Flight Connection Time for International Travel

[NotTooGoofy]

Looking for some guidance. We are taking the Alaskan cruise departing Vancouver. We will likely fly using American Airlines from Columbus Ohio connecting either through Chicago or Dallas-Ft Worth. Is there additional connection time that we should allow in ORD or DFW because this in an international flight? Do we have to get our bags and go through customs at the connection terminal or do we just go to the gate like any other domestic flight? Any other concerns we should be aware of? Thanks!

 

[mousefan73]

I work for an airline. Minimum connecting times vary depending on which airport you are traveling to or from. And usually a connecting flight is automatically calculated in that itinerary. Regardless of connecting airport or Transferring to a code share airline. Unless you do something crazy and book 2 separate bookings on two separate airlines ; That are not related in any type of an agreement.Which I would not recommend because then that means you to collect your bags re-check, pay more most times. blah blah blah. And if something were to happen with one flight the other airline would not help you. I can say that for Chicago if you are arriving internationally that requires going from Terminal 5 Collecting your bags and going through customs. And then taking a train to a different terminal. Regardless of a connection entering the United States you’re always Have to clear customs and immigration first which means collecting your luggage and dropping them off again pass customs. You are not really checking in per se but just dropping your bags off. You should already have your second boarding card at this point unless of course you do I mention before and book 2 separate flights on two different airlines (non- agreement) . Going to Vancouver you do not have this house with customs basically your bags will be through checked and you will have a second boarding card and just simply transfer. Coming back is more complicated and you go through what I mentioned above

 

[Marc D]

We often fly from and to Canada to the U.S.

Canada is not considered an international flight when flying from the U.S. You will not go through U.S. customs and immigration when flying out of the U.S., only regular security, and your luggage will follow all the way to Vancouver. You’ll go through Canadian immigration when landing in YVR.

When you’ll fly back from Vancouver, you will go through U.S. customs and immigration at Vancouver airport, so your flight will land in a domestic zone, not an international one. Your luggage will be checked to your final destination directly in Vancouver.