US Customs and connection time
We originally booked a flight from Lufthansa from Lyon (France) to Honolulu with a connection at Vancouver Airport. But our flight from Vancouver to Honolulu has been cancelled and replace by 2 flights Vancouver > San Francisco > Honolulu and the connection time at San Francisco airport is only 50 minutes.
We are concerned about connection time and US customs/immigration...
I've read that US custom and immigrations can be done in Vancouver, if so I think we just need to rush out to the next plane (same terminal, same company)
Will 50 minutes be enough ? If not what should we do ?
Lufthansa keep telling us that if they made these changes then we should be good.
Best Answer
Yes, you'll go through US customs and immigration in Vancouver (known as "preclearance"; source: US Customs and Border Patrol). That means that changing planes in San Francisco will be just like changing between two domestic flights. You don't mention the length of your layover in Vancouver; I hope it's long enough for you to get through preclearance.
50 minutes is shorter than I'd like for a connection but, as long as your flight from Vancouver isn't more than a few minutes late, you'll make your connection. It'll be stressful but it should be OK. Your baggage will most likely make the connection, too. If your incoming flight is late, then Lufthansa will book you onto yet another alternative flight; if your baggage doesn't make the connection, it will be forwarded to you, probably the next day.
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