How Do Layovers Work?

Layovers & Stopovers

Layovers can be stressful. Whenever possible, I prefer nonstop flights, even if they’re a little more expensive. But sometimes the price difference is too big to justify, and sometimes it’s just not possible to get where you’re going without a connecting flight. So how do layovers work? What happens with your checked luggage on a layover? Do you have to go through customs and immigration if you’re only in the airport for a layover? Here’s everything you need to know about layovers and how layovers work to help make your journey a little less stressful.

How do layovers work?

How do boarding passes work with layovers?

Domestic layovers are usually pretty simple. Whether you’re flying within the US, Australia, Canada, or somewhere else, domestic layovers are relatively similar.

Assuming you booked both flights together on one itinerary (as opposed to two separate itineraries) you will get both boarding passes when you check in for your first flight. When you land at your layover airport, you need to look at the departures board and find the gate for your next flight.

International layovers can get a little more tricky. With so many variations of international layovers, there are also a variety of situations you could end up dealing with.

If your itinerary is entirely with one airline or even two airlines that are partners, in most cases, you will get both boarding passes when you check in for your first flight.

But if you used a booking engine and your flights are with two different airlines, especially airlines that aren’t really partners, you might only get your first boarding pass when you check in.

Then, at your layover airport, you’ll have to find a ticket counter for the airline that operates the second flight to get your second boarding pass.

Not sure if your flights are with partner airlines? Just ask at the ticket counter when you check in if you will be getting both boarding passes or if you will need to get the second one at your layover airport. They’ll tell you what to do.

how do layovers work - what happens with checked luggage on a layover

>>Check out these layover perks you never knew about.

What happens with checked luggage on a layover?

For domestic layovers, your checked luggage will be tagged to your final destination, so there’s nothing for you to do while on your layover. Your bags will get taken off the first flight and loaded onto the second flight.

For international layovers, this varies depending on the airport and the country where your layover is.

If you fly from somewhere outside the US or Canada to an airport in the US or Canada, you will have to collect and recheck your luggage no matter where you’re going on your second flight.

In most other countries, as long as both of your flights are on the same airline or partner airlines, your luggage will get transferred from the first to the second flight for you.

Again, if you’re not sure, just ask the agent when you’re checking in if you will need to collect and recheck your luggage at your layover airport.

Avoid luggage worries by learning how to pack light and travel carry-on only! Check out the best carry-on luggage.

how do layovers work?

Please note that some posts contain links that earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Looking for a hassle free way of getting from the airport to your hotel? Check out Welcome Pickups and set up an airport transfer. They’re located in dozens of cities around the world.

Do you have to go through border control/immigration and customs on a layover?

This only applies for international layovers. Whether you have to go through immigration and customs really varies on the airport and the country.

As with checked luggage, if you have a layover in the US or Canada, you will have to go through border control at the first point of entry into the US or Canada, even if your final destination is somewhere else.

So for example, if you are flying from Europe to Mexico with a layover in the US or Canada, you will have to get your passport checked and fill out the customs form, as well as collect and recheck your luggage, even though you’re not staying in the country or even leaving the airport.

Transit passengers

You are a transit passenger if you are not leaving the airport and not staying in that country. In this case, you often don’t have to go through immigration or customs. Look for a sign that says transit or transit passengers or transfer or connecting flights.

I’ve been able to do this in many airports, such as Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Bangkok, and there are many more. If you don’t go through border control, you’re not technically entering that country.

However, if you have a really long layover and you want to go check out the city, you will have to go through immigration and customs in order to leave the airport.

Do you often get stuck with long layovers but not long enough to leave the airport? Try a Priority Pass membership to get access to airport lounges around the world, no matter what airline you fly with. You’ll get access to food and drinks, showers and wifi, and much more.

Transiting through the Schengen Zone

how do layovers work - what to do when transiting through another country

Transiting through the Schengen Zone can be a little different since a flight from one Schengen country to another is considered domestic.

So for example, if you’re flying from the US to Paris and then onto Rome, you will go through immigration and customs in Paris but not in Rome.

If you have two layovers, it gets even trickier.

Let’s say you’re flying from the US to Frankfurt to Rome to Istanbul. When you arrive in Frankfurt, you will have to go through border control.

