Customs on homebound journey

[jools]

We will be flying home from Orlando via Philadelphia with US Airways (yes I know I have read all the bad reports about this airline, but hey they were cheap!). Anyway does anyone know where you get put through customs, will it be at Orlando MCO or Philadelphia Int?

I’m thinking it will be at Philadelphia because Orlando to Philadelphia is an internal flight.

Jools

 

[juliebro]

Jools,

We have had no problem at all with US Airways and have flown with them to MCO via Philly 4 times - I would happily fly with them anytime. The Airbus aircraft have very good in-flight entertainment systems - even in coach class.

On the outward journey you will pass through US customs, US immigration and Security at Philly - be aware this can take a long long time - it took us 2 hours (3 weeks ago) and we had to run to make the Orlando flight. On the way back you will check your bags in at MCO straight through to the UK i.e. you don't see them at all at Philly. You then pass through UK customs on arrival home in the UK.

Any other questions re US Airways or this route - let me know.

Julie

 

[jools]

Thanks Julie, hope you had a great holiday.

That’s great to hear your experience of US Airways was good. We have not flown with them before and when I did some research all I found was negative comments, shoddy planes, faulty in-flight equipment, poor meals and lost baggage. I suppose it's the old story of people only provide feedback when they have had a bad experience.

Thanks for the warning about the time it takes at Philadelphia airport, I had better make sure we all have our trainers on, sounds like we will be really pushing it since we only have 1.40 mins between flights.


Jools

 

[juliebro]

Jools

We had a great holiday thanks.

Are you flying from Manchester? We have found the US Airways staff (at the ticket desk and the check-in desks) there to be really helpful and friendly. We find that the US staff at Philly can be slightly less helpful - I think their patience can get sorely tried sometimes, though. I find if you are friendly to them - they tend to be friendly back.

When we were flying back on Friday (1st April), we did hear a number of Brits complaining at Philly that they had been given seats which were not together. We were fine - the 3 of us were all sitting next to each other - but we had checked in quite early at MCO. Some people were shouting and being quite rude to the staff at the departure gate - but it's not their fault.

Try not to panic at Philly on your outbound trip - I am sure that the staff at the gate for the connecting flight will know that they have to wait for you - just follow the signs through to the right terminal. Trainers are a good idea - it's a huge airport and it can be a very long walk from the arrival gate to the departure gate - and queues do build up at immigration and security.

However once you arrive at MCO you just grab your bags off the carousel and off you go!

When do you fly?

Julie

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

You always go through customs at your point of departure from the USA, same as when you land for the first time on a trip on USA soil is where you go through customs.

 

[patdavies]

You always go through customs at your point of departure from the USA, same as when you land for the first time on a trip on USA soil is where you go through customs.

Why are US Customs interested in an outbound trip? Same as UK - you don't go through Customs on the way out.

The TSA will search/scan passengers and baggage at both MCO and PHL. FWIW, you will only be able to purchase duty free at PHL as the flight from MCO is not an international flight.

 

[jools]

Thanks Obi Wan Kenobi

Thanks Julie

Yes we are flying from Manchester, 12.35 on 23rd May.

I appreciate all the info about the airport at Philly, the directions may help us save a few seconds. We have been told that if we miss the connection we will go on the next flight and when we last looked it appeared they had flights going to MCO about every hour or so. Although saying that I don’t want to delay my enjoyment of the magic by a second more than I have to.

Believe you me I wouldn’t be complaining if I couldn’t sit next to the rest of my lot I’d enjoy the peace and quiet (LOL).

Jools

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Why are US Customs interested in an outbound trip? Same as UK - you don't go through Customs on the way out.

The TSA will search/scan passengers and baggage at both MCO and PHL. FWIW, you will only be able to purchase duty free at PHL as the flight from MCO is not an international flight.

You do, as they have to make sure you are leaving the country. Customs run passport control. They can pull you over at any time if they think you are a risk, or have entered the country illegally or outstayed your visa waiver entitlement.
Quite a few people have been pulled over and arrested for failing to hand in their visa waiver green card from their passports on a trip before.
Also, they are going to start photographing and taking your fingerprints on the way out of the USA as well as on the way in.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thanks Obi Wan Kenobi

Thanks Julie

Yes we are flying from Manchester, 12.35 on 23rd May.

