US point of entry ?

[Tony Toon]

Someone must know the answer to this one.

We are flying from Glasgow to Orlando International via Philadelphia and I was expecting to clear customs etc in Philly. However it seems the flight we join there that goes on to Orlando originates in Manchester. Can I take it then that we don't officially enter the US till we reach Orlando? It would be have been quicker I suspect for us at Orlando if we had previously cleared immigration checks. Also coming home the departure gates will be different from what I had guessed. Just a bit confused just now.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Wherever you set foot on US soil is where you clear custums, i.e. if you used to fly the Birmingham UK-Bangor main-Orlando, you cleared customs in Bangor.
If your firts deplane is Philly, that's where you clear customs.
I am not too sure what you mean about departure gates????

 

[stubb]

hi tony

we have gone via washington and cleared immigration there, its so much quicker although we had to run to catch the next plane not easy when everyone was made to take off their shoes.

michelle

 

[Cochise]

God help anyone who stands next to me when i take my shoes off after a 6 hour flight to Philly

 

[Tony Toon]

I am not too sure what you mean about departure gates????

Just that coming home from Orlando, if the flight is considered to be an international flight (ie Orlando - Manchester) then the departure gate would be different to that for an internal flight (Orlando - Philly).

Thanks for your answers. I now believe that I'm in control again.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Is that the way you are going home? Via Manchester?

 

[Tony Toon]

No. This is getting confusing again. The flight home from Orlando goes via Philadelphia then goes on to Manchester. But - we transfer at Philly to a Glasgow flight - hence the reason for my original question.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

TT
Who are the flights with?
Do you have two different flight numbers?

 

[tink too]

Last December, we flew from London to Orlando via Chicago. We did customs in Chicago as this was our first stop stateside. Our next flight was classed as internal.

On our return, the same again, an internal flight from Orlando then an international one from Chicago.

As we had to change planes, we did have two separate flight numbers on both the outbound and return journeys.

 

[disneyholic family]

Your first entry into the US is where you will clear customs.

Also, for anyone flying to the US via Toronto, you cross both Canadian and US customs in Canada.
For example, if you are flying to Orlando via Toronto, you cross Canadian customs when you get off your international flight.
But just before you get on your flight from Canada to the United States (i.e from toronto to orlando) you cross US customs right there in toronto airport. It's a bit consfusing but that's how it's done.

 

[Tony Toon]

TT
Who are the flights with?
Do you have two different flight numbers?

We fly with US Airways and yes there are two different flight numbers. However the other replies seem to have answered my questions and confirmed my initial impressions. I was just puzzled because we seemed to be joining in Philly an existing UK flight and I didn't expect the Manchester passengers to pass immigration till Orlando. Come to think of it - I'm still intrigued. Surely the inbound Manchester passengers don't have to take off their luggage at Philly for customs - or am I missing something and being really stupid (wouldn't be the first time DW says ).

 

[disneyholic family]

We fly with US Airways and yes there are two different flight numbers. However the other replies seem to have answered my questions and confirmed my initial impressions. I was just puzzled because we seemed to be joining in Philly an existing UK flight and I didn't expect the Manchester passengers to pass immigration till Orlando. Come to think of it - I'm still intrigued. Surely the inbound Manchester passengers don't have to take off their luggage at Philly for customs - or am I missing something and being really stupid (wouldn't be the first time DW says ).

is the Manchester flight also two different flight numbers? that is, the people who are actually flying from Manchester? Perhaps it seems like one flight, but maybe they also have to switch to a different plane...

it really would be unusual for you to switch planes in the US without first crossing passport control (customs isn't even the key, it's passport control - a much more critical issue).
but who knows.....if it ends up that you don't actually enter the US in Philly, let us know.....i'm curious....

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

ah! cracked it.
Go to this web page
http://fs.usairways.com/abs/flightSchedule.do
You will see that yes, you come in on a different flight from the manchester crowd, (Boeing 767) but at Philly you change to an internal Boeing 757 flight the same as the manchester people.
on the way back you do the same, internal flight to Philly then seperate flights to Man and Gla
You can also get your gate numbers for bothe Philly and Orlando (MCO) on this page.
it might also be worth you seeing when you get through Customs at Philly if you could get on the earlier flight to MCO (Boeing 737 leaves at 5pm instead of 6:15)

 

[disneyholic family]

it might also be worth you seeing when you get through Customs at Philly if you could get on the earlier flight to MCO (Boeing 737 leaves at 5pm instead of 6:15)

there is a minimum time that is required now for changing planes after entering the US...
i don't remember what it is, but it's pretty significant....

We enter at JFK and then switch to a domestic and we were required to have at least 2 hours in between and i have to admit, i'm nervous about that...

we've flown this route for the last few years and others on our flight have missed their connections because it took so long for the suitcases to be unloaded.....

last year or the year before, it seemed as if the baggage handlers were on strike, as it took over an hour for the bags to get to us (and our suitcases were the very first to be unloaded since we're business class - the other people had to wait even longer)....
then we all ran to clear them through customs....then another run to the desk right outside of customs where you check your bags back in....(we were lucky....we made it to this desk at exactly 1.5 hours before our next flight - the minimum time for them to accept the bags - otherwise we would have had to drag them ourselves for check in)...
then a mad dash to the next terminal to check in for the next flight..
then on to security and finally to our connecting flight....

 

[Tony Toon]

Since my last post I too visited the US Airways website (different page)

http://fs.usairways.com/abs/getFlig...Number=197&departureMonth=Jun&departureDay=24

and also came up with the info that explains everything. In fact we (and the Mancunians) are scheduled to get on that 5.00 flight according to my info, the site also suggests that the plane is an Airbus 320. I'd better get into shape for that sprint

Thanks you guys for your help and advice.

 

[disneyholic family]

of course the time requirements I mentioned are for JFK, a zoo of a place if there ever was one...
it might be less for a more reasonably sized airport (Philly?)