This is my first trip overseas. I have two questions. I'm traveling to Dusseldorf Germany from ATL. I am considering a flight to JFK and then JFK to DUS to save money. Here are my questions:
*Would anyone recommend that option?
*If I do that, how much time do I need to get through customs when I return to JFK before I get a flight back to ATL?
If you have any advice for a first time traveler, that is welcomed too! Thank you. EK
Seems a fine trip to me.
We just came back from Madrid through JFK to San Francisco. We originally had a 3 hour layover, that was inexplicably shortened to 2 hours the night before (our flight was scheduled to leave at 10:15am even as late as when they sent the check in reminder - then when I checked in we found out it actually left at 11:15, so weird... this was on Delta).
Anyway, we needed every bit of the 2 hours. We weren't delayed or anything. We went through customs, which wasn't too bad, though I could see the set-up and they were prepped for very long lines, so I guess sometimes it is like that. Then we had to collect luggage (traveling with a group so everyone was checking) - and then redeposit it. This didn't actually take too long. Then we had to go through another security, which took FOREVER. the line wasn't that long but they had ONE LINE open for everyone coming in internationally... we were there probably 45 minutes at least. And no sense of urgency from the workers.
Luckily we were leaving from the same terminal, if not, add more time. We barely had time to grab a sandwich for the next flight and board. I would have loved another hour to actually eat, coming off a long flight and for us, getting on another long one.
I would recommend 3 hour layover. It seems long, but it isn't.
Kim
You are probably going to get a lot of opinions. JFK isn't one of my favorite airports but that wouldn't be a determining factor for me. What would dictate the trip for me would be; first, connection times and second, cost. Just my preference to do it that way.
Outbound I would want a flight with no less than a 2.25 hour lay over at JFK and no more than 3.5 hours. International flights can begin boarding 45 minutes prior to flight time if its a big plane so that allows my flight to be a little late to JFK and I still have an easy walk to the next gate and can sort of relax through the process.
Coming back, if all I am using is carry on I might be good with 1.75 hour lay over because I have Global Entry which pretty much assures that the process only takes a few minutes. With checked bags 2.25 hours and if I didn't have Global Entry I would add 30 minutes to the times. I also worry a little less on the way back because I am more tolerant of getting home late than I am missing part of my vacation time.
You can cut my times considerably and 4 out of 5 times it will work just fine, but I would rather have too much time and spend it drinking a cup of coffee than too little time and miss a connection or have to go racing through an airport.
would i recommend it to save how much money? vs how much more travel time? vs the lay over schedule?
If it only added a hour and if it saved $250 and if it had decent layovers..............maybe yes
I've haven't flown into JFK in decades, and then not internationally, but I have flown into the United States at various airports 13 times, and immigration/customs has always been a time consuming process. It seems there are always long lines. I think it has always taken around an hour, sometimes more. Further, international arrivals is often in a separate building, requiring a change of terminal if you are flying on.
I would be uncomfortable with anything less than two hours.
Reading in the papers that security is real tight and delays massive all over (especially in US) due to ISIS and the recent bombings in Brussels. I expect to be there at least 3 hours before my flight departure in both Philadelphiaand Frankfurt in May just for piece of mind. A couple of years ago I flew from Paris to JFK. I was there 2 hours before my flight and I just barely made the plane. It is the worst feeling in the world, especially with an international flight. I swore I would never do that again because I was a nervous wreck by the time I got on the plane. Go early and browse the airport or take a good book for piece of mind.
As long as you're all on one ticket, this can work fine. For your return trip, do allow AT LEAST 3 hours between the time you arrive at JFK and the time you take off for Atlanta - four hours if you want to relax instead of having a breakdown.
However, if you're on separate tickets for the two sections (ATL-JFK and JFK-DUS), don't do it. If there's any disruption of any kind that causes you to miss your connection, you forfeit the second ticket. You then have to buy a new ticket at last-minute prices - if there is even availability. Depending on the timing, you could easily have to spend a night in a hotel to get the next flight; the cost of this plus a new last-minute ticket will easily be far more than any "savings" on the original tickets.
