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Travel Forum / Travel Types / Air Travel / January 2006Customs at LAX? How long?
Coming back from Ixtapa later this year on Alaska Air, thru LAX. I understand that this is the Customs stop, and we have approx 1:40 to make our connection. Will we be able to make our flight? Thx, Ned Arriving from Australia en route to Canada (in July) - Customs was no problem (they had a dedicated tranship luggage point available). The problem was having to 'arrive' in the US through immigration; then immediately 'leave' the US through full security and emigration. We had to apply for the visa waiver for an hour!! Queues for security were huge. We made a 90 minute changeover - just!!!! Then - on leaving - the officer ommited to remove our visa waiver slip. When we returned to Australia some 3 months later this had to be returned to the Consulate-General in Sydney. I just know that when we next visit the US we'll be on an 'overstay' list - having spent 1 hour 'in' the country on a 90 day visa waiver. > Coming back from Ixtapa later this year on Alaska Air, thru LAX. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thx, Ned > Arriving from Australia en route to Canada (in July) - Customs was no > problem (they had a dedicated tranship luggage point available). The problem [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I just know that when we next visit the US we'll be on an 'overstay' list - > having spent 1 hour 'in' the country on a 90 day visa waiver. This is why I always recommend against transiting through the US whenever possible. While I have nothing against the US (unlike many others on these newsgroups), the hassle of "entering" and "leaving" the US just to change airplanes is completely illogical. In the case of travelling to Canada from Australia, taking a few hours more by travelling via HKG, NRT or ICN is well worth it if only to avoid the headache of "transiting" through the US. > Arriving from Australia en route to Canada (in July) - Customs was no > problem (they had a dedicated tranship luggage point available). The problem [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I just know that when we next visit the US we'll be on an 'overstay' list - > having spent 1 hour 'in' the country on a 90 day visa waiver. Just take some proof with you that you were out of the US during those 90 days, airline boarding cards, credit card receipts and statements etc. > Just take some proof with you that you were out of the US during those 90 > days, airline boarding cards, credit card receipts and statements etc. At least at some locations, US Visit might help as it is where you record your departure. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0525.xml > Just take some proof with you that you were out of the US during those 90 > days, airline boarding cards, credit card receipts and statements etc. As of 2004, this was not enough. You needed proof that you were out of NORTH AMERICA within the 90 period. A person whsing to spend 4 months in Canada from Australia would be required to pay for a 6 month USA visa to pass through LAX for a few hours because the US immigration would deem the person to be in USA territory for more than 3 months. (they don't differentiate between Canada and USA, probably because they don't provide sufficient controls at the canadian/USA border, allowing some foreigner to enter and leave USA as they wish). > Coming back from Ixtapa later this year on Alaska Air, thru LAX. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Thx, Ned Customs should be no problem, you usually just wheel your luggage right through. Immigration, on the hand, can take while. It depends on what competition you have. Occasionally, you might also have to deal with long security lines, which you will have to go through after going through Immigration and Customs. > Will we be able to make our flight? depends on day and time of your arrival I went through LAX customs to the rental car counter in 15 minutes (from when I left plane) and I did it in about 1,5hrs.... not including time waiting for luggage (if applicable) Oh, I have a European passport >> Will we be able to make our flight? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Oh, I have a European passport Varies dramatically. Last time I arrived there it was a little under 3 hours from landing to getting behind the wheel of the Avis car. --==++AJC++==-- > > Will we be able to make our flight? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > (from when I left plane) and I did it in about 1,5hrs.... not including > time waiting for luggage (if applicable) You don't have to go through security again to rent a car. You do when you board another flight. Security at LAX can be incredibly slow. > Oh, I have a European passport It shouldn't matter too much, depending on the airline. What matters more is how close you are to the front of the line :-) > Coming back from Ixtapa later this year on Alaska Air, thru LAX. > > I understand that this is the Customs stop, and we have approx 1:40 to make > our connection. > > Will we be able to make our flight? Depends on how many other flights arrive just before you. Customs is usually not the problem. Immigration is the problem if there are long lines. 1:40 is a little tight for an international connection. Airlines usually require 2 hours. > Coming back from Ixtapa later this year on Alaska Air, thru LAX. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Thx, Ned You don't give details such as arrival time, what class you're flying and what airline you're continuing on with, but in general I think this time is too short. In the best case, assuming your flight arrives while immigration is open, is on time, and you're continuing on with Alaska, 1:40 is just adequate to clear immigration, collect your bags, clear customs, drop off your bags, go upstairs and through security, then get to your gate on time (for coach). If you're changing terminals, your flight is late (Alaska doesn't have the best reuptation for on-time arrivals) or it arrives before immigration opens*, you're likely to miss your connecting flight. *TBIT has 24 hour customs and immigration, but the other terminals don't. For example, immigration opens (nominally. They're known to be late) at 08:30 at Terminal 7 and flights that arrive before this have to wait to deplane. I couldn't find out about Terminal 3, so you might want to contact the airline and find out. |
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