How long should I give myself to clear customs to catch a Jet Blue
flight from JFK to MCO?
flight from JFK to MCO?
Last september I was in the queue for almost 2hrs! I think we got in about 21.00 and I was out by 23.00. I remember nearing the front of the queue and the person in front of me was asked which flight they came in on by security. The security officers response was, 'that flight came in at 21.00!'. They then promptly arranged for some more custom desks to open.
As sickbag says, its very dependent on what time you arrive at JFK and how quickly you get off the aircraft. You can be through in 20 minutes or two hours. If you can tell us what flight you are arriving on, there are bound to be members who can give you their actual experiences. Last time we were there we flew on the VS009 i think, and that was nearly a 2 hour wait as two other aircraft arrived at the same time we did (Air India and someone else). If you get caught between these, then it can be a nightmare.
Thanks,
Sarah
Thanks,
Sarah
Back in September ex-vs003 it took about 30 minutes or so but we had the hall to ourselves. If time is tight, have a word with the CC to see if you can get off first and in the hall, let the 'floor walker' know and they might be able to get you to the front.
From my flight the real delay was the baggage. Must have been 45 minutes or so.
From my flight the real delay was the baggage. Must have been 45 minutes or so.
Thanks
Darren
Darren
OK here's my view ranked in order of ease of transit at JFK ...
VS003 dep 0930 arr 1230 - the number 1 option, can take as little as 10 to 20 minutes to clear immigration and if the bags have caught up with you you're on your way
VS045 dep 1400 arr 1650 - can be great, but there are I think a SA and a LH flight due around the same time to T4 so if VS beats them, the wait is often OK
VS025 dep 1800 arr 2100 - I haven't done this one in a while but don't recall it being horrid like the VS9 - more like 30 -45 mins????
VS009 dep 1600 arr 1855 - avoid like the plague, never less than 1 to 1 1/2 hrs often more, there's an Air India flight, an Alitalia flight and a Ukraine flight that all seem to land 5 mins before VS9, added to that there's a SA 346 that lands 10 mins before the others. Horrid nightmare arrival especially if you have dinner plans ... and there's never any point in rushing to immigration thinking that you will beat others, it may save 1 minute in 120 but no more!
All this presumes you are in Upper or PE, that said because of the way the JFK people manage the lines sometimes Economy pax are through before Upper, however generally add another 10 mins if you're right at the back of the bus.
VS003 dep 0930 arr 1230 - the number 1 option, can take as little as 10 to 20 minutes to clear immigration and if the bags have caught up with you you're on your way
VS045 dep 1400 arr 1650 - can be great, but there are I think a SA and a LH flight due around the same time to T4 so if VS beats them, the wait is often OK
VS025 dep 1800 arr 2100 - I haven't done this one in a while but don't recall it being horrid like the VS9 - more like 30 -45 mins????
VS009 dep 1600 arr 1855 - avoid like the plague, never less than 1 to 1 1/2 hrs often more, there's an Air India flight, an Alitalia flight and a Ukraine flight that all seem to land 5 mins before VS9, added to that there's a SA 346 that lands 10 mins before the others. Horrid nightmare arrival especially if you have dinner plans ... and there's never any point in rushing to immigration thinking that you will beat others, it may save 1 minute in 120 but no more!
All this presumes you are in Upper or PE, that said because of the way the JFK people manage the lines sometimes Economy pax are through before Upper, however generally add another 10 mins if you're right at the back of the bus.
There's a plane at JFK, to fly you back from far away
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
all those dark and frantic transatlantic miles
Originally posted by slinky09
OK here's my view ranked in order of ease of transit at JFK ...
VS003 dep 0930 arr 1230 - the number 1 option, can take as little as 10 to 20 minutes to clear immigration and if the bags have caught up with you you're on your way
VS045 dep 1400 arr 1650 - can be great, but there are I think a SA and a LH flight due around the same time to T4 so if VS beats them, the wait is often OK
VS025 dep 1800 arr 2100 - I haven't done this one in a while but don't recall it being horrid like the VS9 - more like 30 -45 mins????
VS009 dep 1600 arr 1855 - avoid like the plague, never less than 1 to 1 1/2 hrs often more, there's an Air India flight, an Alitalia flight and a Ukraine flight that all seem to land 5 mins before VS9, added to that there's a SA 346 that lands 10 mins before the others. Horrid nightmare arrival especially if you have dinner plans ... and there's never any point in rushing to immigration thinking that you will beat others, it may save 1 minute in 120 but no more!
All this presumes you are in Upper or PE, that said because of the way the JFK people manage the lines sometimes Economy pax are through before Upper, however generally add another 10 mins if you're right at the back of the bus.
Add the Air India flight to the VS 045 and twice in the last 12 months it's taken over an hour to get through mainly due to people on those flights not having the paperwork filled out correctly. 2 weeks ago they had Checkers in the line and if the paperwork wasn't right you were at the back of the line to fill it out !
I've also taken both the JFK, and EWR flights that leave LHR at 4PM and have had no wait both times at Immigration.
Originally posted by alexb
i am looking at either vs3 or vs45
See above about the 45 ... Probably not your best option I'm afraid [;)]
I have flown the VS009 into JFK twice in the last month and have found if you are first off the plane (flying in upper)and keep a fair pace to immigration you can beat the other flights. I got through within 10 minutes. If it is 'crazy' simply hang back and do not join the queue. The floor walker will open up the queues on the right which are reserved for US citizens. The last tip is to always fill out your immigration forms before you crack open the vino!
Back in Aug I took the VS9 and was delayed so much that VS25 was directly behind. Took 2 hours to clear immigration and didn't leave airport till after 11pm.
I did vs45 back in December. We came in behind a flight from Eastern Europe. From what I could see it was either Poland or the Ukraine. I knew there would be a queue so we quick-marched to get ahead. We were maybe 5th in line from VS45, but about 205th in the queue. It took 1hr 40 to get through. After about 1 hr they sent people down to the US side of the hall but by then its a little too late...
If you can avoid JFK then do so.
If you can avoid JFK then do so.
Did the VS45 twice last year. Both landing on fridays. The first took 3 hours and the second 2 hours to get through. As others have commented there are a lot of interntational flights all arriving at a similar time to the 45. Both of these times the immigration hall (on the visitors side) was completely full. Coupled with the fact the air conditioning can't cope with that many people in the hall (it's warm!) it's not a pleasant experiance to say the least. I for one will not be going back through JFK. Will always look to use EWR when going to NY now.
Darren
Darren
Originally posted by alennon
I did vs45 back in December. We came in behind a flight from Eastern Europe. From what I could see it was either Poland or the Ukraine. I knew there would be a queue so we quick-marched to get ahead. We were maybe 5th in line from VS45, but about 205th in the queue. It took 1hr 40 to get through. After about 1 hr they sent people down to the US side of the hall but by then its a little too late...
If you can avoid JFK then do so.
That will be the CSA and Aerosvit flights.
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