This is because domestic flights, which includes your flight from Frankfurt to Rome, are in a different section of the airport, so you’re leaving the international section and entering Germany, even though you’re not leaving the airport.

You won’t go through border control to enter Italy because you were already cleared in Frankfurt. But you will have to go through passport control in Rome to be stamped out of the Schengen Zone, and you’ll go through customs and immigration in Istanbul since Turkey is outside of the Schengen Zone.

It’s usually pretty obvious once you arrive. When you get off the plane, look for signs that say transit, transfer, or connecting flights. If you don’t see any, and the only option leads you to a passport check line, then you really don’t have a choice.

If you want to know ahead of time, ask the agent when you check in, or even one of the flight attendants on your first flight, if you will have to go through immigration and customs on your layover.

how do layovers work?

Do you have to go through security on your layover?

Like most things, this varies on the airport. The simple answer is you will probably have to go through security.

For most domestic layovers, you won’t have to go through security again. However, some airports have separate security checkpoints for each terminal, so if you land in one terminal and your next flight is in another, you would have to go through security again.

On international layovers, even those where there is a transit area, you will most likely have to go through security.

Some airports in other countries have security checks for each individual gate or a small group of gates. In this case, you will have to go through security again, but it should be a short line.

There’s also the chance your first flight lands in the same area your second flight leaves from, in which case you might be able to stay within the secured area and not have to go through the security check again.

Unfortunately this means any liquids you purchased beyond security at the first airport won’t make it through security at the layover airport.

For a better travel experience, check out these 30 airport hacks every traveler should know from my friend Eden at Mint Notion.

how do layovers work

Do you need a transit visa for your layover?

Note: I cannot answer visa questions. Please refer to the embassy website for the country you are visiting or transiting through to see if you require a visa.

Some countries require certain nationalities to get a transit visa in order to transit through the airport. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s worth researching before you book a flight with a layover, or at least before you board the flight.

For most nationalities, if you have a layover within the Schengen Zone and your final destination is outside of the Schengen Zone, you don’t need a transit visa. Again, verify this for your nationality.

The US requires transit visas for many nationalities, unless your nationality is on the list eligible for the visa waiver program. For more info, see here and here.

Since this is such a complicated area subject to variations based on your nationality, the country you will be transiting through, and how long your layover is, do a few online searches and check the website for the embassy of the country where your layover is to see if you need a transit visa.

If you’re still not sure, it’s also a good idea to check with the airline or even contact the consulate or embassy of the country you will be transiting through before you book your flight.

Whenever possible, I think it’s best to avoid layovers that require transit visas since there’s usually a fee involved. The hassle of filling out an application and paying a fee for a country you’re not even really going to just doesn’t seem worth it.

Make sure your layover is long enough, and don’t let layovers get you stressed out. Hopefully these tips and explanations of how layovers work will help you transit smoothly from one flight to another.

You might also be interested in:

How do layovers work? Do you have to go through security again? What about immigration and customs? What happens to your luggage? Here's everything you need to know about layovers. #traveltips #travelhacks #layover

Grab my full travel packing list plus the free e-book 11 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next Vacation and get travel deals, discounts, and advice from Travel Made Simple in your inbox.

Ali is an expert at packing and loves to travel. On Travel Made Simple, she shares her best tips for packing less, dealing with layovers, planning travel itineraries, and more tips that will help you have the best vacation. Originally from the US, she now lives in Berlin, Germany with her husband and their adorable Yorkie.

716 Comments

The Aspiring Digital Nomad
November 20, 2015 @ 4:25 am

Wow, thank you so much for this. I was just randomly looking for more information on layover and travelling with checked bags – as I usually travel only carry-on – and I saw the bit in your post about ‘transit visa’. Lord, I’d never heard of such a thing. Almost had a heart attack as I have an upcoming flight that transits in a destination ive never been. Anyway, all clear and I don’t need one, but I have learnt of something else to check for during my travels. Invaluable. Thank you

Reply
- Ali Garland
  November 21, 2015 @ 11:04 am
  
  Thanks! Yeah, luckily transit visas aren’t terribly common. Happy travels!
  
