Customs on return flight
 

Thanks to everyone for all the information on customs,etc.
My flight is from Milan,with Delta arriving at 3:15 at JFK,with a connecting flight to SLC at 4:20. Yikes what was I thinking,too late now to change. Just hope for the best.
Audrey

This may be a case that your luggage may make the flight (although they may take it off if you don't make it) and you won't. I haven't been through JFK but when we have connecting flights we re-check the luggage just outside customs and then go to the gate. It may well depend on how near your connecting gate is. You might ask for a cart to meet you to transport you.

The last time I connected through JFK, we had to drag ourselves out of one terminal, cross a couple streets, walk down two blocks, get into another terminal, and go through security again. It took us a while, but we made our connection (we ran!)

Well if you are on one ticket with the same airline or partners they are responsible for putting you on the next available flight should you miss your connection. IMHO I can't imagine that you will make that connection.

If it is two separate tickets you might want to bite the bullet and pay for a change now rather than pay a whole new fare then.

I've had a few tight connections like this myself. If I remember correctly, I have always made my connecting flight assuming it hadn't been cancelled) but my bags haven't always been so lucky. As Gretchen indicated, you recheck your luggage (assuming your connecting flight is with the same airline) when you come out of customs. If you have a few minutes to spare, I recommend verifying that your connecting flight is leaving as scheduled before rechecking your bags. When I traveled to France two years ago, I had a short amount of time to get to my connecting flight from Philly to Indianapolis. I literally threw my bag on the conveyer belt and ran to the gate, only to find that it had been cancelled. They rerouted me through Charlotte, but my bag couldn't be retrieved to be placed on that flight. It was no big deal really. I got home just fine, but I had to pick up my checked luggage at the airport the next day. For that reason, I always make sure to keep my valuables/essentials with me on the trip home just in case I'm parted from the rest of my luggage.

Good luck!

Kate

WHAT, they didn't deliver it to you!! I have literally never heard of having to pick it up yourself. Good advice about keeping very necessary things near you.

Regardless of whether your second segment is on the the same airline, a "partner" airline, or any other airline, if the flights are all on one ticket, the original airline is responsible for getting you and your bags to your destination.
After customs you return your bag to the airline that brought you to JFK and they get it where it needs to go from there (hopefully on the flight with you).

I agree that your chance of making the on-going flight is very slim.

In my experience flights from Milan are usually late - and 3pm is prime arrival time at JFK - it can easily take you more than an hour just to get through immigration and pick up your luggage - never mind head towards the on-going flight.

The good news is that both flights are Delta and in the same terminal. Also - if you miss the 4:20 there's another flight at 6pm.

I would check with Delta to see the on-time record of the incoming flight. I would also check to see how full the later flight looks.

If the incoming flight is frequently late - and there is room on the later flight I would try to talk them into a no cost change now (if you wait until the day and the flight is full - it could get very time-consuming - ie routing through Atlanta or CVG for instance.)

Once again thanks to all for all the helpful suggestions.
Audrey