Flying to US - HELP

[HaPPyFeEt 0]

Finally my visa is approved..waiting for it from DHL anytime tommorrow or Thursday. Now we booked a flight through expedia.com. I will be leaving Kuwait before the end of the month. Im just concern with the stop over. My Iterenary are as follows:

Kuwait (KWI) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) Terminal 1

Depart 8:05 pm Arrive 10:35 pm

Abu Dhabi (AUH) Terminal 1 to New York (JFK) Terminal 4

Depart 2:00 am Arrive 8:10 am

New York (JFK)Terminal 8 to Los Angeles (LAX) Terminal 4

Depart 10:25 am Arrive 1:45 pm

The stopover at jfk worries me because i only have 2 hours to run to terminal 4.......i called expedia and they assured me that i dont have to check out my baggage to transfer to terminal 8. But I will call Etihad airlines just to make sure. Do you think 2 hours is enough for me to clear out everything and take my next flight? I will be travelling alone. Pls. help.let me know what u think? otherwise I will have to adjust mybookings.

Or will I get rebook incase I will be delayed due to immigration and customs..

thanks...

[pushbrk 12,883]

Finally my visa is approved..waiting for it from DHL anytime tommorrow or Thursday. Now we booked a flight through expedia.com. I will be leaving Kuwait before the end of the month. Im just concern with the stop over. My Iterenary are as follows:

Kuwait (KWI) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) Terminal 1

Depart 8:05 pm Arrive 10:35 pm

Abu Dhabi (AUH) Terminal 1 to New York (JFK) Terminal 4

Depart 2:00 am Arrive 8:10 am

New York (JFK)Terminal 8 to Los Angeles (LAX) Terminal 4

Depart 10:25 am Arrive 1:45 pm

The stopover at jfk worries me because i only have 2 hours to run to terminal 4.......i called expedia and they assured me that i dont have to check out my baggage to transfer to terminal 8. But I will call Etihad airlines just to make sure. Do you think 2 hours is enough for me to clear out everything and take my next flight? I will be travelling alone. Pls. help.let me know what u think? otherwise I will have to adjust mybookings.

Or will I get rebook incase I will be delayed due to immigration and customs..

thanks...

I always recommend at least three hours at any POE. Hopefully, they can get you on a later flight. I'm sure they can from JFK to LAX.

All you need is to have the incoming flight leave late and arrive late and you'll miss your connection. I've done that several times even with long layovers. My last international flight left 8 hours late requiring an extra overnight before continuing on.

Edited November 4, 2008 by pushbrk

[irfan 0]

Doreen

Since you are female it will not take too long for them to process you. Still i believe you have to take baggage out and through customs will have to check in for local flight but you can do it right when you come out of the customs at terminal 4. Me and my wife (then Fiance) came on K-1 and it took us less then 2 hours as they only asked me majority of questions and not her. Again it will be enough time for you to go through the whole process and make you flight. Good Luck.

[Cassie 8]

Being female or male has no bearing on how long it takes to get through the POE.

You pick up your luggage, go through the POE, then put your luggage back on a conveyor belt to continue on to LAX. There are people there to help you.

I'm with pushbrk, try and give yourself at least three hours at JFK. They are a very busy airport and it can take a while to get through everything and on to the next flight.

[payxibka 10,045]

8:10 in the morning you may be OK... If it was 3:00PM I would say... you might have a problem

The CBP reports average wait times by airport by time of day

http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/

Edited November 4, 2008 by payxibka

[pushbrk 12,883]

8:10 in the morning you may be OK... If it was 3:00PM I would say... you might have a problem

The CBP reports average wait times by airport by time of day

http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/

The most common reason extra time is needed would be because one arrives late. Number two reason is too many flights arrive at the same time. If neither occurs, two hours is enough. The longer the flight, the more likely it will be late.

[Chris & Mara 0]

If it is booked through one company as a linked ticket you may be able to have your flight changed if you miss your connection.

As mentioned above, all it takes is a delayed flight, extra time to disembak and multiple international flights to arrive at JKF at the same time to cause a problem. I remember the last time i flew into DC as my POE for a visit, they have 7 international planes land in a 30min space, so going threw immagration on VWP which took me 20mins the first couple of times took me close to an hour and a half, and they only asked me 3 or 4 questions.

I would suggest you look for better connection, even if you have to wait around in JFK for 4 or 5 hours its not going to be the end of the world, you can find a book, have real food etc, but at least you won't miss your flight to your loved one.

[mkg265 2]

JFK international isn't that bad during the winter months (besides around Christmas). You do have to re-check your baggage and getting off the plane takes time. They have many gates open for non-citizens and they tend to move pretty fast. Mornings are better than evenings. Plus, in America, many of the flights tend to be late so it may not take off in time so you can make your connection.

Good Luck!

[julietom 0]

i arrived on oct 12 via etihad airways into jfk. i believe the same exact flight youll be on. from my experience, i got off the plane at 830 and was done with everything by 930am, then i was able to get my luggage (conveyor belt 1). i was lucky cause my husband picked me up at the airport. im not sure a 2 hour layover will be enough for you though cause you still have to pick up your luggage and re-check in for your flight to jfk.

my tip - before you queue up at immigration, ask the officer which line you should go to. that will save you time. the line was long and after you go pass immigration they will make you wait at another waiting area to get you finger printed. it was a long wait for me cause the officer went on a break and no one was there to cover for him. (put your forms on his table even if he's not there cause he will look at yours first definitely!)