How much time needed between flights at POE?

[mtempelaar 190]

Another option here, if you are nervous (which I was), is to be creative with travel plans to make a US airport in reasonable driving distance the POE.

 

For example, there are direct flights to San Francisco from Europe: London, Munich, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam.       

There are also direct flights from Canada to Sacramento, but you'd have to find a decent flight (or combo of flights) to get to Vancouver.   

 

Some flights from Europe you won't find easily on Expedia or another US based search engine.  I use a European based travel search engine (cheaptickets.nl ) as I get to see all those little airlines in Europe that Expedia won't include. 

 

Edited October 26, 2018 by mtempelaar

[AL-MJD 144]

My point-of-entry was LAX and had a 3 hour layover and it was too much time. But trust me, 3 hours for LAX because I landed on a morning flight and so it wasn't as busy as usual. I've landed in Chicago before as a Visa Waiver, whatever time you think you need, add 1.5 hours, even for early flights. Dallas was an awesome experience, you would probably need 2 hours. I like Dallas very much, Dallas is awesome.

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

13 hours ago, carmel34 said:

Remember that at US POE passengers have to claim and then re-check their bags after clearing customs.  They will be pre-tagged to the final destination but passengers have to physically exit with them and give their checked bags to the luggage people after exit.

Adil didn't

landed in Chicago and on he went thru customs

the luggage went on to chattanooga 

and he was changing from Qatar airlines to United

and same this June

luggage on Air Canada and the was POE for US 

he then went onto to Newark and there a new airline (United)

same when i traveled from Morocco in April and back / lugguage went all the way

only time i had to pick up mine and recheck it was in  Miami when flying up from Peru

[Ksenia_O 696]

1 hour ago, Little_Vixen said:

I had my POE at Chicago in August. Very friendly easy going CO. My entry interview took a whopping 5 minutes, lol. But I'm European and there's no red flags as far as im aware. Not sure where your partner is coming from (on mobile today so cant see your info) but some countries get scrutinized more thoroughly.

Anyway. After that lengthy ordeal all the passengers on my flight had to wait an hour and a half to get our luggage due to some kind of problem with the luggage system. So, plan ahead. I'd say at least 3 hours.

Chicago has become one of my favorite.  Always try to fly through the airport if I can pick. Or Toronto - was very pleased  that i didn't have to worry about my luggage pick-up there.

 

I've also noticed, that on the weekends  prices are higher, and they are the lowest on Wednesdays-Thursdays, sometimes Fridays. Was looking for the tickets to Ukraine, for couple weeks - last weekend price was around $860.0 (Chicago-Kiev, Kiev-Chicago), and it was purchased on Wednesday for $691.0. At least, this is how things are with Lufthansa group (I'm "addicted" to them a little bit, and always try to hunt their tickets)

[bakphx1 789]

I met my husband in Houston and we spent the night and flew out the next morning.  If it’s low season and flights/ hotel are not expensive, I would say it was so nice to just meet at the airport,  drop off bags and go have dinner and relax.  Especially if your spouse is not happy to navigate a layover alone.

[Bandt 87]

16 hours ago, PirateLiker said:

I am looking at flights for my fiance. I found one that has only 1.5 hours between her flight that first lands in America and the connection to my city. Am I correct in assuming this is not enough time? If not, how much time should I plan for her from when her plane lands at POE and when she connects to the next leg of the journey?

 

My wife did it in that amount of time for her POE (houston connecting to dallas) on one of the last intl flights of the day, but I wouldn't recommend it if avoidable. I would say 2.5 hours if possible.

Edited October 26, 2018 by Bandt

[usmsbow 801]

3+ hours seems sufficient. Better to zoom through and have a couple extra hours at an airport then have a short layover that you miss, leaving you stuck at that airport for several more hours. 

[TearsOfBabylon 1,680]

I had POE in Boston last year, and had a 3,5 hour layover like I always tried to have, even as ESTA flyer.
If you're unlucky and they have a bunch of jumbo jets landing at your time....
Although the lines were short when I came through, waiting to be brought to secondary and then waiting there was long. They even came in to ask if that was my suitcase, sitting there ungrabbed forever.

Rather hang out at the AirPort and drink coffee to beat 2 hours or so than having to worry about missing the connection.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

Personally I would say 3 hr minimum 

[jakejon 1,197]

I recently had mine on 10/10 at Oakland, got first in line and done it all there and then. No secondary. I do think it depends where you plan your POE. I gave myself 5 hours lay over but immigration took 10 minutes from saying hello to welcome to America. Good luck and enjoy! 

[David & Diana R 1,005]

20 hours ago, PirateLiker said:

I am looking at flights for my fiance. I found one that has only 1.5 hours between her flight that first lands in America and the connection to my city. Am I correct in assuming this is not enough time? If not, how much time should I plan for her from when her plane lands at POE and when she connects to the next leg of the journey?

 

You are looking for trouble.  The airlines suggest you get to the airport at least 2 hours prior to your flight.  There might be long lines in immigration and it could take hours to get through.  Then again there might be no line and it only take 20 of 30 minutes.  1 1/2  hours between flights is crazy.

[mrmvkjts 459]

I just booked a flight too and I wouldn‘t take anything under 3 hours!

 

Now I‘m flying into Atlanta and I have about 4 hours until the next flight! 

 

I think that should be enough time 

Edited October 26, 2018 by mrmvkjts

[Pennycat 880]

If at all possible, I'd try to make your home airport her POE (even if that means making a connecting flight abroad, or paying more). 

 

I'll just put in a plug for maybe thinking about a creative, if more expensive, alternative. Perhaps just book her one way from Ukraine to wherever you like (a nicer city, cheaper flight, whatever) and meet her there.  Then separately, the next day (or after a long weekend, whatever you prefer), have her booked on the same flight as your return flight. 

 

I do NOT think that this is necessary and that 4+ hours should be more than sufficient at any of the airports you've listed. However, it might be nice to not stress, and for you to see her right when she lands, rather than her spending her first (? has she visited previously?) few hours in the US alone in an airport terminal stressed out about a connecting flight. This may not be possible with work schedule, finances etc, but could be a fun solution!

[PirateLiker 11]

Thank you so much for the helpful help. I purchased a ticket yesterday with a 4 hour layover at the POE. But then found out it was impossible to get her cat on the 2nd flight. So I paid a $250 cancellation fee and now I'm back to square zero with no ticket. I posted a question about the cat ticket. Please reply there if you have any advice. I'm looking for someone who has done it with a pet, not just here say hopefully.

[<3T&M<3 217]

On 10/26/2018 at 3:02 AM, carmel34 said:

Remember that at US POE passengers have to claim and then re-check their bags after clearing customs.  They will be pre-tagged to the final destination but passengers have to physically exit with them and give their checked bags to the luggage people after exit.

This isn't too clear to me... are you saying that if someone books a flight from Istanbul to Seattle Wa. And they stop in Denver on the way.... but their  bag was checked in Istanbul to go all the way to Seattle, you are saying that somehow they have to get their bag in Denver from the airport people who take the bags from plane to plane? They have to somehow get that bag and give it to the customs officer to have it checked and then get it somehow back to the people who work at the airport moving the baggage plane to plane?  😳😳😳

Edited November 1, 2018 by <3T&M<3