We are traveling to Italy in May, returning home through New York(JFK). I found a great itinerary with only 1 1/2 hr. layover at JFK. Is that enough time to clear customs and make our connecting flight? Our other alternatives are 41/2- 5 hour layovers which we would like to avoid.

I think it's doable, though a bit tight. Are you flying on the same airline (same terminal) or do you have to switch terminals? Having said that, I'd still go with the shorter connection (I hate hanging around in airports), and if you miss your connecting flight, your airline will rebook you on the next flight (which hopefully is not full/overbooked).

The flights are both on Delta. Our connecting flight is to Cincinnati on a Delta/Commair, and do not know if it involves a change in terminals. The return travel day is a Sunday, if that makes a difference in the time factor at customs.

If you are American or have a green card, 1.5 hours is doable. It would help if Delta is cooperative. I have done that on American and it involved racing across the terminal but we still managed to catch our flight.

You can probably do 1-1/2 hours at Delta, but if your flight is more than 15 minutes late or if you are unlucky and arrive in a pack of other flights, you might not make the connection. But I think it's a legal one. You're going to have more luck if you don't check bags; that at least takes out one step.

Since there are later flights, I'd probably take the chance. If you don't make the connection, Delta will put you on a later flight.

Sunday is actually a fairly busy day for people to return home from vacation, but I don't think it's either an advantage or disadvantage (if you think it's really quiet on a Sunday you'd be wrong).

thanks for the input...I will take my chances and book the shorter layover and hope for the best!

<<The flights are both on Delta. Our connecting flight is to Cincinnati on a Delta/Commair, and do not know if it involves a change in terminals.>.

You will have to change terminals. You'll arrive at the international terminal and have to go to a domestic terminal. I've not had a problem getting through customs in JFK but the line for passport control can be long. However, once you get your luggage you just walk through customs. I've never been stopped. The suggestion for traveling with carryon is a good one.

You might make it but in case you don't, how many flights are there after the one with the 1.5 layover? How many seats on the Delta/Commair? I ask because I actually arrived early on my last international flight to Atlanta and asked about getting onto a flight that was leaving in one hour instead of the later one I'd booked. Both were small planes with about 40 seats and there was only one seat left so I got it -- for a $50 fee, but got home about three hours earlier.

If it were me, I'd book the earlier flight.

There is no such thing as "The International Terminal" at JFK. Most of the terminals there have customs/immigration facilities.

DL's flight from Europe will arrive at Terminal 3, DL's main terminal at JFK (they use 2, 3 & 4). If you're on a codeshare operated by Alitalia, it will arrive at Terminal 1.

JFK-CVG flights are currently shown as operated by Northwest (which is part of DL) out of Terminal 4, usually from a bus gate, I believe.

After you clear customs and redeposit your bags at T3, you can either go through security at T3 and take the shuttle bus from T3 Gate 11 over to T4. Or you can go take the AirTrain from T3 to T4, and reclear security at T4. I believe the AirTrain option requires longer walk, and the security check point at T4 Concourse B can be pretty long in the late afternoon.

http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...ewyork_jfk.jsp

Actually, DH and I just did this on Nov. 14 -- coming back from Venice through JFK on Delta. We had only an hour and a half to make the transition, but we did it, despite complete chaos in the passport control/customs area in JFK. We made our Delta flight to Atlanta, with minutes to spare. Then we waited, while the flight was held for several other passengers who got stuck in passport control/customs/security lines. We did not have to change terminals or take shuttles -- just emerged from security and ran for it! If I had to do it again, I would opt for the longer lay-over, rather go through that again.

Actually, JFK does have an "International Terminal". Terminal 4's nickname is the International Terminal to a NYer.

Delta uses Terminal 2 & 3 with 2 used (mostly) for domestic and 3 for international; there's moving walkways between 2 & 3.

If you need further info:
http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk.html

<i>Actually, JFK does have an "International Terminal". Terminal 4's nickname is the International Terminal to a NYer.</i>

I wonder what a "NYer" might call Terminal 1, which services Aeroflot, Aero Mexico, Air China, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian, Cayman Airways, China Airlines, China Eastern, Japan Airlines, Korean, Lufthansa, Olympic, Royal Air Maroc, Saudi Arabian, Turkish ... and no domestic carriers.