  Reply
Susan
November 5, 2015 @ 11:22 pm

We’re leaving from KC and flying to CLT and then to MBJ. (same flight #) so are we required to get off the plane at CLT and go back through check-in and security, etc. or can we just stay on the plane (as we only have an hour layover)?

Same flight pattern on way back – only different flight # – so I assume we will need to go through security and check-in.

Thank you.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  November 6, 2015 @ 5:31 pm
  
  Hi Susan! I’m guessing KC is Kansas City, and MBJ appears to be Jamaica. The only reason you would have to go through security in CLT is if you have to change terminals and you have to leave the secured area to get from one terminal to another. Having the same flight number on both flights doesn’t guarantee you’ll be on the same airplane, though there is a good chance that could happen. Either way, there’s a good chance you’ll have to get off the plane, even if you’re not switching planes. But if you are just getting back on the same plane, you won’t have to go anywhere except into the gate waiting area. If you are switching planes, and you have to change terminals, here’s a map of CLT that could be helpful: http://www.ifly.com/charlotte-douglas-international-airport/terminal-map
  
  Another thing you can do to check ahead of time is go to CLT’s website and look up your flight number. If it shows the flight landing at one gate and taking off from another for today (it’s unlikely you can look up beyond yesterday, today, or tomorrow) then it’ll probably be the same when you take your trip.
  
  On the way back to the US, you will definitely have to get off the plane because you will have to go through customs and immigration, claim and re-check your luggage, and go through security again. You shouldn’t have to check in for the second flight though. When you check in for your first flight, they will give you both boarding passes.
  
  Let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
Jay
October 28, 2015 @ 7:59 pm

Hello,
I am a Indian Citizen planning to go to Mexico from India via Amsterdam, my doubt is regarding the layover , transit visa and luggage check in.

If i checkin my luggage to final destination as Mexico city do i need to recheck luggage as my layover will be around 4-5 hr in Amsterdam. While return for Mexico City to India i will be having a layover of more than 12hours in this case i am not planning to step out of airport should i need to recheck the luggage and need to transit visa. with my searching i found in the Netherlands Embassy India website, they have mentioned transit visa is not required for Indian nationals when changing flights.

Please advice me.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  October 30, 2015 @ 7:08 pm
  
  Hi Jay! Your luggage should be tagged to go from your starting point all the way to your final destination, no need to claim or recheck it during your layover. (The US and Canada are about the only countries that make you do that.) Unfortunately I’m not an expert on visas, but I found some info about Schengen Zone (the area of Europe that the Netherlands is in) transit visas here: http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/transit-schengen-visa/ It lists India as a country that is required to get a visa to visit a country in the Schengen Zone, so it looks like you might need a transit visa. Look around that site to see if you can find the info you need, and contact the Netherlands Embassy if you need help.
  
  Reply
Rukshan
October 7, 2015 @ 4:03 pm

Hello, I have a question,

I’m travelling to Indonesia from Bahrain, I’m also travelling to Singapore from Indonesia during the same period However, my return flight to Bahrain (Emirates) is from Indonesia which means I have to fly back to Indonesia from Singapore (Lion Air). It will be a 3hr Layover. Therefore in order to claim baggage from the Lion Air Flight and Recheck it to Emirates do I need a VISA because i have to go through immigration? Indonesia does not issue Transit Visa.

I hope this is not confusing. Dates are as follows,
21st Bahrain – Indonesia
27th Indonesia – Singapore
2nd Singapore – Indonesia
2nd Indonesia – Bahrain.

Lastly I’m a Sri Lankan. Please advice if possible.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  October 7, 2015 @ 9:59 pm
  
  I’m not an expert on visas, so I’m not sure I’m going to be much help here. You’re going to Indonesia for a few days at the beginning of your trip, so do you need a visa for that? Check if it’s valid for more than one entry. If it’s only valid for one entry, you will probably need another one for your Singapore – Indonesia – Bahrain flights because that’s the only way you’ll be able to get to baggage claim. You should check with the Indonesian embassy to be sure though. Sorry I can’t give you a definite answer!
  