Of course, if you want to spend a day or more in New York at each end of your trip, separate tickets work fine. If you don't - again, fugeddaboutit.
Look at Kayak or Google Flights to learn about all options from ATL to DUS for your dates. If you do have to change planes, it's OK to use a US airport on the way over (the US has no customs or passport control on departure, although depending on the airport, you may or may not have to pass through security). But on the way back, you have to go through US immigration and customs at your first airport - along with everyone else, which is why it takes a long time. then you have to go through security before boarding your next flight. So, if you can't get a nonstop back to Atlanta, try to change in Europe. Note that for changing, not all European airports are created equal; Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Munich are easy, but London and Paris are not.
I would recommend, if at all possible, flying direct from ATL - DUS. Changing flights is a headache even in the best of events, and eliminating even one glitch caused by changing flights is worth it to me.
We're flying ATL-MUC in June. ATL is basically our "home" airport, even though we have to drive another 3-4 hours to get back home. We looked into taking our local puddle jumper from home to ATL (it >1 hr flight), but I was so nervous about the layover time, we decided to do what we've always done and drive.
The new international terminal (Terminal F) at ATL is great. You don't have to do any more than use the inter-terminal train to get to the other terminals. It even has its own covered parking lot if you're driving and need to park there. Since ATL is our final destination from overseas AND we use only carry-on luggage, arrival has been super easy...just like disembarking from a domestic flight.
Hi,
If you can do nonstop ATL to DUS, do it, depending on the price difference. Too bad that connection doesn't exist for SFO, would be great if SFO to DUS nonstop were in operation,... it does for LAX to DUS.
There is some misinformation in the above postings. I will try to answer you questions directly. While direct flights are always preferred, your outbound through JFK is OK, unless you have to change terminals you will stay behind security, any checked luggage will be checked through so other than some inconvenience and time lost changing planes it will be OK. Nothing unusual. And I would do it if it saves money.
Returning is a different question. JFK is a very busy airport with a lot of international arrivals and therefore potentially long lines for immigration and customs. You have not indicated when your trip is but it will not make a lot of difference with JFK. As a first time traveler I assume you don't have Global Entry - you should consider if you have time. Goggle it. GE is a preferred travelers program - $100 for five year. You are pre-screened so that you can use the GE line on returning to the US AND, equally if not more important, use the Pre-check lines at TSA. That alone is worth the $20/year if you travel once or twice a year domestically.
This is your sequence on returning -- Immigration first. Immigration is now using a automated kiosks - answer some questions (know your flight number), scans your passport and prints out a slip to take to the immigration officer. Can be long lines for both. With Global Entry you use dedicated kiosks with fewer people since the vast a majority do not have GE and a GE line for the immigration officer.
From immigration - keep following the flow - you claim any checked luggage - and on to customs. You hand your declaration slip to a custom officer - they may or not ask any question - then you immediately redeposit any previous checked luggage. In the pick up area and lines to customs there maybe a dog with a handler sniffing around looking for fruits, vegetables, and probably drugs. So don't bring back any fruit. There is also a dedicated line for GE at customs - far right at JFK. Looks for it. It is not obvious.
After customs and redeposit of checked luggage, you are outside of security so it is on your gate and another pass through TSA security. Again - potential more lines. Unless you have pre-check.
With out GE I would allow at least three and maybe closer to four hours to make your connection. With GE you could probably get it closer to two hours. Regardless of what you do, make sure you know the next flight to ATL should you miss your connection.
If you could avoid coming back through JFK I would do it but if you cannot - there are worse things in life than a couple extra hours at JFK. We arrived in JFK from Germany the day that JFK re-opened after being closed because of the blizzard several years ago. That was an experience.
