connecting passengers must go through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening.
You'll need a minimum of 2 hours to connect from an international flight to a domestic flight at JFK.
Do you have to recheck baggage on connecting flights American airlines international? ›International flights may require clearing customs and rechecking on the other airline to the final destination. For future bookings it is suggested the customer have their complete travel in the same PNR to allow for the baggage to be through-checked.