I have a question about travel FROM Catania. Do we go through Customs AND Passport Control prior to departure in Catania? Has anyone flown through from Catania to Frankfurt and had to go thru Security again in Frankfurt? I am concerned because we only have a 50 min layover in Frankfurt (transit to US) and am concerned we will miss our connecting flight.
I usually go through Customs upon arrival in the US, but am told by my travel agent I will go thru Customs in Catania and security/passport control in Frankfurt.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4037 posts
Can you clarify: By "customs" do you mean where purchases and other possessions are checked? Or are you using it in the common, imprecise meaning of all border security?
The transfer in Frankfurt will probably involve a security check before boarding the second flight, especially for hand luggage. Hard to predict how crowded the security area will be. You have some chance if both flights are with the same airline, or on a single ticket. If you are changing to a trans-Atlantic ticket you bought separately, more is involved and making it will be a long shot.
The US does operate border preclearance in several foreign countries but not in Italy (including Catania). Perhaps you could ask for a fuller explanation from your travel agent.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7514 posts
When you board in Catania, you simply board the plane after security, your passport will be checked at security for ID, and it may as you board as well. If you have bags to check, and this is all on one ticket you will check your bags in Catania.
In Frankfurt, you will move from the domestic terminal to the International terminal, in doing so you will do exit immigration (if that is the correct word) basically they will look at your passport, your entry stamp, hopefully less than 90 days ago, stamp your passport and you will go to your gate for the US flight.
At the gate, there may be additional screening and passport checks.
On arrival at your first stop in the US, you will go through immigration/passport check, then retrieve your checked bags, walk by Customs. If that is your last stop, out the door; if catching a connecting flight, drop your bags off at re-check, go through security, and on to your gate.
No customs anywhere in the Schengen countries on exit.