My 15YO will be flying out of EWR to Beijing next summer and we're not too worried about that non-stop leg -- although there's customs to clear in China.

But on the way back he'll be arriving, clearing Customs and catching a flight to Dulles. There's 2:45 of layover to get through customs and change terminals -- I'm guess from C to A.

I'm fairly confident we don't need an unescorted minor helper, but would welcome any tips. He's an experienced international traveler but this is first solo journey.

Thanks all.

Other than having to claim his checked bags to go through US customs and then re-check them (right outside customs) and go through security again for the continuation to IAD the return should not be much more challenging than the outbound. To get from C to A he will simply ride the monorail which is in the secure area. 2:45 should be plenty of time. If he is an experienced traveler he should be fine.

100% agree. Nothing to worry about.

Also agree. If he's not real familiar with EWR, he might take a print out of the airport with him. While there will be personnel to help with any problems, it still wouldn't hurt. Our teenager flew by herself to Sweden this past summer (she's also an experienced international traveler) and that map came in handy when she got some misinformation.

Want to add one thing. CO88 from PEK may not arrive at Terminal C, though it usually does. CO regularly schedule 11 or more international arrivals into Terminal B. But the process is exactly the same as arriving at Terminal C, expect the ride on the AirTrain to Terminal A is one stop shorter.

thanks all.

Just wanted to check back in and update. You all were right. He did fine.

I have to give big props to Continental. I checked him in at Beijing's older terminal and headed to the new one for my flight before I realized that I'd repacked some stuff, including his cash. I checked in for my UA flight to IAD and then rushed back to the other terminal and CO counter. A staffer there delivered cash to him at the gate -- just in case he got stuck at EWR.

The trip got even more logistically challenging after we later added a flight in and out for Mrs. Repete.

I was flight the PEK-IAD non-stop. He was PEK-EWR-IAD and DW was PEK-NRT-JFK-DCA. (I was flying for work and burned FF for the rest.)

Somehow, it all worked. I arrived first (after leaving last) and waited for son at Dulles. We taxied home and I was able to shower and pick up DW at National.

Thanks for update. Always nice when we know how things went.

Excellent! And they say the planes that land safely never get any publicity.... ;-)