connecting at detroit and clearing immigration

[sam_rogers]

we're flying with delta in september and connecting at detroit DTW an we've never flown indirect before so i'm after some advice re clearing immigration and collecting bags.
Do we clear immigration at DTW then just go through domestic arrivals once we get to MCO?
Do we have to collect our checked bags and recheck them in again or is there just somewhere we drop them off?
Any advice would be really appreciated

 

[chmurf]

Do we clear immigration at DTW then just go through domestic arrivals once we get to MCO?

yes, you clear immigration and customs at your point of entry ( = your first stop on US soil)

the only exception is when you pre-clear US immigration at select airports (like dublin for example, and if your eligible)

when you arrive in orlando, you're a domestic passenger. Take the tram to the main terminal, go down to baggage claim, and then either pick up your car or go to the DME desk

Do we have to collect our checked bags and recheck them in again or is there just somewhere we drop them off?

make sure your luggage are checked through to Orlando. The tag on the luggage should read both DTW and MCO (ask to see the tag when you check your bags in the UK
once in the US you need to collect your bags after clearing immigration
then you'll go through customs
then you'll need to follow the "to connecting flight" signs, and you'll find a drop off area where airport staff will take your luggage and put them on a conveyor belt
you'll then need to go through security and proceed to your next gate.

 

[disneyholic family]

I always ask the customs officer where the drop off desk is for dropping off luggage for our connecting flight

And yes do ask to see your luggage tag at the beginning to see that your luggage is actually tagged through to Orlando

Detroit's a relatively easy airport to connect in

 

[sam_rogers]

i've just had an email from delta saying our flight times have changed on the way home and we now only have an hour and a half to make our connection at JFK. do you think this will be enough time i'm a bit worried its going to be cut a bit fine coz it took me about 45 minutes to clear immigration when i was at JFK in february, although i'm guessing i'll only have to go through domestic arrivals this time rather than international.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've just had an email from delta saying our flight times have changed on the way home and we now only have an hour and a half to make our connection at JFK. do you think this will be enough time i'm a bit worried its going to be cut a bit fine coz it took me about 45 minutes to clear immigration when i was at JFK in february, although i'm guessing i'll only have to go through domestic arrivals this time rather than international.

i assume you're connecting from delta to delta at JFK...
that should be plenty of time...
i can't remember if delta international flies out of terminal 3 or 4..
domestic flies into terminal 3 (sometimes terminal 2, but usually terminal 3)...
i can't remember where their international flights fly in and out of...
if it's terminal 3, you'll have no problem at all...
if it's terminal 4, it takes a bit longer, but still you don't have to pick up luggage or anything, so it's still much faster than arriving from overseas...

bottom line, 90 minutes should be plenty of time on your return.....no worries

 

[sam_rogers]

i assume you're connecting from delta to delta at JFK...
that should be plenty of time...
i can't remember if delta international flies out of terminal 3 or 4..
domestic flies into terminal 3 (sometimes terminal 2, but usually terminal 3)...
i can't remember where their international flights fly in and out of...
if it's terminal 3, you'll have no problem at all...
if it's terminal 4, it takes a bit longer, but still you don't have to pick up luggage or anything, so it's still much faster than arriving from overseas...

bottom line, 90 minutes should be plenty of time on your return.....no worries

thats brilliant, if i don't have to pick up my luggage and drop it off like when we change at detroit that will be a big help! we are going delta to delta. I think i may have flown out of terminal 4 when i left JFK in february but i'm not 100% sure, i think the normal terminal was closed coz they're refurbing. Hopefully we'll be able to jump off the plane and run to the next one

 

[disneyholic family]

thats brilliant, if i don't have to pick up my luggage and drop it off like when we change at detroit that will be a big help! we are going delta to delta. I think i may have flown out of terminal 4 when i left JFK in february but i'm not 100% sure, i think the normal terminal was closed coz they're refurbing. Hopefully we'll be able to jump off the plane and run to the next one

when you check your luggage in in Orlando, be sure to tell them to check your luggage all the way through to your final destination....and again, make them show you the luggage tags so that you see with your own eyes that the luggage is being tagged to the final destination (i say this, because i've seen them make mistakes)..

 

[sam_rogers]

when you check your luggage in in Orlando, be sure to tell them to check your luggage all the way through to your final destination....and again, make them show you the luggage tags so that you see with your own eyes that the luggage is being tagged to the final destination (i say this, because i've seen them make mistakes)..

thanks for your help!!!! i'm starting to feel a bit more confident with this whole indirect flying malarkey

 

[whitemischief]

An hour and a half should be fine, just don't dawdle and give yourself plenty of room for mistakes!