We'll be returning to the US from Heathrow on Delta #41; flight goes to Minneapolis where we change planes but the flight # on to Seattle is the original # from London. I get different answers from Delta about whether we will go through customs in Minneapolis or Seattle. Has anyone made this flight recently?
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
According to the US Customs and Border Control Website: "If the final destination is in the U.S. and the first port of arrival is in the U.S., travelers must clear immigration and customs at the first port of entry. If a connection is involved, the traveler will not be required to go through another clearance when they arrive at their final destination." Based on this, I would say you will go through customs in Minneapolis.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
I'm not sure why Delta isn't giving you the correct answer that Nancy did. Flight numbers are irrelevant; you must go through formalities at your first point of entry into the US. You will deplane in Minneapolis, go through immigration (passport), then collect all your luggage, then go through customs, then recheck your luggage (there should be a recheck desk right outside the customs door to make this easy), then find your next flight and go back through security. And don't assume it will be at the same gate or even the same plane you deplaned from; I've had the same "flight number" actually be a different plane altogether (called a "change of gauge"), and I've had it be the same plane, but moved to a different gate.
Posted by
OP
Hayden, Idaho, USA
143 posts
Thanks; knew RS folks wld know. This makes sense to me but ..............