ticadonnita

Flying from Costa Rica on Delta and need to make a Delta domestic connection in 1 hour and 36 min. I am assuming iI go through immigration, get my bag and go through customs ( or is my bag automatically taken to my connecting flight?) . Do you know if one has to go through Security Check point again? Is there one day better than others as far as the number of international travelers trying to do this? Thanks for information,

NoFlyZone

The process is: immigration, collect your bag, customs, recheck your bag*, security.

*In SJC they will tag your bag to your final destination; rechecking is simply giving it to an attendant. No fuss. 10 seconds.

ticadonnita

Thank you, NoFlyZone. I am assuming you meant SJO ( San Jose, Costa Rica). I have not flown into Atlanta or on Delta in 20 years, so somewhat anxious about making connection in 1 1/2 hours, BUT also don't want a much longer layover. I guess Delta would not offer the ticket if they did not think it was possible to make connection.

NoFlyZone

Yeah, SJO (head typo). The connection time should not be a major problem. But if it should happen that you miss the connecting flight (original flight late, hold up in immigration or customs, etc.) Delta is real good at getting you on the next (or so) flight. They do watch out for us.

ticadonnita

Good to know, as I have been flying Spirit a lot to States from Costa Rica, but now with all the charges for bags, I can get a flight to my destination city on Delta, AA, or United. Thought I would try Delta first. Thanks for your help, NoFlyZone.

dutyfree

You will land and go through immigration (which if you have global entry is just minutes). After that you will take the escalator or elevator to baggage claim where you will grab your bags and then go through customs. After a very quick walk through customs and handing your form to the customs agent, you will throw your bags on the belt to the luggage guys and go through security.
After that you hop on the tram to your next flight.

dutyfree

That was with Delta in Atlanta!

foggybridges

" I guess Delta would not offer the ticket if they did not think it was possible to make connection."

Hahaha

Delta would sell you a 30 minute connection without a second thought.

i think you're cutting it a little close, I flew into ATL from JNB connecting to RSW. We landed at 5:45AM, no lines at customs/immigration, but, it still took me close to 90 minutes from getting off the plane to getting to my next gate.

TC

Just did this on Saturday. Whole process -- arrival, clear passport check, retrieve bags, walk through customs, recheck bags, go through TSA security check-point -- took about 35 mins. I remember looking at my watch and commenting to husband on how quickly it went. We had taken the train to our departure terminal and were sitting in the Delta Club 45 mins after touching down. I travel through ATL often on Delta and while our last trip was really fast, you shouldn't have trouble with a 1.5 hour connect.

Kay2

You have no control over how many flights are landing from where that could make your experience longer/shorter. I find it just best to plan for a quick transit:

Don't stop at the restroom before immigration-go on the plane.
Have your custom form completed and signed to hand to the immigration officer with your passport.
If there are multiple lines, follow people with few bags through customs.
Be prepared to go through security (many people are taken by surprise)--boarding pass, ID, ready to take out computer and liquids, take off shoes.
Check the monitor for your connecting flight, take the train, find your gate.
Then consider restroom, food, etc. after you know you have enough time before your flight boards.

Asianicole17

Hi There, If I no longer need to take my connecting flight and just want to stay in Atlanta will I be able to grab my bags after customs and leave?

janisj

You asked that on another old thread -- see the answer there . . .