I appreciate all the info about the airport at Philly, the directions may help us save a few seconds. We have been told that if we miss the connection we will go on the next flight and when we last looked it appeared they had flights going to MCO about every hour or so. Although saying that I don’t want to delay my enjoyment of the magic by a second more than I have to.

Believe you me I wouldn’t be complaining if I couldn’t sit next to the rest of my lot I’d enjoy the peace and quiet (LOL).

Jools

The most frustrating journey we had was when we arroived at Chicago on the way to Orlando and they put us on an earlier flight (about two hours earlier) but failed to put the luggage on that plane, so we had to wait for our original flight to come in to get it!

 

[patdavies]

You do, as they have to make sure you are leaving the country. Customs run passport control. They can pull you over at any time if they think you are a risk, or have entered the country illegally or outstayed your visa waiver entitlement.
Quite a few people have been pulled over and arrested for failing to hand in their visa waiver green card from their passports on a trip before.
Also, they are going to start photographing and taking your fingerprints on the way out of the USA as well as on the way in.

I think that you will find that that is the US Immigration Service, not US Customs.

Normally the tourist card is removed by the airline at check-in or, more usually, boarding. the outbound photograph/fingerprint is designed to obviate the need for these to be removed.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I think that you will find that that is the US Immigration Service, not US Customs.

Normally the tourist card is removed by the airline at check-in or, more usually, boarding. the outbound photograph/fingerprint is designed to obviate the need for these to be removed.

Well, to be picky they are all part now of the department of Homeland security.

from the DHS web site:-

What do I need to do before I exit the U.S.?

US VISIT Exit procedures are being tested at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Miami Seaport cruise line terminals, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Currently, if you leave from these ports, you are required to confirm your departure using US VISIT exit procedures. Generally, your check out will include the scanning of your visa or passport and repeating the simple inkless fingerscanning process. An Exit Attendant will be available if you need assistance. The exit confirmation will be added to your travel records to demonstrate compliance with the terms of your admission. Ultimately, most foreign visitors will be required to check out before leaving the United States.

 

[I Love Tigger]

We prefer USAirways, especially for their Inflight entertainment system, and luckily didn't have any problems when we flew with them in 2003.

We flew Delta this March, and would NEVER fly with them again!! All six of our bags were delayed in Atlanta going out, and we were without them for 23 hours!!! (ruining our first day) Coming home they delayed one bag, plus the plane was old and the entertainment was terrible! We only got seats together on one, out of four flights despite them being prebooked!!
Atlanta airport was a nightmare, due to too many passengers to cope with in too little time!

Need another holiday to get over the last one

Bev

 

[jools]

Obi Wan Kenobi

Thank you, you have confirmed what I was trying to establish which was when would we go through passport control. Since we are on an internal flight from MCO to Philly I assume that passport control would be conducted at Philly.

Another question, would you know if we still have to be at MCO for the same time as if we were flying home (international flight) from there or can we turn up later for an internal flight?

Bev

Great to hear another good report about US Airways. However just to be on the safe side I think I will pack a change of clothes and toothbrush for everyone in the hand luggage. One of the main problems I had heard was that lost luggage was quite common.

Jools

 

[juliebro]

Jools,

I'm touching wood here! - but US Airways have never lost any of our bags on any of our 4 trips to & from the US (all via Philly) with them. On one occasion, our bags actually arrived at MCO before we did! Long story - but they were on an earlier fight than we were from Philly to MCO.

However, on the one trip that I have made to the US with BA, they lost my suitcase on the way home.

Julie

 

[I Love Tigger]

We will pack a spare change of clothes who ever we fly with from now on

 

[ejones999]

I think that is very good advice. Keep an extra day's clothing in your hand luggage. Underwear and a t shirt and a pair of shorts should not take too much room or weigh that much.
Eric

 

[Cochise]

We are on the equivilant flight in October with the old 1Hr 40M turnaround. Is it good to research the likely arrival and departure gates ?