Will 2 hours be enough time for a layover coming from Europe? We are flying from Europe to Boston and then continuing on to D.C. We are 2 adults & 2 children and we'll have to go through customs and recheck our luggage on a different airline.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2791 posts
It sounds like you are buying 2 tickets, one from your home to Boston and a second from Boston to DC. If that is the case then you need more time. I recommend at least 4 hours If if is one ticket purchases then it is iffy. You have to haul your luggage around Boston and I would want more time, but at least in this case it is a legal connection and the airline will get you to DC
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
No, it is not enough time. Assuming you are not US citizens, you have to allow a lot of time for immigration and customs. You will land in Boston, then go through immigration (can be long lines for everyone, but the lines move more slowly for non-US citizens). You then wait for your bags, then go through customs (customs takes longer in the US than in Europe, as we don't have the "green channel/red channel" system). Then, you recheck your bags; there is usually a baggage recheck desk right outside the customs door. But, if your bags aren't tagged through to DC, you may have to go to the airline's counter to check them in. Then, you have to get to the gate for your next flight, and will have to go through security. Even as a US citizen, I would allow 3 hours for all of this - MINIMUM. You should buy this itinerary on 1 ticket. This way, if you miss your connection, you wil be put on the next flight from Boston to DC at no extra charge. If you have separate tickets and miss your flight, you will have to buy a new ticket at full price (actually 4 new tickets - ouch!). Note that even if you have this all on 1 ticket, you must go through immigration and customs at your first point of arrival in the US, which in this case is Boston. Also note that when you leave customs, you have left the "sterile" area, so you will have to go through security again, even if your next flight is in the same terminal (there may be rare exceptions to this, but don't count on it). If you cannot buy this itinerary on 1 ticket, you MUST allow lots of time (4-5 hours) to be safe.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Most deffo buy both legs as linked tickets. In case of any problems with your first overseas flight, you will be on your own to find another ticket to DC from Boston. Remember, as well, that laws specifying compensation/accommodation for passenger who lose connections because of delays or cancelled flights give much less coverage than in EU. I'd buy one single ticket and put at least a 3-hour transfer time.