Customs and connecting flight (hypothetical)

[sam_gordon]

So if you are delayed in customs (because of number of people, not because of something nefarious) and miss your connecting flight (which happens to be the last flight of the day), who's responsible for hotel costs?

If you miss a connection for something other than weather, generally the airline would get you a room. But what happens if a slow down in customs is the issue?

Please don't answer "just get a longer layover". The length of the layover is immaterial to the question.

Thank you

 

[DisneySwede]

Are you traveling on a ticket bought from the same airline? Then there usually is a minimum connect time where the airport thinks is reasonable and you are generally protected if something goes wrong. If you buy two separate tickets then you are generally on your own

 

[gmi3804]

The airline is only responsible when it comes to mechanical issues. It's good to get (and use it to pay for the trip, even if it's the fee on a free ticket) a Chase Sapphire Reserve card or similar, which includes reimbursements for travel delays, no questions asked.

 

[sam_gordon]

Are you traveling on a ticket bought from the same airline? Then there usually is a minimum connect time where the airport thinks is reasonable and you are generally protected if something goes wrong. If you buy two separate tickets then you are generally on your own

OK. Protected by whom? The airport? The airline? Customs?

 

[TLSnell1981]

Nowadays the airlines is pretty much NEVER responsible for any delays

Customs generally isn’t an issue. There are usually employees when you enter…let them know if you have a short connection. The will usually help you get through in a reasonable amount of time.

DH had an hour and ten minute layover at CDG and I was really concerned. It wasn’t a probablem. They pushed him right through. One note…pick you seat on the side of the plane that will disembark first if time is an issue.

 

[DisneySwede]

The airline should provide you with accommodations but are you booking domestically or internationally? EU regulations tend to be cover more than US ones

 

[georgina]

Yeah, customs is usually not long, but I did have an issue once with my luggage not showing up. They tell you to make sure you collect all your luggage before heading to customs upon entering the US. There were no people in Miami baggage area that could help, spent a long time looking before it until finally someone said it would be loaded onto my connecting flight anyway so just go through customs Without it.

 

[_19disnA]

A good question and unless someone has actually experienced some sort of customs delay, not sure anyone here can answer that. At worst, you will get stuck paying the tab for a hotel/meals if no other flights that day. When traveling on business, our company would reimburse you if that happened (expense was incurred while traveling on business and not something you could avoid), but travel expense rules probably vary at each company.

I think the airline is only responsible for flight delays (mechanical/weather/etc.)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The only time we have had issues was in 2013 during the FAA furloughs. Most people could not make their connections from Atlanta our flight was only 1 of 2 that did. We ran through the airport and the jetway door had been closed but not the airplane door. We got our tickets scanned and sat down in random seats and immediately took off. Our checked luggage didn't make it obviously and were delivered the next day by Delta. I honestly don't know what would have happened. Ours was a chain reaction. The one flight in and out of St. Lucia was delayed getting in and thus delayed getting out due to the furloughs and customs was a pain to get through with a large enough crowd. However our issue was ultimately due to government issues rather than just a mere issue in customs.

 

[Lewisc]

So if you are delayed in customs (because of number of people, not because of something nefarious) and miss your connecting flight (which happens to be the last flight of the day), who's responsible for hotel costs?

If you miss a connection for something other than weather, generally the airline would get you a room. But what happens if a slow down in customs is the issue?

Please don't answer "just get a longer layover". The length of the layover is immaterial to the question.

Thank you

You're asking about hotel. Is your airline responsible to rebook you. Pax who book their flights separately, sometimes with different airlines may be responsible for flights and hotel.

The length of the layover might be very significant. If the connection time doesn't meet minimum connection rules you might be responsible for airfare and hotel. Could be an issue if pax booked separate flights and didn't check MCT or as a result of a schedule change.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Yeah, customs is usually not long, but I did have an issue once with my luggage not showing up. They tell you to make sure you collect all your luggage before heading to customs upon entering the US. There were no people in Miami baggage area that could help, spent a long time looking before it until finally someone said it would be loaded onto my connecting flight anyway so just go through customs Without it.

Luggage being delayed has happened several tomes {(US to Europe) to us Thankfully AMEX handled our immediate needs for serval days. It was a luggage issue NOT customs. That has NEVER happened to us. It was the airlines at fault each time.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nothing is currently booked. We're looking at a vacation for next year and considering options. One of them would be going to an AI in the DR. So when we return, we'd need to go through customs. We've had a couple times where customs was extremely backed up, we missed our original connecting flight at the airline put us on the next flight (same day). So I'm simply asking if customs is backed up and you miss the connecting (last flight of the night), who's pays for the hotel.

Yes, we will have travel insurance on the trip. But that's a reimbursement, which I'd rather not have to deal with.

 

[Lewisc]

Carefully read your airlines contract of carriage. I suggest budgeting for the hotel. Even if the airline is ultimately responsible you might wind up having to file a claim.

