Minimum safe layover times
Replies: 25 - Last Post: Oct 4, 2012 1:42 PM Last Post By: bzookaj
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Minimum safe layover times
I live in Australia, planning to visit the Caribbean (Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten). However, this involves 2 stopovers (that is, change of planes) in the US. I'm trying to work out how much time to leave for each stopover, so I don't miss connecting flights.I'm especially concerned about how long it takes to get through US customs, and delays/cancellations on US domestic flights.
Could you tell me:
1) How much time to schedule to get through customs in the US after arriving from Australia or Aruba, and to then get on a connecting domestic US flight.
2) How much time to schedule to get from a US domestic flight, through US customs onto an international flight.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Matt
2
First: there is no exit immigrations or customs in the US. You simply go through security (if necessary), get to your gate, then board the plane.Second: These questions depend on which airports you fly through. Some airports are much larger than others, and some airports run more smoothly (these are not mutually exclusive). It could also depend on who you fly with. You may need to switch terminals, etc. And it also depends on the general traffic at the time you arrive.
As a general rule, do not schedule less than two hours for an incoming international flight, or one hour for a connecting flight. But as I said, even these could be problematic depending on the above.
3
Qantas flies non-stop to Dallas, and there is a flight to Aruba from DFW to AUA, with a stopover in Fort Lauderdale Florida, if that helps. However if (as is probable) you're flying into Los Angeles (LAX), we have always allowed two hours to catch a domestic flight from there to another US airport. One time our QF flight from Sydney was late arriving and we missed our gate, but American Airlines put us on the next flight about an hour later.If you fly with alliance partners (eg, Qantas then AA), LAX ground staff will probably prioritise you to catch the connection.
However if you do have to make two plane changes to get to the Caribbean, then also make sure there is at least a 60-90 min stopover at the second airport as well.
6
LAX - allow at least 2.5 hours but that will stress you out try for 3 so you can relax a little. it is always hit and miss how many people are processing. If you are bringing in food and have to go through quarantine allow even more time and god help you if there is a flight or flights from south america and you are in the quarantine line.ADVERTISEMENT
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