Customs and luggage clearance, international flights via USA

1. Do you have to clear customs on a connecting flight in USA?
2. Do you have to recheck baggage on connecting international flights?
3. Where do you go through customs when you have a connecting flight?
4. When flying internationally when do you go through customs?
5. Do you go through customs at your layover or final destination?
6. Do you get your luggage before or after customs?
7. Do I have to check my bags on a connecting flight?
8. Do you have to pay twice for baggage on a connecting flight?
9. What's the difference between a layover and a connecting flight?
10. Does customs go through your luggage?
11. What to expect when going through customs?
12. What happens if I miss my connecting flight?

Do you have to clear customs on a connecting flight in USA?

Everyone has to clear immigration at their first point of entry in the US. It doesn't matter whether you're terminating your travel at that point, connecting domestically, or connecting internationally. All passengers have to clear immigration and customs at their first point of entry in the US.

Do you have to recheck baggage on connecting international flights?

Usually, passengers don't have to recheck their bags when they're flying domestically. ... If you're connecting in the U.S., they require everyone from international flights to re-check their baggage upon the first landing point.

Where do you go through customs when you have a connecting flight?

Whether you have to go through immigration and customs really varies on the airport and the country. As with checked luggage, if you have a layover in the US or Canada, you will have to go through border control at the first point of entry into the US or Canada, even if your final destination is somewhere else.

When flying internationally when do you go through customs?

In most cases, you'll go through customs and immigration after your flight first arrives in a new country, but there are exceptions. For example, some countries have mutual agreements intended to help speed travelers through the process, so you may go through customs and immigration before you board.

Do you go through customs at your layover or final destination?

In almost all cases, if your bags are checked through to your final destination and you already have your onward boarding pass, you'll go through transit security when you land at your connecting airport instead of customs.

Do you get your luggage before or after customs?

Generally speaking, you collect your luggage after immigration (passport) control, but before customs control. However, if you are a transit passenger, you may not have to collect your baggage at all. This depends on which airport/country you are passing through and whether or not a change of airline is involved.

Do I have to check my bags on a connecting flight?

It depends on how your ticket was booked. If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.

Do you have to pay twice for baggage on a connecting flight?

So, to answer your question - No, you will not have to pay another baggage fees on the connecting flight, as long as you have both flights on the same ticket and your bag is checked through to your final destination.

What's the difference between a layover and a connecting flight?

A layover is a broad term that means any connection between flights. ... For them, a layover means an overnight stay while a connection refers to a shorter stop, but for fliers and travel providers, it's ok to use these two terms interchangeably.

Does customs go through your luggage?

When you arrive in the States and have collected your bags after passport control, you then go through customs, you may or may not have anything to declare, but if they search your bags you will be there with them.

What to expect when going through customs?

The customs form will walk you through it. It will ask you some yes or no questions about items like food and large amounts of money. On the back, you'll list “items of commercial value,” which includes things like duty-free items, souvenirs or gifts you've brought that you plan on leaving in the United States.

What happens if I miss my connecting flight?

If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.