JFK Airport

[disneyvacationtime]

I have a non-Disney question. My son will be flying from Japan to JFK in June, landing at approximately 4:00 p.m. How much time is needed to deplane, get his checked luggage, go to a different terminal and check in for a domestic flight home? I have absolutely no idea how long this would take as I have never been to JFK or flown internationally. I would welcome any help. Thank you.

 

[DisneyBelle99]

JFK is a big place, and I would count on the plane being crowded, so it takes a little extra time to get your luggage. A lot of the international carriers have associated domestic airline partners, so if possible see if you can get advice from them, and use the airlines they are associated with. They might also be able to suggest how he could get to the other terminal. It is spread out, and you can't really walk from one building to another. My best guess, add an hour onto how ever long it takes whenever you fly, at a minimum. Plus, leg stretching, bathroom break, etc. is going to add to it. So, two hours sounds good to me.

Adding: If you can't get the international airline to assist, then add time enough to get there early enough to check in " so add even more time! Yikes!

 

[Aristocath]

He has to go through customs, too. It's hard to say but after our last experience at JFK I wouldn't book a flight home until at least 7pm.

 

[Tozzie]

I have a non-Disney question. My son will be flying from Japan to JFK in June, landing at approximately 4:00 p.m. How much time is needed to deplane, get his checked luggage, go to a different terminal and check in for a domestic flight home? I have absolutely no idea how long this would take as I have never been to JFK or flown internationally. I would welcome any help. Thank you.

I would allow 2 hours or more, considering he will also have to clear customs. Day of the week is also a factor, it takes me significantly less time to clear customs on a weekday as opposed to a weekend.

 

[shafke]

If he has to go to a different terminal there is a light rail service that runs called AirTrain. There is no cost to go between terminals or to long term parking.

 

[Kimberle]

JFK is pretty big. Does he have to collect his luggage? When we fly intl, they transfer our bags to our domestic flight.

*I* would probably allow 3-4 hours in between flights. Sometimes it can take a while to clear customs and collect your bags. It depends on how many intl flights land around the same time. I'd rather sit in an airport for an extra hour than be stressed running between flights.

 

[Carriemel]

Honestly, if it were me flying from Japan...I'd consider staying overnight in NY. You never know about delays.

Customs could take a long time.

There are so many variables involved.

Unless he has his Japan-NY ticket and NY-wherever ticket on the same reservation number, if his flight from Japan is delayed to the point of him missing the next flight, the ticket for the flight he's scheduled on out of NY might be cancelled, and he'd be stuck in NY anyway.

Just throwing that thought out there. Unlikely, but it could happen.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

JFK is pretty big. Does he have to collect his luggage? When we fly intl, they transfer our bags to our domestic flight.

I'm not sure how this happened, because if you are flying into the US on an international flight from a country where you do not pre-clear customs (you do pre-clear from many airports in Canada and Dublin), you have to personally collect your checked bags and recheck them for a continuing domestic flight.

OP, since your son has to go through immigration/customs, it could take a very long time, depending on how many international flights arrive at the same time. He might make it in 2 hours, but I would be more comfortable with at least 2 1/2 hours between the flights and 3 would be better. I am assuming he is on a nonstop flight from Japan to JFK.

 

[disneyvacationtime]

Thank you all for your comments and tips. His flight from Japan is non-stop and he must collect his own luggage at JFK. Given the options he has for a flight home, I now feel more comfortable making the flight arrangements. Again, thank you all for taking time out of your day to help me. Wishing you all a good weekend.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you all for your comments and tips. His flight from Japan is non-stop and he must collect his own luggage at JFK. Given the options he has for a flight home, I now feel more comfortable making the flight arrangements. Again, thank you all for taking time out of your day to help me. Wishing you all a good weekend.

DH tells me there are checkin places just outside customs. So if you are on united you come into a customs area for united, and there's a united checkin just outside. Problem is if you are changing airlines so where you come on doesn't match up.

Gotta say that's one weird flight! DH's flights from Japan always stop on the west coast and I didn't even realize there would be a route going so that they could do nonstop to the east coast.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Gotta say that's one weird flight! DH's flights from Japan always stop on the west coast and I didn't even realize there would be a route going so that they could do nonstop to the east coast.

There are nonstop flights NRT-JFK (US Airways, Delta, Singapore Airlines, United, ANA).

 

[HoosierDisneyDad]

There are nonstop flights NRT-JFK (US Airways, Delta, Singapore Airlines, United, ANA).

I didn't know that United and US Airways flew nonstop NRT-JFK. Aren't those just code shares on ANA?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I didn't know that United and US Airways flew nonstop NRT-JFK. Aren't those just code shares on ANA?

I should have just said you can fly non-stop NRT-JFK on the Star Alliance network.