JackOneill

I need an opinion. Will two hours be enough time to get through customs and to our next fly when we return from Paris on a Sunday in September? I've only been to the Philadelphia airport once and that was 15 years ago and it was for a dosmestic flight. In other words, I have no earthly idea.

Obviously I'm aware that there could be a flight delay, but I'm trying to get a sense if the Phil. airport is a madhouse and illogically laidout like my airport in Atlanta.

starrsville

I have no idea about Philly, but Atlanta is "illogically laidout"? What???

Atlanta is one of the most logically laid out airports anywhere. It's big yes. But, very "logical" layout.

Sorry. I'll bow out now. Just an amazing statement.

JackOneill

Thanks Starrsville for the helpful answer.

buongiorno

Kind of a difficult question to answer. It depends on how many other international flights are coming in at the time and what terminal you have to go to for your US leg. I would say it's doable but I wouldn't waste any time because you're going to have to get your bags, go through customs and immigration, then go to the terminal where your next flight is, recheck your bags, get boarding passes and go back through security.

starrsville

You are welcome.

http://www.phl.org/terminal_map.html

Here's a terminal map. Only you know what airline(s) you are flying on. Perhaps this will be of some use.

Andrew

More info would be helpful. Are you simply connecting on the same airline or will you be taking a separate flight (separate booking)? Philadelphia has several concourses which are walkable but not necessarily quickly. There is some kind of shuttle from one end to the other but not a train, it's something like a little gocart or something.

Which airline(s)? What time will you be connecting?

I've flown through PHL many times though I've never connected or taken an international flight. But, I suspect that if you are arriving in the afternoon you won't have any trouble, as I've never seen the airport busy then, which is usually when I'm flying in or out. I'll bet the place is much busier in the morning.

Andrew

JackOneill

Thanks Andrew.

I'm flying Air France the whole way, so I don't think I'll be changing terminals. It'll be about 3:30 to 4:00 in the afternoon.

starrsville

If you are flying Delta equipment (Air France codeshare), you'll probably be in Terminal E.

PaulRabe

PHL is my home airport and I can only say that a two hour window, on the same airline, on a Sunday afternoon in September is PROBABLY enough, but just barely. The problem is security lines, which I've seen as long as two hours themselves. Lines this long are (fortunately) rare, mostly during peak times, and gnerally only to get into the departure area. So it will PROBABLY not be that bad. But I HAVE seen some major breakdowns here.

If there was any way to get the window up to three hours (or even more), I'd do it. Two hours means you're hoping for no major problems.

starrsville

Don't know where you are flying from, but today's Delta/ AirFrance flight from Paris is arriving in PHL at Gate A16. It was scheduled to land at 3:35 but is estimated to land at 3:53 today.

.

karameli

PHL was my home airport too, and even though I live 15 minutes from Newark now, I still drive to Philly to deal with that airport instead. Saying that, I second the poster above who said you'll probably be okay. They are (knock on wood) generally very good about keeping incoming and outgoing delays to a minimum. In a full-scale blizzard, our arrival delay was only 40 minutes! As far as customs, one easy trick that can help -- when you check in, see if you can move your seats to the front of your section. Especially in coach, this can buy you an extra 15-20 minutes getting off the plane AND get you near the front of the customs line, at least among the passengers on your flight.

JackOneill

Thanks, everyone. And thanks Starrsville.

I always get a little nervous when I only have a two hour window. I have missed a few flights and have run like a mad dog to catch other flights because of minor (and major) snafus. I just needed a sense of what the PHL airport was like.

starrsville

Regarding customs and security lines - if you have a choice "think left". I read that on this board - it was a tip from an insider's guide to Disney. It really does work. Some researcher did a study. Most people choose the line on the right.

starrsville

You are welcome.

lincasanova

n philadelphia you have to take your bags to next terminal to re-check them??????????????????

you've got to be kidding.

after collecting your bags and going through customs with them, i find it hard to believe there isn't a place where you RE-DEPOSIT them (as they are already "checked" to final destination) and you go to next terminal WITHOUT THEM.

i, too, am flying into philly this summer and i dare to believe this is correct information.

someone please clarify.

starrsville

lincasanova, who said that?

lincasanova

buongiorno

"...but I wouldn't waste any time because you're going to have to get your bags, go through customs and immigration, then go to the terminal where your next flight is, recheck your bags, get boarding passes and go back through security"

SAnParis

I routinely have to connect on Philly (from CLT) on International flights & have never had a problem, coming or going. Sunday may well be your saving grace. Flights out of there are typically late anyway, which may work to your advantage, in this case.

starrsville

Oh. I didn't read that. I don't think that is accurate.

rkkwan

buongiorno said that in the 3rd reply of this thread. Apparently, that will not be the case for the OP since he should be able to check his luggage to his destination by AF in Paris, and should have his boarding pass for the connection (whoever operates that flight) already.

Now, previously there were a lot of complains about long security line back to the main terminal after you exit customs. And I've read that they've improved the situation. Regardless, if one sees a long line for security there, you can always exit the terminal to the outside, then walk to the regular security counters (i.e. not the ones specifically for the international arrivals passengers).