When do I go through customs?
I'm flying out of New York JFK airport, transferring at LAX in Los Angeles, and then flying to Melbourne Australia. The entire trip I'm flying with Qantas.
Will I have to gather my checked luggage and go through customs at LAX? My concern is that I only have an hour and 10 minutes between flights and am unsure if I'll be able to make it to my connecting flight on time.
Best Answer
Will I have to gather my checked luggage and go through customs at LAX?
No. The US does not have systematic exit controls. There may be CBP officers interviewing people at the gate; they do select some flights for this treatment. You will not need to retrieve your bags at LAX, however. They will be checked through to Melbourne.
When do I go through customs?
You will pass through Australia's immigration and customs controls in Melbourne.
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Do you go through customs before or after baggage claim?
To get your baggage: After clearing immigration, proceed to the baggage reclaim area to collect your bags. If you are on an international flight connecting to a U.S. destination, make sure you claim your baggage before going through U.S. Customs.Do you have to go through customs to leave the US?
Generally speaking, you only clear customs if you're leaving the airport and entering into the country, not heading on to connecting flights.How much time should you allow for customs?
Customs and Immigration If you are traveling to another country, find out where you will go through customs and add at least two hours to the minimum connection time for that airport.How does it take to go through customs?
Approximately how long does it take to go through customs and catch a connecting flight? If it is not busy and there are no other flights in the room, then 10-15 minutes. If the room is full with other arriving passengers, it can take up to an hour to 2 hours.Travel English: How to go through customs at the airport
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