JFK Transfer Question - Intl > Domestic time?

Hello all.

I'm planning a trip for work to Detroit via NY in May and wondered if anyone has had any experience with doing an Intl to Domestic transfer at JFK. My itinerary will be:

LHR - JFK on VS arrive 1210

JFK - DTW on NW departs 1600

Will 4hrs be enough time to make the transfer?

Many thanks in advance!

Oli

[ChuckC]

Absolutely, you'll have adequate time (and possibly a lot of extra time).

Your biggest challenge is always the US border control/customs queue. If it's quiet you will go through quite quickly; even with a queue you'll still be fine.

After you've cleared customs look for the Air Train signs inside the terminal (AT is JFK's pretty decent inter-terminal shuttle and it also goes to car hire and to the nearest Queens subway/LIRR station if you want to transfer to a quick train or subway to Manhattan or Long Island).

Once at the Air Train boarding level you'll see a sign with the names of other airlines and the terminal stop where you should exit. Inter-terminal trains run every few minutes and are free; the trains to the Queens subway/LIRR station are also quite frequent and the fare is US5 one-way.

Enjoy your trip, and welcome to V-Flyer.

Chuck-

Unless your flight in is very late, you then loose your way from the aeroplane to immigration and then upset the INS agent who sends you back to the end of the queue or for secondary screening then you should be more than OK.

Just be prepared in advance by knowing what terminal your flight to DTW departs from (should be on your ticket or itinerary) and how to get there from T4 (where VS arrives).

BTW leave a spare day in Detroit to visit the Ford motor museum im not a museumy person but that was brilliant!

cheer

alex

Just did the LHR-JFK trip on that flight last week and despite really taking my time I was driving away from the airport in my hire car at 1330hrs. There was not much a queue at customs and there were many of the 'friendly' officers working.

Remember that you will have to collect your luggage and recheck it in yourself at JFK even if you have an onward flight. Also, they stiff you for $3 to use a trolley so make sure you have that change ready or use one of your credit cards if you need to use a trolley. You can take your trolley onto the Air Train so you only have to pay for it once.

I'd usually look for a flight between 2:30 and 3pm based on your arrival time. Later is OK, for sure. Last time I was there it wasn't the best airport to spend a couple of hours in, YMMV.

Thanks to everyone for your wise advice!! I'm actually going to spend a few days now in NYC before I head to Detroit so now I should be able to relax a little instead of running around like from terminal to terminal.

Alex - I'd love to visit the Ford Museum (I hear it's great) but I'm actually working about 3 hours outside of Detroit in a casino called Soaring Eagle - Vegas it ain't!! The strange things us theatre producers have to do!!