International flights and layovers...a question.

[Anonymous]

I avoid layover in US if it’s international + domestic flight. There is need to check-remove-recheck the luggage. The domestic flights are worse compared to international - looking at you Delta. And if there are delays, chances are the international flights would be given priority compared to domestic.

[Anonymous]

Is it a long layover? Enough to leave the airport? If so, I prefer new places/more interesting locations.
If it’s shorter layovers then I pick whatever works best with the flight paths, generally shortest total duration. If I’m not leaving the airport idgaf where lol. I guess if I was being super picky, I’d pick whichever had a lounge accessible for my terminal.

[Anonymous]

I know this is an old thread and off topic but how do you know if you’ll need yo collect bags etc at a layover in a European city? We’re flying to Italy and layovers are Brussels going and Frankfort on the return. Trying to guesstimate what layover time we’ll be comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you travel internationally do you like layovers in the US or closer to your destination. We are going to Spain and found flights with a layover at JFK or various European cities. Do you have a preference. Someone I talked to said they like European city layovers because there are more chances to get out if you get stuck/delayed. But I like the idea of just having this long continuous flight overnight (best for sleeping?

Any preferences?

Of the two choices you posed, I would prefer the layover at JFK. I don't want to get stuck in an unfamiliar city speaking a different language if sh!t hits the fan. A JFK layover gives me lots of options back to DC if something goes wrong.

Also, get travel insurance!

Weird response, but ok.

In general, I would choose Europe because at that point you are closer to your destination and I'd rather take the overnight flight from JFK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to prefer international layovers because I could take a quick trip into town. Now I prefer domestic layovers so I can avoid going through immigration at Dulles.

Because Newark or JFK is so much smoother than Dulles. LOL.

Ha! I was going to say that. I will take a layover anywhere except Newark, JFK and Paris.

#NeverNewark

I don’t know about Newark but I can tell you that clearing customs at JFK is nowhere near as bad as it is at Dulles. Between faffing around waiting for a people mover to drop you at the main terminal and then waiting in line for 6 border guards to process 4 international flights full of people, I’ve vowed never to fly through Dulles again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an old thread and off topic but how do you know if you’ll need yo collect bags etc at a layover in a European city? We’re flying to Italy and layovers are Brussels going and Frankfort on the return. Trying to guesstimate what layover time we’ll be comfortable with.

Yes bags are checked through unless the layover is overnight generally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an old thread and off topic but how do you know if you’ll need yo collect bags etc at a layover in a European city? We’re flying to Italy and layovers are Brussels going and Frankfort on the return. Trying to guesstimate what layover time we’ll be comfortable with.

Yes bags are checked through unless the layover is overnight generally.

This is as opposed to the US, where you have to always collect checked bags upon first airport of arrival. It's different there- you don't technically clear customs until your final destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to get closer to my destination in case something happens to the second flight.

Also, I'd rather be in a foreign city - a new place to explore!

You wouldn’t be permitted to leave the terminal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to get closer to my destination in case something happens to the second flight.

Also, I'd rather be in a foreign city - a new place to explore!

You wouldn’t be permitted to leave the terminal

If they have a visa, and enough time, of course they are allowed to leave the terminal. It’s only a problem if they need an advance visa and do not have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to get closer to my destination in case something happens to the second flight.

Also, I'd rather be in a foreign city - a new place to explore!

You wouldn’t be permitted to leave the terminal

Why not? The assumption is that PP would be in the Schengen portion of the airport, having already cleared passport control. Why wouldn't they be able to leave the airport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an old thread and off topic but how do you know if you’ll need yo collect bags etc at a layover in a European city? We’re flying to Italy and layovers are Brussels going and Frankfort on the return. Trying to guesstimate what layover time we’ll be comfortable with.

Rule of thumb is that you have to clear customs at the first point of entry. (Aka you don't go through customs for domestic flights.)

So for the US, if you were to fly Rome-NYC-DC, the last leg is domestic, so you collect bags & clear customs in NYC.

For US - Brussels - Rome -- Brussels & Rome are both in Schengen, so you likely will collect bags and clear customs in Brussels.
For Rome - Frankfurt - US -- you aren't entering a new area for customs purposes in Frankfurt, so you won't need to collect bags and clear customs.

[Anonymous]

US layovers are my preference. Customer service is much better in the US if you’re a frequent flyer and delays and issues are resolved much faster in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an old thread and off topic but how do you know if you’ll need yo collect bags etc at a layover in a European city? We’re flying to Italy and layovers are Brussels going and Frankfort on the return. Trying to guesstimate what layover time we’ll be comfortable with.

Rule of thumb is that you have to clear customs at the first point of entry. (Aka you don't go through customs for domestic flights.)

So for the US, if you were to fly Rome-NYC-DC, the last leg is domestic, so you collect bags & clear customs in NYC.

For US - Brussels - Rome -- Brussels & Rome are both in Schengen, so you likely will collect bags and clear customs in Brussels.
For Rome - Frankfurt - US -- you aren't entering a new area for customs purposes in Frankfurt, so you won't need to collect bags and clear customs.

That's not how it works for the Schengen Area. Because they have entry AND exit passport control, it's different than how the US does it. When entering the Schengen Area, yes you go through passport control upon entry, but you do not clear customs until your final destination. In fact, if you are transferring to another non-Schengen flight, you stay in the non-Schengen part of the airport and don't go through either. That's why that guy got stuck in Paris airport for so many years, that Tom Hanks made a movie about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I prefer to get closer to my destination in case something happens to the second flight.

Also, I'd rather be in a foreign city - a new place to explore!

You wouldn’t be permitted to leave the terminal

This is not true. I have left the airport during a layover to explore. (Madrid, waiting for my flight to Seville.)

[Anonymous]

Random thought with all the chat of connecting in Europe or JFK. I have been to about 75 airports…not sure if that’s a lot or not, but I have never been to JFK. I find that kind of amazing.