Good afternoon,
I am taking a group of students from Indpls to Toulouse, France in March and need clarification on immigration and customs. If we fly from the U.S. into Amsterdam (or Munich) and on to Toulouse, at what points do we need to go through immigration and/or customs?
If we fly different airlines (USAir to Munich and then Air France to Toulouse, for example), will that make a difference? I am trying to make this as painless as possible for the students. Thanks so much.
Michelle
France, Netherlands and Germany are all part of Schengen. You will go through Customs and Immigration at your first point of entry. After that, it's like traveling between states.
Michelle,
Given your home location and destination, you might consider other airports for the trip.
I don't know what flights are available from Indianapolis in March, but you could also look at flying to London Gatwick and then connecting with EasyJet direct to Toulouse. Depending on when you book, they have flights listed as low as UK$29.99. Your group would clear Passport control at LGW before boarding your flight to France. This arrangement wouldn't be a "connecting flight" so you would have to retrieve checked luggage and then go through the process again for the next flight. Be sure the students "pack light" as some of the budgets have somewhat restrictive baggage limits.
I don't have much information on travel times or costs from Indianapolis to Montreal, but another option I was going to suggest was an Air Transat direct flight from Montreal to Toulouse (Cdn.$595~). Unfortunately that route doesn't commence until about 2 May 2009.
Good luck and happy travels!
I don't agree with Ken's advice; especially with a large group. Should your flight out of Indpls be delayed and you miss your easyjet flight, easyjet isn't going put you on a later flight- those tickets will be worthless. Your only other option would be to pay full price on another airline, it's a huge financial risk. Also, as the UK is not part of Schengen, if your group already has their easyjet boarding passes (printed out at home), and no checked luggage they won't go through passport control at Gatwick, it will only be done at Toulouse. If they don't have passes and/or do have checked luggage (they will have to exit the airport and re-enter), then they will have to go through two passport controls at Gatwick and France.
I agree with Michael, I think you'd be better off staying away from the budget airlines for your trip. I would do it that way myself (and I have done), but with a group it's too big a financial risk. Plus you would have the issue of going through passport control in both airports. As Frank said, if you fly directly into a Schengen country you'll only do it once.
Michael has raised some good points, but I still feel the LGW connection is a reasonable option. The primary criteria I used in suggesting this was Michelle's intent to "make this as painless as possible for the students". Using flights to LGW and then direct to TLS seemed "painless" (no rail trips or airport changes required).
Regarding the possiblity of missing the connection to the EasyJet flights, the same problem would exist if arriving in Europe at Amsterdam or Munich and then using budget airlines from there to TLS. However, if connecting flights are booked directly to TLS with one airline, this would be easier.
I suspect it's not likely that a group of this size will be travelling only carry-on luggage, so the problem of dealing with checked luggage is going to exist in either case.
I wouldn't find it a big problem to go through Passport control twice, so that was less of a priority when I made my original post. Aside from taking a bit of extra time, it's not a big deal.
Another possibility would be to go via Air Canada from Toronto. There's a connection in Frankfurt, and then Lufthansa direct to TLS. Since this is a Star Alliance connection, checked luggage will only need to be retrieved on arrival in TLS (and only one trip through Passport control!).
Each of the options certainly need to be explored further, but I just wanted to offer alternatives to the suggestions that had been listed so far.
Cheers!
Adding another note, my experiences with the Munich airport have been relatively painless so I personally think Munich is a good choice for transfer. Munich's airport is quite efficient. I agree with others ... would not risk a separate ticket on a discount airline with a group.
Going back to your original question, Yes, assume that you will need to go through Passport/Immigration Control at your first Schengen stop (Amsterdam or Munich). There is a rare chance that if your flight is truly an "in transit" flight and you are entering a secure international flight area and leaving from that area, there will be no check until the next destination. Either way, Schengen passport checks seem to go quick. Customs is separate, and in most Schengen airports is essentially optional. Rarely would you or your students need to declare anything, so as you are leaving the airport at your final destination, simply stay in the main aisle going out that will be signed with something akin to "no declarations". If you did need to declare something, you would head off into the aisle or doorway marked for Customs declarations. There is no mandatory form to fill out for either immigrations or customs upon entering the Schengen zone, however there would be if entering Great Britain.
