POE Halifax Airport

[CourtneyRox 25]

Ok so we are looking to book a flight from Halifax to Chicago. My question is how much time should I give myself between flight? For example, there is a flight leaving Halifax at 4:30pm and then there is 45mins between our connecting flight at JFK NY to Chicago... is My POE Halifax and that's where they will be taking all my info or is it once I land in NY? If so 45mins between flights doesn't give me very much time... but if everything is done in Halifax it's not a problem for me to get there early... Any idea guys??

[Al and Patricia 23]

POE is for the arriving in the USA not Canada and I would like to suggest giving yourself more time then 45 minutes. You do not know if your flight will depart from Halifax on time, you will need to go thru security again in NYC. I would suggest at least an hour or more for connecting flights.

[arynmichael 3]

If you are entering the U.S. at JFK (that is your POE) then you should at least provide 3 hours between your flight from JFK to Chicago and even that amount of time might not be enough. Once you arrive you must go through immigration and customs and there is no telling how long those will take.

At times, as a U.S. citizen, I have gotten through barely under and hour and at other times it has taken closer to two hours. Keep in mind that they may want to take extra time because you are entering on a K1 visa and they may want to ask you extra questions and pull you aside for a while. Make sure you have plenty of times between flights so you don't miss your next one.

[pocheros 101]

POE is for the arriving in the USA not Canada and I would like to suggest giving yourself more time then 45 minutes. You do not know if your flight will depart from Halifax on time, you will need to go thru security again in NYC. I would suggest at least an hour or more for connecting flights.

Someone back me up on this, but I'm pretty sure this is incorrect as Canada is one country where this is an exception. You POE very first thing in Hamilton, not on your connecting flight, so all you should be concerned about is arriving at your FIRST airport early. Other countries are different.

Many people, myself included, POE "inside" Canada, for example I POE'd at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. You do not POE once you're physically at an airport inside the USA, you only need enough time to catch your second flight when you make your connection.

Edit: Unless the Hamilton airport isn't set up for this, which is possible. I know at least the Toronto one is though. I didn't have to do anything after I went through immigration in Toronto, just boarded my flight and went through the motions as usual.

Edited September 22, 2011 by pocheros

[JeannieL 44]

Courtney....My POE was in Halifax.....Since you are flying directly into the US you will go through customs and do your POE in Halifax. When you arrive at JFK you will be a domestic and not have to gather your luggage. It is the way to go! My POE took about 20 minutes and most of that was small talk with the officer doing the paperwork. She was super nice. If you want to know more about POEing in Halifax let me know :-)

[pocheros 101]

Alright, upon checking POE reviews Hamilton doesn't show up, just Toronto... So I stand corrected, sorry guys! You will want to leave lots of time in between your flights for sure. You can also POE at the Ottawa airport, it seems.

Edit: I stand corrected again as the poster above me provided clarification and ninja'd me

Edited September 22, 2011 by pocheros

[JeannieL 44]

POE is for the arriving in the USA not Canada and I would like to suggest giving yourself more time then 45 minutes. You do not know if your flight will depart from Halifax on time, you will need to go thru security again in NYC. I would suggest at least an hour or more for connecting flights.

She will NOT have to go through security in NY if she leaves from Halifax. Halifax airport (Stanfield International Airport) has US customs pre clearance so that when you fly directly into the US you have already gone through customs.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Halifax now has USA Immigration, so you will do your POE'ing there! A few yrs ago they did not have USA Immigration.

[JeannieL 44]

Courtney....My POE was in Halifax.....Since you are flying directly into the US you will go through customs and do your POE in Halifax. When you arrive at JFK you will be a domestic and not have to gather your luggage. It is the way to go! My POE took about 20 minutes and most of that was small talk with the officer doing the paperwork. She was super nice. If you want to know more about POEing in Halifax let me know :-)

The option was not there for me to edit so I am replying....When you land in Chicago you won't have to gather your luggage as it will be a domestic flight. You will just pick your luggage up in NY......Are you getting a cheaper flight going all the way to Chicago then back to NY? NY is only just over an hour flight from Halifax. The international gates open 3 hours before boarding. You should try to be there when the gates open or just before, it is a small area and it does get congested at busy times. I was the first in line at the check in counter, so I was the first through security and first into customs.

[Inky 1,110]

Alright, upon checking POE reviews Hamilton doesn't show up, just Toronto... So I stand corrected, sorry guys! You will want to leave lots of time in between your flights for sure. You can also POE at the Ottawa airport, it seems.

Edit: I stand corrected again as the poster above me provided clarification and ninja'd me

Where do you get Hamilton from! its Halifax! lol

[CourtneyRox 25]

Great... Thanks Jeannie!!! ... We are flying from Halifax to Chicago but there is a connecting flight in NY... Chicago is my destination City we will be living in Great Lakes Illinois!

[pocheros 101]

Where do you get Hamilton from! its Halifax! lol

I haven't gotten very much sleep since moving here I kept thinking about the maritimes even though Hamilton is Ontario, just not "with it" today I guess. XD That explains why I couldn't find it on the POE list!

Edited September 22, 2011 by pocheros

[Al and Patricia 23]

My apologies for my post concerning the POE part. I was in Halifax a few years ago and immigration was not there then. But, you still need to allow more time for connection then 45 minutes. That is cutting it close. Does the airline you are connecting with have a later flight that day?

[JeannieL 44]

My apologies for my post concerning the POE part. I was in Halifax a few years ago and immigration was not there then. But, you still need to allow more time for connection then 45 minutes. That is cutting it close. Does the airline you are connecting with have a later flight that day?

It's only been since I think 2004 since Halifax did all the renovations and US customs came in. I do agree that 45 minutes isn't much time between flights even if you don't have to pick up luggage. But then again JFK is probably one of the easiest airports to get around in. Most airlines have their own sections so when you land at a gate your next gate is not far. I usually fly Delta into JFK then on to RIC. They don't book much time between flights, most times I didn't have time to even grab a sandwich.

[CourtneyRox 25]

I must say you are all so very AWESOME and VERY HELPFUL!!! I'm so thankful to have found this site and all of you!