I am flying into Seattle from Bangkok, and we will arrive at 06:50 A.M.. I am wondering if anyone has come back though Seattle and might have any idea how long it will take to get though customs, ect.. I can get a connecting flight out of Seattle that leaves two hours later or wait for a flight that leaves 4 hours later. Do you think I would be better off waiting for the flight that leaves 4 hours later, or is two hours enough time? Thank you, for any of your thoughts

I've flown from Copenhagen, on SAS, to Seattle and then taken another flight on to L.A. and I couldn't have done it in 2 hours. Happy Travels!

I live in Seattle and so go through customs there. Customs is pretty quick at that hour, but it seems to take a long time to get the luggage. I would guess you could make the flight 2 hours later. Check with your airline. There are standards for how long you must have for particular kinds of transfers. If it's within legal limits, it means your airline would take responsibility if you didn't make the flight and would put you on the next flight. ****Note: this only applies if you book the whole itinerary as one ticket. If you have a ticket to Asia in and out of Seattle and book your domestic tickets separately, then the airline is not required to accommodate you if you miss your flight. In that case, schedule the flight for 4 hours later.

I just did this same flight from Bkk to Houston, stopping in SEA.We got off at SEA went through customs (not expecting this) got back on same plane, in about 45 mins, on a sunday. It can be done in 1-2hrs. We arrived at noon and flight left at 2pm. Wait time for luggage is what took a bit longer, maybe 15 minutes. We had enough time to go to the restroom, get something to eat, walk around the shops.

Do check with your airline to make sure you don't need to be there at a specific time. We were just transferring and on same airline.

Two hours should be adequate for any US citizens coming into the country at basically any airport; unless you are flying on two tickets and still need to check-in for the second flight.

Also, if you miss the connection on one ticket, they will rebook you on the later flight anyways. So, you're not really taking that much risk for booking the flight with a 2-hour connection.

I would book the later connection. If you get through immigration and customs and can still make the earlier flight, you can get on it if there are seats.

If your plane arrives on-time and you are traveling in economy, it will take you 10-25 minutes to get off the plane after it arrives at the gate. Next you walk to the immigration area; the wait here can vary a lot depending on whether another plane landed soon before yours, and how many people got off your plane before you did. (If anyone in your group is not a US citizen, add lots of time to this step.) Then, you have to claim your bag, go through customs, and re-check your bag.

Now, you have to go to the terminal where you connecting flight leaves from, and you have to line up to go through security again. Finally, you make you way to the gate, where the door to the plane may close 10 minutes (or occasionally even less) before the scheduled departure time.

So, if your incoming flight is right on time and everything goes smoothly, you will make your connecting flight. Sounds like a lot of worrying and rushing though; I'd find it a lot more relaxing to take the later flight.

As for booking the earlier flight and counting on taking the later flight if you miss the first one -- what if the later flight is fully-booked?

i agree with rizzuto....you probably could make the other one but why rush and if anything should go a miss you would not need to rush and get all stressed out... yes it adds to the trip but why rush

Are we going overboard here with caution? 2 hours for getting into the US, at a relatively quiet hours, at a relatively small airport is still not enough? We're not talking about JFK in the afternoon!

What about 2.5? 3 hours? Are those enough?

Sorry, I just have to disagree with some of you. I will be very comfortable with 2 hours of connection time.

We've done 2-hour connections on several occasions at Chicago O'Hare (a very busy airport) which involved a change of terminals and have always made it with time to spare. We always get a little anxious however with the long wait at the baggage claim.

Rkkwan...I would not have made my connecting flight in Seattle with just 2 hours. Plus, who knows if a plane is going to take off and land on time or not. I'm glad I had more than 2 hours. Happy Travels!

Well, difference of opinion. That's okay.

Anyways, Dottie, if you decide to book the later flight AND if you get out of immigration/customs early, don't immediately drop your bags. Go to your airline's counter and see if they can put on your the earlier flight on standby. It'll be a lot easier if your bags haven't gone back into the system with the original tags.

If you don't have checked luggage, then just go straight to the gate of the earlier flight and ask to standby.