O'Hare customs and connections
 

Wife2b and I are trying to go to Poland in late summer/early autumn and will connect through ORD from our origin flight. Here's the question: when we come back from Poland on our transatlantic flight, what is the minimum amount of time we need to make our connection?

Right now, the gaps are in the 75-90 minute range between touch down and the flight home. Is 85 minutes do-able? It's workable in Texas and Atlanta, but is a no-chancer in Miami (where the two-hour customs clearance for Americans is a norm).

We are both Americans who would be returning home (no green cards or foreign passports).

Thanks for the help.

Yes, I think it's highly doable for US citizens.

120 minutes is the very minimum I'd do at ORD, ATL, MIA, or JFK.

We've made it through in 30 minutes or less each of the half dozen times we've had to go through customs at ORD. The longest wait was usually for the luggage, not going through the customs lines themselves.

Swalter = have you also had to transfer from the international arrivals terminal (is it terminal 5?) to a domestic flight (i.e., the American or United terminals)?

I've never been able to connect a domestic flight in under 60 minutes so I have no idea how swalter is doing this going through customs at ORD.

My point was that we were through the customs process in 30 minutes and out the door. This scenario then gives you 45-60 minutes to get to the next gate.

I think the time of day may be a factor but I make it through customs, transit from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 for my connecting domestic flight and through security generally in 30-45 minutes. This is with my international flight landing around 5:30 in the afternoon and no checked luggage.

I've only done it twice, but my experience getting through customs and on my way was exactly like swalter's.

The problem with us has always been the luggage retrieval process.

Before makng a decision I would check the on-time arrival record of your incoming flight. If it's good - you may be OK. If it's often late - even by 20/30 minutes - esp if you have checked luggage - I think you would be in trouble.

You're also assuming that you land on time and aren't held up circling the city due to air traffic. Another factor is how many other international flights arrive at the same time.

I think 75-90 is doable, but I'd also check that your connecting flight isn't the last one of the day. That way if you miss it, you aren't stuck overnight.