When you land tell an airline employee about your connection and tell customs.

Research your connecting airport.

Unless something has changed it's almost half mile from international arrivals to Southwest departure gates in Baltimore.

Edited to add Don't assume travel insurance coverage. If your first flight is delayed a few hours you may miss your flight but not meet the requirements for missed connection coverage.

In other words assime everyone will give you a reason why you're on your own

 

[TLSnell1981]

Nothing is currently booked. We're looking at a vacation for next year and considering options. One of them would be going to an AI in the DR. So when we return, we'd need to go through customs. We've had a couple times where customs was extremely backed up, we missed our original connecting flight at the airline put us on the next flight (same day). So I'm simply asking if customs is backed up and you miss the connecting (last flight of the night), who's pays for the hotel.

Yes, we will have travel insurance on the trip. But that's a reimbursement, which I'd rather not have to deal with.

Do you have global entry? It's only $100 and is good for 5 years. Some credit card companies waive the fee. It moves you through the line very quickly and also include TSA benefits.

 

[sam_gordon]

Do you have global entry? It's only $100 and is good for 5 years. Some credit card companies waive the fee. It moves you through the line very quickly and also include TSA benefits.

No. My CC doesn't offer it,and don't travel internationally enough to justify it.

 

[Lewisc]

No. My CC doesn't offer it,and don't travel internationally enough to justify it.

You don't have to fly internationally often to justify the few extra dollars GE costs vs TSA Pre. That assumes you fly enough to justify TSA Pre

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You don't have to fly internationally often to justify the few extra dollars GE costs vs TSA Pre. That assumes you fly enough to justify TSA Pre

My husband flies very frequently and I fly frequently enough and we've managed all these years without TSA pre-check. That said my husband did Global Entry earlier this year because his new company would pay for it. Several months later I did Global Entry (well made the appointment) because his new CC paid for it.

TSA Pre-Check is now reduced to $78 (no idea how long that will last) with Global Entry at $100 however it's incredibly difficult to get a Global Entry appointment. I did my application in July IIRC and there was nothing available at my home airport and an appointment (which I did make initially) for an airport 3 hours away for 3 months later. Eventually one opened up randomly for my home airport a month later than my original appointment (so end of October and my home airport is about 40 or so minutes from my house) so I cancelled the original appointment. Mostly these days they are suggesting doing an on arrival option for Global Entry. I looked at Vegas airport too because I was going to be there before my appointment back home and they were about 5 months out into the future.

Our international travel was far enough in the future that I could deal with the long off appointments but it is something to consider right now. Even with the reduction in TSA pricing I would still probably choose Global Entry but with appointments so rare that makes it much harder to do that.

 

[EACarlson]

Depends on where you are coming from and if your onward connection is part of the same ticket. If you're flying in from the EU and it is a connecting ticket, then the airline will pick it up, but you may have to fight them on it. If you aren't coming in from the EU or the connection is not on one ticket you're going to be responsible for it 99% of the time. An airline may as a gesture of goodwill issue a hotel voucher, but they are not under any requirement to do so. They have to rebook you to your original destination or give you a refund.

Nothing is currently booked. We're looking at a vacation for next year and considering options. One of them would be going to an AI in the DR. So when we return, we'd need to go through customs. We've had a couple times where customs was extremely backed up, we missed our original connecting flight at the airline put us on the next flight (same day). So I'm simply asking if customs is backed up and you miss the connecting (last flight of the night), who's pays for the hotel.

Yes, we will have travel insurance on the trip. But that's a reimbursement, which I'd rather not have to deal with.

You would have to pay for it and get reimbursed by your travel insurance. The airline isn't responsible for the incompetence of the CBP. If you are a high value customer the airline may make an exception, but doubtful unless you have top tier status from one of the legacy carriers.

 

[TLSnell1981]

You don't have to fly internationally often to justify the few extra dollars GE costs vs TSA Pre. That assumes you fly enough to justify TSA Pre

$100 for 5 years of Global Entry AND TSA Pre vs $78 for TSA Pre alone.

 

[EACarlson]

$100 for 5 years of Global Entry AND TSA Pre vs $78 for TSA Pre alone.

There are also secondary considerations that may come into play. Timing, it can take an awfully long time to get a GE interview now, the next appointment time I can find within a 5 hour drive of me is March 9. Distance to an enrollment site, my nearest enrollment site and only place I can interview in my state is still 75 miles away. Eligibility, there are different eligibility criteria for GE compared to Pre. Processing time, GE can take up to 4 months to be approved after interview.

By comparison I can get an appointment today at 4 locations within 75 miles for Pre. And have a TTN by the end of the week.

I completely agree that GE is the superior program but there are legitimate reasons for people to apply for Pre rather than GE. I myself have Pre, but will be applying to GE when I can find an appointment somewhere I'm going to be. I also have two credit cards that cover the cost.