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Time for customs and terminal change at JFK

We are returning from Barbados on JetBlue on a Saturday evening February. 3 with only an hour and 10 minutes to catch a flight to Denver. Will we have time to get thru customs and get to terminal 5? We have carryon luggage and global re entry. I am worried.

Posted by
15003 posts

Jet Blue arrives at Terminal 5. So if your departing flight is also Terminal 5 you might make it. If you have to change terminals, you will be in trouble.

Posted by
4829 posts

If you can rearrange your flight to Denver to allow a little more time it would be prudent to do so. But with only a carry on and Global Entry you have a chance. Just try to have a contingency plan if it doesn't work.

Posted by
3996 posts

Is this on one itinerary or two separate flight tickets?

Customs isn't your issue unless you have something to declare. That said, you are cutting it way too closely. If your flight arrives before 10:30pm, the good news is that you'll arrive at Terminal 5 which is the same terminal in which you'll depart for Denver. You will need your Global Entry for immigration to have any chance to make your Denver flight.

If you arrive after 10:30pm, you will arrive at Terminal 4 according to Jetblue's website and have to go airside to wait for the Airtrain to take you to Terminal 5. TSA Precheck at Terminal 5 is just as slow as the regular security line (I hate flying Jetblue because of that). You will more than likely miss that flight because of the terminal change.

International customers arriving at JFK

International customers arriving at JFK between 5AM and 10:30PM will
arrive at Terminal 5 (T5). International customers arriving after
10:30PM and before 5AM will arrive at Terminal 4.
*This is subject to
change based on operational needs. Please check the flight status or
ask a crewmember at the airport for the latest information.

https://www.jetblue.com/travel/jfk/

Posted by
125 posts

One itinerary. Booked with help from Jetblue operator who never suggested there was a problem. Our flight arrives a bit before 7 pm and leaves at 8:10. There is a flight out of Barbados with connection in Fort Lauderdale to Jfk and then To Denver early Sat. Morning. How is Jetblue about changes?

Posted by
23267 posts

Doesn't JetBlue rank pretty high for the on-time schedule? Of course, I guess it doesn't really matter if they have a 98% on time record and you are part of the 2%.

Posted by
3996 posts

One itinerary. Booked with help from Jetblue operator who never
suggested there was a problem. Our flight arrives a bit before 7 pm
and leaves at 8:10.

Good that it's one itinerary. That connection is tight and if you miss your flight, you're on your own for hotel expenses. It looks like your flight is at 8:16 on Feb 3 so you'll have 6 extra minutes! :-)

There is a flight out of Barbados with connection in Fort Lauderdale
to Jfk and then To Denver early Sat. Morning. How is Jetblue about
changes?

It depends on the fare class of your ticket. You can always call them.

Posted by
125 posts

Called Jetblue and they agreed they should not have booked our flight with that short a connection time. They booked us on an earlier (7:30 am) flight thru Fort Lauderdale arriving at JFK at 5 pm. And no change fee. I will be booking Jetblue in the future. Long day of traveling but the stress will be gone.
And Jetblue does not have the best on time record and neither does JFK.

Yeah for Jetblue.

Posted by
15003 posts

How long is your connection in Fort Lauderdale? You do realize you will now go through immigration and customs there and not JFK.

Posted by
125 posts

Yes, more than 3 hours in FLL. Just wanted to be relieved of the stress of the short connection in JFK. Long day but less stress.

Posted by
23267 posts

Except on a Saturday in FLL the airport will be an absolute zoo. Be prepared for long lines and grumpy people. You may have trouble finding a seat in the waiting area.

Posted by
3996 posts

Patricia, FLL is definitely annoying on a Saturday with thousands upon thousands with the gates being jammed. It's still a vast improvement on your ~70 minutes at JFK on your initial itinerary.

Posted by
4829 posts

Have flown in and out of FLL many, many times. Yes, it will be something of a zoo and a bit annoying, but with more than 3 hours there you should be fine. It is a small airport so it may be crowded, but customs and security usually go fairly quickly. If you have extra time there are several places to get food and drink at reasonable (for airports) prices.