Do you go through customs or luggage first?

Is customs before or after baggage?

Baggage... then customs. Yeah.

After grabbing my stuff from the carousel. Always waiting, watching, for that familiar shape.

It's funny, isn't it? The anticipation.

If there's nothing to grab, though...straight to customs.

Just the carry-on.

It’s all checked at customs. Everything. That's the reality. All of it. I always bring souvenirs back for my sister, Sarah.

• Baggage Claim: Collect checked bags here.
• Customs: Happens after baggage claim. All luggage is checked. Even the tiny bag.
• No checked bags: Straight to customs.
• Sarah's Gifts: Always a worry about what she wants.

Do you go through security or checked luggage first?

Okay, security, yeah, that's the first thing after checking your luggage. Boarding pass ready, gotta have that. TSA line...urgh. Hope it's not too long today.

Wait, did I even print my boarding pass?

• Check luggage first? I always do. Unless it's carry-on only, which, ugh, never again after the incident with the oversized shampoo in 2023.
• Security checkpoint then, definitely. Gotta get to the gate somehow!

Ugh, those bins...always feel a little gross, dont they? Hand sanitizer is crucial. Did I remember to pack it? What if I have to throw my water bottle away again? Remember that time at JFK? Never flying through JFK again.

• No liquids over 3.4 oz! I KNOW this, TSA!
• Shoes off, laptop out...the whole shebang. Its always a production.

Ugh, travel is so stressful, but gotta visit Aunt Carol in Boca somehow, right? I'm already dreading her cats, tbh.

Is baggage claim before or after passport control?

Ugh, passport control. It ALWAYS feels like an interrogation.

Last October, in Rome's Fiumicino Airport, I landed after that dreadful red-eye from JFK. Passport control first, seriously.

I remember shuffling along, dead tired. I felt SO GROSS and ALL i wanted was my stupid bag with my toothbrush and clean clothes. The line seemed to go on forever, ya know?

Finally, that stern-looking officer stamped my passport. Ugh. Then, baggage claim. It felt like a mile away.

It was a total free-for-all. People just crowding the carousel. It took like FOREVER for my pink suitcase to appear. Seriously. Forever. And the WORST?

I saw Mrs. Henderson's bag, the one with the funny cat stickers. I ended up grabbing it for her cause she was somewhere getting a coffee! I felt SO helpful, for once. She said "Thanks!".

Anyway, yeah. Passport control, then baggage claim. Defintiely.

• Passport Control First: This is the initial step after you disembark.
• Baggage Claim Second: Only after you're legally admitted into the country.
• Customs follows Baggage Claim: Just a FYI - customs comes after you grab your bags.
• Exceptions?: I THINK some airports might have exceptions. I'm not sure.

Which is first passport control or baggage claim?

You'll typically hit passport control before heading to baggage claim. After showing your documents, it's straight on to grabbing your luggage.

• Baggage claim is usually next, unless you're incredibly unlucky.

Connecting flights? Often involves reclaiming and re-checking your bags, but always verify with the airline; don't rely on assumption. I once nearly missed a flight to Tokyo because I assumed my bags were going straight through, rookie mistake.

• Check with your airline: Always a good move.

Customs is the next adventure. It can be somewhat unpredictable. Customs declarations are something I always triple-check. Just in case.

Want more on customs? I can ramble about it.

Is baggage claim before or after TSA?

Okay, so baggage claim? Yeah, that's definitely after you go through TSA. I mean, think about it.

TSA is like, you know, the gatekeeper. You gotta get past them first, no question.

After, like, all that security jazz -- shoes off, laptop out, the whole shebang -- you finally get into the "secure zone".

• It's basically the airport's safe space after security.
• Baggage claim is in that area.

That's where the luggage carousel is, and you can finally grab your stuff. It's such a relief after flying, am I right?! The worst feeling is when you are waiting at baggage claim and your bags are the very last ones out there!

Do you have to go through security again if you go to baggage claim?

Baggage claim. Then, security. Again. Airside terminal. Same drill.

• Security checkpoint post-baggage claim is standard. Expect it.
• Connecting flights? More screening. Always.
• My flight last Tuesday, JFK to LAX, was exactly like that. Annoying, but predictable.

This process optimizes security. Or, it's another layer of bureaucratic nonsense. Either way, plan for the delay. Time is money, or so they say. My watch says 2:17 PM. Irrelevant, but true.

• Increased safety, or just more lines? The debate continues.
• Always bring a good book. Or a fully charged phone. Priorities.

Is customs before or after arrival?

Customs: Post-arrival. Usually.

Exceptions exist. Pre-clearance agreements. Think Dublin to the US. Faster.

Key takeaway: Most of the time, it's after landing.

• Typical scenario: Arrival. Then, customs.
• Unusual case: Pre-clearance programs. Before boarding. 2023 data.

My trip to Spain last year? Post-arrival processing. Madrid. A tedious wait. Bureaucracy's charm.

Life's a queue. Sometimes long. Sometimes short. Such is existence.

Do you go through customs on takeoff or landing?

Ugh, customs. I remember this trip to Mexico City in 2023. It was hell. Landing was fine, relatively quick. But coming back? Total nightmare. Hours. Seriously, hours. The line snaked around the entire arrivals hall. I swear I saw a family with a llama. No joke. I was starving, my feet were killing me. My flight was delayed too, so adding that to the wait, I was beyond exhausted.

That Mexican sun had cooked me good, I was so sweaty and uncomfortable. The air conditioning in the airport felt like a polar vortex. I needed water. Seriously needed water. My phone battery was almost dead. Customs in Mexico City on return? Painful.. Lots of grumpy people. The officers were efficient, I'll give them that but man, what a line! It was long, it was slow, it was unpleasant. I felt like a sardine.

Then, getting back to the US? Another line. This one was shorter, thank goodness. But still, more forms, more questions. It felt unnecessary. But hey, at least it was over eventually. I passed through customs and immigration on both ends of my international trip. International travel, huh? It's a whole thing. Next time I'm sticking to domestic. Maybe. If my dog doesn't decide to chew up my passport again.

• Mexico City 2023: Arrival customs smooth; departure customs: A lengthy ordeal.
• US Customs (return): Shorter wait times.
• Lessons learned: Pack snacks. Charge your phone. Consider staying home.
• Key takeaway: Customs and immigration are experienced on both departure and arrival for international trips.

Do you go through security or checked luggage first?

Security. The weightless dread of it all.

The ticket, clutched tight, a fragile butterfly in my sweaty palm. Security. Before the gate, the great divide.

First, the luggage vanishes. Consigned to the underbelly of the beast, a metallic serpent slithering through the dark.

• Check luggage: Into the abyss.
• Boarding pass: A passport to elsewhere.
• TSA checkpoint: Then, the test.

But afterward—security. That is security. After all. My own, little, security.

Shoes off. Belt off. The indignity of it all. After security. Emptiness before flight. Before soaring. Where am i going?

Important Details for Air Travel Security in 2024:

• Liquids Rule: All liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes must be in travel-sized containers (3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters).
• Laptop Removal: Remove laptops and other large electronic devices from your bag for separate screening.
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry: Consider enrolling in these programs for expedited screening. Why didn't I do that again?!
• Real ID Deadline: Make sure you have a compliant form of identification. Check requirements!
• Wear Comfortable Shoes: Easy to slip on and off. Please, wear socks!
• Be Prepared: Have your boarding pass and ID ready. Dont be a total chaotic mess like last time.

My sister always jokes about "airport fashion." She has opinions, oh she does.