Advice: JFK customs, getting next flight

Parent Cafe
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<p>DS will be arriving at JFK on an Air France flight about 4 PM on a Friday. Needs to then get a flight to Chicago.</p>

<p>Getting from one terminal to the other is no problem. What I’m concerned about is the amount of time it takes to get luggage, through customs and then security in the other terminal, plus the possibility that the first flight would be delayed arriving at JFK. This will be in the winter, so greater chance of weather issues. What kind of window should he give between flights? The international flight is already set. There are not many flights JFK to ORD after 5 PM, but there’s one at 7, another at 8.</p>

<p>Being a maybe-the-worst-will happen kind of person, is it better to stay overnight nearby and schedule a flight for the next morning? He’d be 20 by then. Will they let a 20 y/o (with a credit card) get a room?</p>

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<p>I’d say he will need at least 2 hours to get through customs, if not longer, but my data is outdated.</p>

<p>This is what I do when my credit card-less DD needs a room: as soon as I get a note from her, I go to Expedia, Holiday Inn or whatever site and get a room for her prepaid with my credit card. So far, it always worked. Even in Vancouver, BC. I once called a hotel in Salt Lake City at 2 am PST to get a room for her and her classmate who were stranded in there due to bad weather. The hotel was fine with my Amex number.</p>

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<p>I think 4 hours layover is plenty… even at JFK. Unless you are expecting him bring in more than allowed by the custom. Delay is another matter, you cannot control, but 4 hour layover is plenty under normal circumstances.</p>

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<p>We had to change planes in Hatfield (Atlanta) this summer, the first plane being an international flight. There were different lines for people who were connecting to other flights. You might want to research this to put your mind at ease. We had less than a two hour layover with no problems.</p>

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<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>We’ll go for the 3-4 hour layover. Good to know that some airports have different lines in customs for people with connecting flights. We’ll see if JFK has that, too. And I’m glad to hear that people under 21 can get a room. That will be a good alternative. Thanks again.</p>

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<p>you want to see if you can get it attached to the same ticket, or at least fly delta (partners with air france). If you buy a totally separate ticket then the airlines are not responsible for you if you misconnect. If it is a totally separate ticket then I would allow at least the 4 hours to go through customs, transfer terminals and re clear security. It’s doubtful that they would have separate lines if you need to transfer terminals since you still need to end up outside.</p>