walnutwhip

hi does anyone know how long it takes to clear immigration and customs at newark? we have 1hr 30mins to connect with our sarasota flight.
thanks

bugswife1

I am sorry, but that is sort of an unanswerable question.
The time it takes to clear immigration depends on how crowded it is at the airport. Nobody could possibly tell you in advance. And if they pull you off the line and search all your stuff. Well, all bets are off.

rkkwan

Assuming you're flying Continental...

Not too bad for US citizens/residents. For flights coming back from Europe in the afternoon, usually no more than 10-15 minutes through immigration (sometimes no wait), luggage is usually out shortly, and if you don't get sent to secondary customs/agriculture screening, you just walk straight out.

But there are other problems. First, there are limited number of gates at Terminal C with access to the immigration. Sometimes in the afternoon, you may have to wait for a gate; or the flight may go to Terminal B.

Second, you need reclear security after exiting customs. Understand that there are 3 sets of security entries to Terminal C. In the afternoon, the set right above customs exit is usually the busiest. Walk further out to the other two with shorter lines.

Anyways, chances are you can make it. If not, CO will rebook you on the next flight. Unfortunately, the next one to SQR is about 3.5 hours later.

nytraveler

There is no real answer. It depends on how many flights come in at the same time - which really depnds on weather and airport conditions all over europe. The earlier you land (1pm or so vs 4 or 5pm) the better - since lines tend to be shorter.

But - besides the regular lines - what if you're pulled out for inspection? I've gone through in45 minutes from wheel down - or 2 hours.

Separately, at what time do you have to check in for the ongoing flight? (And I assume it's the same airline and same ticket. If not - I would never chance this - since if it's different tickets and you miss the flight YOU have to pay for all the additional costs - new ticket, hotel etc. - the airline has no responsibiity.)

rkkwan

There is no real answer.

That's so very true. My parents and relatives fly Hong Kong - Newark - Houston and Europe - Newark - Houston all the time, and I book tickets for them and often pick them up at the airport. I also do these flights myself.

Right now, I usually book them with a 2.5 hour connection, and if the flight comes in early, instruct them how to standby for the earlier one. But there are almost hourly EWR-IAH flight, so the OP situation is a little different.

But so many different situations have come up. I had an Europe flight came in way early and I successfully stoodby for earlier flight home. My parents had Hong Kong flight came in late, and CO automatically rebooked them on later flight. My dad had Hong Kong flight came in late, CO automatically rebooked him on later flight, but he managed to get to the gate for his original flight. They had reserved later flights, and successfully and unsuccessfully stoodby for earlier ones. They had Hong Kong flight landed in EWR way early, but they sat on the tarmac for half an hour.

Basically, all kinds of scenario could happen. But we were lucky that so far no one who I helped book or advise, have had to overnight at EWR; outbound or inbound.

---

But back to the OP. If he's US citizen/resident flying CO, and the international came in a 2:30p, and the SQR goes out at 4p, I say just stick with it.

allovereurope

Whatever you do, try to sit near the front of the plane, and when getting off the plane, walk as fast as you can to get ahead of all the other people on your flight who all also have to go through customs. It's really the only thing you're in control of with regard to how fast it'll be....

Seamus

There is always the possibility that something could go horribly wrong, but in general things proceed pretty smoothly. Your 90 minute connection will probably not allow time to linger but you should be OK. And if your connecting flight is on the same carrier as your international leg, even if you do encounter something that holds you up and you miss your connection they will reaccommodate you. As rk notes, CO is actually pretty good about rebooking when it knows that an inbound flight is running too late to make connections.

Ann41

The last time I flew into Newark from outside the US, I spent more than an hour waiting for our luggage. We never had an explanation why, and it was the luggage for the entire flight, not just ours.

Immigration is usually fairly efficient. They get through the lines quickly compared with other US airports (for example, Dulles is a nightmare).