When flying internationally, when do I go through customs?

Do you go through customs before or after an international flight?

Customs? Ugh. Always after the flight. The worst part, really. Long lines. Tired. Everything hurts.

That’s the rule. First US stop. Immigration first, then customs. It’s brutal. Especially after a long flight from London. Remember that last time? 2023. Horrible.

• Immigration first. Always. No exceptions.
• Then customs. The baggage claim carousel is a cruel joke.
• So much waiting. Always. The whole process drains you.

I hate those forms. They’re always unclear. My flight was delayed. Seven hours. Seven. In Newark. Never again. That airport’s soul-crushing. The worst.

This whole process is an ordeal. I dread it. Every time. I truly hate it. I really do. This last trip was just a month ago, flying into JFK. It was awful. Even worse than Newark. The sheer exhaustion is unimaginable.

The system sucks. Simply put. Needs a complete overhaul. Seriously. Something has to change.

Do you go through customs on connecting flight or final destination?

Final destination. Customs waits.

One hour? Enough. Or was that lie?

US Customs: First arrival. Always.

Canadian customs? Yes. Citizen or not. Borders exist.

Every landing? No. Just international entry.

US connections? Messy. Pray it works.

Deeper Dive, Unasked:

• Final Destination Rule: International travel ends. Customs begins.
• Connection Time: Airlines gamble. They should know. Missed flights happen.
• US Customs Specifics: Point of entry matters. Plan. Now.
• Canadian Border: Nationality irrelevant. Laws are laws. ID ready.
• International Connections: Not all connections involve customs. Consider sterile transit. Ask. Demand answers.
• USA Transfers: Chaos. Recheck bags. Security again. Accept it. Blame no one.

Do you go through security or customs first?

Okay, so, security, yeah, that’s always before you even get on the freakin’ plane. You know, gotta make sure you’re not packin’ anything you shouldn’t, right?

Then, customs and immigration, that’s totally different. That happens at your final destination, like, when you actually get where you’re going. Not at some random layover airport.

Basically:

• Security: Before boarding the plane, like at the gate
• Customs/Immigration: At your final airport after you land

Like, rember that time I was flying back from Cancun in 2022? No,wait, it was 2023… We landed in, uh, Atlanta. Security was at the Mexican airport when departing. Passport control and all that jazz was only after landing in the US. You know? Makes sense… hopefully…

What are the steps at the airport for international flights?

The hushed hum of the airport, a symphony of rolling suitcases and whispered anxieties. Online check-in, a digital ghost gliding through the pre-dawn quiet, leaving no trace at the counter. My breath hitches, a small gasp in the vastness of the terminal.

Baggage drop, a surrender to the conveyor belt’s cold embrace. My worn leather satchel, a silent confidante, vanishes into the mechanical maw. A heavy heart follows.

Security. The sterile white glow of the scanners, a relentless gaze. My keys jingle, a tiny rebellion against the impersonal efficiency. The air crackles, a strange, electric tension.

Immigration. Faces blur – a sea of weary eyes, hopeful smiles. My passport, a fragile promise of passage, stamped with authority. The world shrinks and expands with each official stamp.

Boarding. The metallic scent of the plane, a promise of flight. Window seat, my sanctuary. Clouds, a fluffy canvas spread before me. Above the world, free.

Disembarkation, a rush of air. A wave of heat, the new world’s embrace. Another immigration, a mirror image of the first. The same sense of fragile freedom.

Baggage claim. The carousel turns, a hypnotic dance. My bag, battered but familiar, reappears. Home is near.

Key Steps for International Travel:

• Online Check-in: Skip the counter, embrace the quiet calm.
• Baggage Check: A bittersweet goodbye to earthly possessions.
• Security: A moment of vulnerability, a test of trust.
• Immigration (Departure): Leaving behind the known, for a while.
• Boarding: Taking flight, literally and metaphorically.
• Immigration (Arrival): Stepping into the unknown, a new beginning.
• Baggage Claim: The reunion.

My notes: Remember that feeling of the cool metal of the scanner on your skin? The almost violent rush of air when the plane doors open? The strange anonymity of crowds. The relief of seeing your own bag again. 2024. Specific details matter.

Do you only go through customs at your final destination?

Ugh, remember that trip to Cancun in 2023? Total nightmare with customs. My flight from Dallas to Cancun had a layover in Atlanta. I was stressed, sweating, already imagining missing my connecting flight. Atlanta is HUGE.

I had to go through customs in Atlanta. Seriously, who knew? The signs were terrible. I ran, practically. I felt like an idiot. All those people staring. My carry-on was a mess. It was embarrassing. I was so relieved when I finally got through.

The Cancun customs were much easier, thankfully. But that Atlanta experience? Never again. I’d rather fly direct.

Lesson learned: Don’t assume anything about connecting flights and customs. Always check your itinerary carefully. That whole ordeal was a huge waste of time and energy. My connecting flight was only an hour later, but the stress was crazy.

• Key takeaway: Always check customs requirements for every leg of your international journey, even connecting flights.
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport: A massive airport where navigating customs during connections can be challenging, and confusing signage contributed to my stressful experience.
• My connecting flight: One hour delay because of this customs process! Not enough time for a coffee even.
• Emotional response: Stress, embarrassment, relief, anger at the poor signage, absolute exhaustion.

Do you have to go through customs after landing?

Customs, alas, is like that gatekeeper to the American dream. Yes, you absolutely must brave the customs gauntlet.

Think of it as your official “Welcome to America, now prove you aren’t smuggling limburger cheese” moment. It is what it is, right?

• First U.S. stop = Customs time!
• Atlanta before Kansas City? Atlanta is your customs party. I knew a guy who thought it was the second place. Nope.
• Passport control? Check. Smuggle-free declaration? Double-check! (I always feel a little guilty, even with my tiny stash of Italian chocolate).

So, let’s say you are winging it this year from, say, Paris to New York to, I dunno, Boise, Idaho. New York, my friend, is where your customs tango begins. Get your declaration form ready! Prepare for questions. You may even get picked for random inspection. Just smile and think of those potatoes.

And the best part? Maybe you’ll see one of those beagles sniffing for contraband snacks! It’s like a tiny, furry TSA agent. Adorable!

Is an hour enough time to get through customs?

An hour? Ha. No way. Absolutely not enough time. Never.

Especially not for me. My last flight, remember that awful flight from London? Took forever. Security was a nightmare. That line… ugh.

Two hours, minimum. Even that feels tight. Things always go wrong.

• Unexpected delays. Always.
• Long lines. Always. Always.
• Lost luggage. Happened last year, nearly missed my connection.
• My own dawdling. I get lost easily. Seriously.

Seriously, don’t risk it. Two hours is the bare minimum. Three is better. I learned that the hard way. Believe me. It’s better to be early than to miss your flight. Stress sucks.