DFW to Milan Customs question

Let’s clarify a couple of things. In general when crossing international borders there are 2 formalities for travelers.

1. Passport control or immigration allows an individual to enter a country in the case of your trip to Italy the Schengen area
2. Customs which applies to the goods you bring with you.

I when you start your trip there is generally no customs or immigration in the US. An exception would be if you are carrying more than 10K in cash. Which would require declaring it and paperwork

If you connect in London you would be transiting. No formal immigration. Probably a security screening.

If you connect in Madrid then this is your first point of entry into the Schengen area and you would go through passport control here. Customs is country specific so would be in Milan. If you have nothing to declare you just walk through the appropriate walkways and out you go.

There is no passport control (customs as you put it) when leaving the US.

If you connect in London you would be transiting. No formal immigration. Probably a security screening.

No "probably" about it. You will go through a security screening.

An important point to make is to be sure you buy the DFW-MXP flight as a single ticket. Which airline you choose will dictate where you transfer. They will have calculated how much time is needed to do it.

I wouldn’t call any layover over 1.5 hours “short”. There maybe be a handful of global airports where that’s tight, but not short. And for me, three hours borders on long.

Entering Europe via Madrid would have you go through passport control there, and you’d skip that step in Milan. That airport is massive, but quite efficient. .

Also keep this in mind for your return. The first place you stop in the USA will be where you go through immigration and customs. That's for the return. Your luggage will be unloaded--if you have checked luggage--and then will have to be rechecked for your next flight.

This can take time unless you have Global Entry or use Mobile Passport.

Frank is correct. We always err for a long connect time for US Customs & passport control on return. Some airports are less efficient than others. Missing that last leg on the return home is painful.

Thank you!

If I had a choice I would take the DFW-MAD flight. Madrid is an easy airport to navigate and 2 hours is plenty of time to catch a flight to MXP. Once you clear passport control in Madrid catching a flight to Milan is like a domestic flight in the states. Global Entry is a wise investment too. Plenty of credit cards reimburse you for the fee and it makes coming back home so much easier. Plus, Global Entry gives you TSA pre check on domestic flights. Good luck!