i am going to france this week and don't have a clue what's involved with customs. i am a little concerned that on my return to jfk i have only an hour and twenty minutes to make my connecting flight home. is that long enough to get thru customs? and do i have to recheck my bags, going back thru security?
thanks

That's a tight connection. At JFK the walk is fairly long from the plane to Immigration (Passport control), which you pass through first. Actually, the walk distance may vary by terminal. Once through Immigration, you pick your luggage up from the carrousel, then get in line for Customs (fill out the declaration card on the plane so you're ready). Usually Customs is fairly pro forma--they glance at what you've declared and you get a wave through. It may take longer if you get unlucky and are chosen for a more detailed check--I don't know what this is based on other than what you declare, possibly countries where you have traveled, age or the profile du jour. After Customs, there are usually airline personnel to direct you to a desk to re-check your luggage to your final destination. Then run like hell to your departure gate. Good luck!!

Ditto C.

The standard minimum connecting time at JFK for an international to a domestic flight is 1hr45mins. There are exceptions to the rule depending on the airline.

i'm glad i checked in on this board. i've called my tour company & they are going to try to change the connecting flight. this representative agreed an hour and 20 minutes wasn't enough time. i'd called the company a couple of weeks ago and another person said it was! just hope they can do something for me at this late date. my return is for may 17.

You need to tell us which airline(s) are you using, and whether they are on same tickets. It's one thing for AA-AA or DL-DL. Different matter for two airlines on one ticket. And again different if you're connecting to Jetblue.

There are customs/immigration at various terminals. Wait time and length of walk are different. Same thing for the line for security.

Time of day will also help.

But yes, you'll have to go through immigration, pick up luggage, go through customs, and reclear security.

You have to re-clear security because you have, for however a brief period of time, had access to your checked luggage.

IME the re-clearing can take the greatest amount of time although if you arrive along with a deluge of others the processing through Immigration can take a long time also so be prepared mentally for that.

i'm flying delta, arriving around 1:45 p.m. on a saturday, with the connecting flight leaving at 3:05.

I just returned from Nice on April 29 through JFK. My Delta flight was on time, but I had a little over two hours til my connection. Everything went smooth and fast through immigrations and customs. But my connecting gate was close. I even had time to have lunch.

i hope i have a similar experience, scatcat. delta won't change my flight without a fee because, they claim, "its a legal connection." meaning if all the stars and planets align, most passengers can make it. fortunately, there are two other flights out later that afternoon if i miss the connection.

bobbeye...

If it's a legal connection and if you are unable to make it, then it becomes Delta's responsibility to put you on the later flight...

Really I wouldn't worry too much...if you can't make the connection, they will make alternate arrangements for you.