Philadelphia Airport Customs Clearance time
 

I fly into and out of the Philadelphia airport weekly on domestic flights but upcoming up I have an international flight. On a week day how long does it typically take to clear customs once returning to the U.S.? I haven't flown internationally ouf of this airport for almost 2 years and can not remember.

I am considering a domestic round trip fare that would be booked separately from my international reservation that would leave out of terminal F (and I'm familar with the airport layout) at 3:25 pm after landing at 2:00 pm. The next direct flight is not until 9:15 pm...

Thoughts?

Always a risk that another inbound international flight will land 5 minutes before you. Always a risk that your plane will be 20 minutes late. If you do miss the outbound plane, you might have the option of riding the train and getting home by 9:15 depending on where you live.

It took me about 2 hours incoming to get bags, clear C&I, then go through TSA. I did notice TSA people bringing people to the head of the line if they had to make a flight. Nobody minded.

We are at the very front of the plane, but this will only help if by some miracle we do not check bags I suppose :)
I thought less than 2 hours will not be possible - but I could "hope" right? :)

Two hours is cutting it close as midafternoon is arrival time for a dozen or more flights from Europe. That's a risk I would not take with separate tickets. If one airline books you with that tight connection, it is responsible for rebooking if you miss it. But on separate tickets, you would be no-show on the second flight and on your own to pay for a new flight.

It always takes us a VERY long time to get our luggage at PHL. Even with only carry on you'd be cutting it very close. There is no way to tell what the lines will be like at any given time.

Last year my flight arrived at Philly's terminal A at 2:00PM and I did not make the 3:40PM to Montreal from terminal F.

I did not have any luggage to pick up, but was stuck at the immigration control line.

Mark