International flights & customs (Updated)

[Minnie]

Hoping for experienced international travelers will be able to help

Due to a meeting my return flights will be from one country in Europe to another and then onto the US. Will I need to go through customs / security between the 1st and 2nd flight?

I will then be getting on a 3rd flight in the US to a local city of which I will have to go through customs / security as the terminals are totally separate.

Any help would be appreciated! This will be my first trip that involves 3 countries

 

[uva185]

Hoping for experienced international travelers will be able to help

Due to a meeting my return flights will be from one country in Europe to another and then onto the US. Will I need to go through customs / security between the 1st and 2nd flight?

I will then be getting on a 3rd flight in the US to a local city of which I will have to go through customs / security as the terminals are totally separate.

Any help would be appreciated! This will be my first trip that involves 3 countries

Which countries? It depends whether or not the two European countries are part of the Schengen agreement.

In the US you will clear Customs, Immigration, and re-clear security regardless of the connecting airline. You must claim you bags before going through Customs and re-check them after you have cleared Customs.

 

[bavaria]

What uva185 said.

We cannot answer this question without the relevant facts. The answer differs based on the countries involved.

 

[DebbieB]

I flew Dulles-Frankfurt-India last year. I did not have to go through customs in Frankfurt either way. There was a separate exit in the airport for those actually entering Germany.

 

[bavaria]

Yes, but as uva185 pointed out, it depends if the countries are Schengen vs non-Schengen.


It is impossible to answer without that information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement

 

[pr surfer]

It depends on the countries, like others have said, if they're part of the Schengen agreement.

However, even if not, Europe tends to have more common sense about this than the US, and there are many airports in Europe with international transit areas... unlike the US.

 

[Minnie]

Denmark --> Sweden

 

[Minnie]

If I read this correctly it looks like I can go directly to my gate in the Sweden airport when I get off my Denmark flight.

Can anyone confirm this

Thanks!

 

[uva185]

If I read this correctly it looks like I can go directly to my gate in the Sweden airport when I get off my Denmark flight.

Can anyone confirm this

Thanks!

Bavaria will have to confirm this but I believe you will have to go through exit-immigration in Sweden before going to your US bound flight because flying Denmark to Sweden is an intra-Schengen flight.

 

[Minnie]

Bavaria will have to confirm this but I believe you will have to go through exit-immigration in Sweden before going to your US bound flight because flying Denmark to Sweden is an intra-Schengen flight.

Hmmm well now I'm a bit worried with the time... I wouldn't have thought the company travel agent would have booked a flight that I couldn't make but I sure don't want to miss my US bound flight

I only have 1.5hr layover does this seem like enough time

It's going to be one long day

 

[pr surfer]

Sweden and Denmark are both Schengen and Nordic Union countries, so travel from one to the other will be like a domestic flight in the US.

 

[bavaria]

pr surfer put it simply and best.

I cannot comment on how long it takes for Americans to clear Immigration in Europe other than to say that often I walk past long lines and think 'glad that is not me' (I mean that in the nicest way possible)

And on flights TO America FROM much of Europe there are the security measures in place which DHS/TSA has dictated. I am not very familiar with either of those airports but often that means a WTMD at the gate, extra carry on bag screening at the gate, personal interviews of every passenger, etc.

 

[bavaria]

deleted - wrong thread!

 

[pr surfer]

And on flights TO America FROM much of Europe there are the security measures in place which DHS/TSA has dictated. I am not very familiar with either of those airports but often that means a WTMD at the gate, extra carry on bag screening at the gate, personal interviews of every passenger, etc.

ie, lots of show but no real safety

I will admit that I appreciate the pretty girl who patted my down at the gate in PTY. I felt like I should have bought her dinner afterwards.

 

[bavaria]

I love this post - it reminds me why I suggest that people connect via MUC or ZRH whenever possible and avoid FRA

Great analysis of when/why/how one has to clear security again!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12189820-post15.html

 

[Minnie]

Thanks everyone

Especially to Bavaria who was kind enough to answer a PM

One less thing to worry about on this trip

 

[bavaria]

Well, if ironz is correct, apparently it is the influence of the 'good' chocolate this week, and not my sparkling personality.

Make sure to have a Daim bar and think of me when you are in Sweden!

 

[Minnie]

I am home

Thanks to everyone who answered my various questions about this trip

I was suprised that while I didn't have to go back through security in Stockholm I did have to go through passport control to have it stamped

Also a special thanks to Bavaria for the heads up on the "pat down" Hands instead of wands at the gate... Did not occur at the Copenhagen airport just the Stockholm flight

I ended up with plenty of time as 2 of my 3 flights on the way home were delayed 21 hours later I was home

 

[uva185]

I was suprised that while I didn't have to go back through security in Stockholm I did have to go through passport control to have it stamped

This is because you did not leave the EU / Schengen zone until you went to the terminal for your US bound flight. You passed through exit-immigration and they stamped your passport to indicate that you left the EU.