changing planes at JFK

When connecting from an international to a domestic flight in the US, there's really no such thing as "checking baggage through." You will have to reclaim all your bags at the baggage carousels, hand-carry them through customs, and then re-check them for your connecting flight.

Good to know. So my choices are- take carryon only or book later flight to DFW from JFK. Thanks for the info

Honestly, even with carry-ons only, I'd be pretty uncomfortable with a 90 minute connection time. I'm not familiar with the American Airlines terminal at JFK, but when I recently made an international-to-domestic connection on Delta, it took me an hour and 15 minutes from the time my first flight arrived to the time I sat down at the connecting gate - and that was with almost no line at immigration/passport control (ETA: and no checked luggage and no change of terminal). The big bottleneck in my case was at security to re-enter the terminal after going through customs.

If you have the option to take a later flight with a longer layover, I'd recommend it.

I'm with khbuzzard. I transited thru JFK in June on Delta and had 3.5 hours. The changing terminal buildings added a lot of time in spite of the fact there was a train for part of the way. It let us out near what seemed to be a parking garage so not actually IN the 2nd terminal. In the end we did have enough time to grab a quick meal but I would not go with less than 3 hours for that change.

I was thru Immigration quickly with Global Entry. I went to the baggage claim area as you have to pick up your bag, take it thru Customs and then hand it back in to your airline and this is what took the longest. It was at least 30 minutes for all 3 of our bags to come out (brother and SIL did not have GE but were thru Immigration well before the bags started arriving).

We were on Delta all the way.

Are there any flights direct from DFW to somewhere in Europe? If there is something direct to Amsterdam, I would consider that over JFK but would want at least 1.5 hours to transit AMS as you have to go thru Immigration to leave the Schengen area. I would not choose to do this with a transit in Paris or London.

Here is my comment left in your other post about 'airports in Milan'

Looking at AA flights from Milan to DFW, it appears what you are contemplating is MXP-DFW, via JFK. AA199-MXP-JFK and AA 1274 JFK-DFW.

AA seems to believe it is doable.

If something does go awry, they have a number ( looks like 4) later flights to put you on.

Your airline will determine which airport you will use in Milan, and n the case it seems to be MXP, which is the easier to get to.

Looks like you will be up early that day to get a 1020 flight.

Sorry if you find this unduly repetitive

Honestly, even with carry-ons only, I'd be pretty uncomfortable with a 90 minute connection time.

Here, here! JFK is probably not the worst place for an international connection, but it's definitely in the race. I'd suggest another airport or a lot more time.

We had a bad experience last summer coming back from Milan to Atlanta, via JFK, on Delta partner Alitalia. Not just retrieve your bags and go through security again, but take your bags and walk outside from one terminal to the next with no full sidewalk connection, i.e. walk on street with cars dropping off passengers. Then enter the old terminal building with crowded security lines and wait. Finally, to rub salt in it, my wife's Duty Free purchase from MXP airport, in a sealed and clear plastic bag with visible receipt, was torn open by a TSA employee and then poorly duct taped back together. Nice!

Avoid JKF with connecting USA flights when coming from Europe. Dublin and Shannon have USA Customs pre-clearance, which is much easier on the passenger, although possibly slower, depending on crowds.

JFK -- my home international airport.

That said, don't do this itinerary. 90 minutes is cutting it way too tightly particularly as you could be on immigration lines for 90 minutes. In addition, you will have to reclaim your bag, recheck your bags to DFW and go through security again.

DO NOT DO THIS.

If you can't fly nonstop to DFW, then you need to layover at an airport that will give you at least 2 1/2 - 3 hours of connection time.

It's a pity that JFK won't work for you because you would be arriving from Milan and departing for DFW from the same terminal. It's easy. Unfortunately, 90 minutes is ridiculous.

We also like connecting in Dublin so that we can go through US customs and immigration before boarding the flight to the US.

I've done a 95 minute connection there on Delta and had time to spare for restrooms and snax even after getting sent to secondary agricultural screening. (Had been hiking in sheep pastures on that trip and noted it on customs paperwork) That short did make me a bit nervous though.

When booking a short connection, the question is 'what can happen if you miss your original flight?' and if you're trying to connect to the last flight of the night that will get you to your home airport there's far less risk tolerance than if the airline had 3-5 additional flights they can put you on if you miss your first connection. I'll play with fire and take morning 38 minute domestic connections in ATL if the ticket price is right because there are half a dozen options if I miss on the first one, but if I'm aiming for a once a day flight to Europe, I want 2+ hours on the outbound as a weather and mechanical buffer.

if you are flying American on both legs, you will not have to change terminals. That's the good news.

The bad news is that you always go through immigration and customs at your first US airport, unless you went through an airport with Pre-clearance (Canadian and Irish airports have this). So, on the route you propose, you will need to do customs and immigration at JFK, then drop your bags outside the customs door at the "baggage recheck" area (there can be a line, but it moves pretty fast, as your bags are already tagged), then go through security to get to your next gate.

So, I agree with the others. I'd want 3 hours - at any US airport - when connecting from international to domestic.

Yes, if you connect in Dublin, you go through customs and immigration there. So, don't cut that connection too short either..

Changing planes at JFK is always a challenge to me.

I managed one gate to gate connection in 65 minutes, but that was due to a combination of factors. Our checked bag was almost the first one offloaded, so we were able to quickly grab it and recheck it. Second - we were using that CBP app Mobile Pass. There was literally one person in front of us in that line which was better than the regular US entry line. Last, our connecting flight was departing from a relatively close terminal/gate.

I've also missed my connection at JFK because the bags were almost the last ones offloaded + the first flight was delayed. We wound up spending the night in New York City.

When returning to the US from other countries, I always allow a minimum of 3 hours to clear international arrivals and reach my gate for the next leg of my flight unless returning from an airport which has US pre-clearance through the TSA. (Such as Dublin or Calgary.)

Armed with all the good advice, I think I"m going to fly direct from Dallas to Heathrow, then (with a 2.5 hr. window), fly to Venice. The return would be Milan Malpensa to Heathrow with an overnight stay before catching the return to Dallas. This seems to be the most hassle free. Thanks to all.

I think your new plan sounds like a good one, particularly the return with the overnight in London.

Armed with all the good advice, I think I"m going to fly direct from
Dallas to Heathrow, then (with a 2.5 hr. window), fly to Venice.

Make sure that your arriving flight from DFW and departing flight to Venice are both at the same terminal. If not, 2 1/2 hours is not enough time.

The return would be Milan Malpensa to Heathrow with an overnight stay
before catching the return to Dallas. This seems to be the most hassle
free.

Overnighting at LHR on the way home sounds stress free. :-)

I think I"m going to fly direct from Dallas to Heathrow, then (with a 2.5 hr. window), fly to Venice.

This is a good idea ONLY if it is a single ticket booking.

This is a good idea ONLY if it is a single ticket booking.

100% agree.