Hello all,
We are visiting Portugal in late October. Our return flight out of Lisbon with TAP airlines has a layover in Newark (EWR) where we change planes and the airline(United) to reach our final destination of Chicago. I wanted to know if we would need to clear U.S. customs in Newark, or when we arrive in Chicago.
If we need to clear customs in Newark, this would certainly affect the amount of time we would need at that layover...so as to not miss the connecting flight.
Thanks,
BT
You'll clear immigration and customs in Newark. You'll also collect your checked bags, if any, in Newark, and re-check them for Chicago.
If you don't have Global Entry, you might consider getting it to speed up getting through immigration. Or mobile passport, which is free, if you have a smart phone.
Is your journey on one ticket or 2?
How long is it between the flights?
There is a nonstop TAP 229 from Lisbon to Chicago. Doesn't go everyday tho but might be worthwhile adjusting to take so you don't have the transfer.
There are several options for the length of a layover and since we have to go through customs, I’ll probably opt for the 2 to 3 hour layover unfortunately. I’m aware of that nonstop TIP flight from Lisbon to Chicago, but it doesn’t appear to be available the day we are coming back. Thanks for all your advice
BT
We did that trip and on the way back to the USA we transferred in London Heathrow and then landed in Chicago. To me it is easier to transfer in Europe than in the USA just because of the collecting bags and rechecking.
The more I look into it, agree it will be easier to do a transfer/ change flights in Europe.
We are choosing a flight from Lisbon to Dublin - clear US customs in Dublin ( which is a snap with Global Traveler), then on to Chicago.
Thanks everyone !!
BT