  Reply
Hasan
September 27, 2015 @ 5:56 pm

Hello,

What about baggage allowance? For my international flight I’m allowed 2 carryons but does this apply to both my domestic flight and layover (Same company from BOS->LAX->MEL)

Thanks

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 28, 2015 @ 5:56 pm
  
  Hi Hasan! Usually (but not always) the airline will let you have the international baggage allowance even for your domestic flight as long as they are all on one itinerary. But you should always check with the airline to be sure. Check the carry-on size chart here for your airline, and when you click on the airline, it’ll bring you to a page with info about that airline’s carry-on restrictions. There’s a link in there to the baggage info section on the airline’s website. I hope that helps, and enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
  - Hasan
    September 29, 2015 @ 3:35 am
    
    Thanks for the reply Ali, I’m flying Qantas/American Airlines (codeshare), however there will be a 3 hour layover, I’ve contacted American Airlines but it has been over a week with no reply. You wouldn’t happen to know the specifics in regard to this/these airlines would you?
    
    Thanks
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      September 29, 2015 @ 2:06 pm
      
      I’m sorry, I don’t know the specifics for how American Airlines handles this. I’m guessing if you’re allowed two carry-ons for Qantas that you’re flying first/business/premium economy, which allows more than economy. It doesn’t look like American Airlines has that sort of allowance. Unfortunately I don’t know which way they will go on this rule, so the only thing I can tell you is to contact American. Try calling their customer service number if they haven’t responded to email.
      
      Reply
Kelsie
September 22, 2015 @ 11:26 pm

Hi I have a question,

I leave to study abroad in London in 5 Days. I am leaving from Seattle to NY (JFK) then NY to London. I’ve traveled internationally before but over 5 years ago and I was not alone. I Know that I booked my flight with Virgin Atlantic. My first flight (Sea to JFK) is through Virgin Atlantic but the itinerary says that single flight is Operated by Delta. Im assuming this means that they are partners? Then my flight from NY to London is operated by Virgin Atlantic. Does this mean that I will get both of my tickets when I check in at Seattle? And if not, how do I go from arrivals gate to another Kiosk to check in to get my other ticket? Will I have to go through security again? Thanks!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 23, 2015 @ 9:44 am
  
  Hi Kelsie! Yes, you should get both boarding passes when you check in for your first flight. If for some reason they can’t print your second one, look for a Virgin Atlantic counter in JFK when you get off the first flight, but in the secured area. There are counters within the secured area at most airports, especially the bigger ones like JFK. I doubt you’ll need that though. You booked your flights together on one itinerary, and the two airlines are partners enough to coordinate the flights, so they should be able to print both boarding passes. Let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy your study abroad trip!
  
  Reply
Erica Villa
September 19, 2015 @ 3:28 am

Hello Ali! I would just like to ask regarding my plans on travelling to Colombia. I’m from the Philippines and I’m planning to visit Colombia on my Semester break this coming last week of October for just 2 weeks. I’ve searched for flights online but there is always a connecting flight in the US.

For example, Manila to China, China to LAX California, then from LAC Cali to Colombia. But the layover in LAX is just for 3 HOURS. I just wanted to know if I still need to Have a VISA for this 3 hour layover in LAX California? Thank you in advance!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 19, 2015 @ 1:12 pm
  
  Hi Erica! Unfortunately, if you come from a country that is required to get a visa to visit the US, you will be required to have one for a layover. The US processes EVERYONE through customs and immigration, even if you’re not staying in the US. Here is some info on US transit visas: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/other/transit.html
  
  I don’t know what dates you’re traveling, but I did a quick search and found a couple of options that go Manila to Amsterdam to Panama City to Bogota. But it is a lot more expensive. The only other thing I can think of is seeing if there’s a way to book two separate flights that allow you to avoid flying through the US. Like maybe flying to Sydney or Auckland on one itinerary and from there fly to Colombia. But that could also end up being more expensive and more time consuming, and you would have to claim and recheck any checked luggage, which means you’ll have to pass through customs and immigration too.
  
  Also, make sure you check the visa requirements of other countries you’re traveling through. Most don’t require transit visas, but I am not a visa expert.
  
  Reply
  - Erica Villa
    September 20, 2015 @ 3:53 am
    
    Thank you so much for the infos! <3 but how much did you find when the trip is from manila to amsterdam to panama and to bogota? Around how much is it if i leave from around october 23 and go back on nov 20?
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      September 20, 2015 @ 9:43 am
      
      It was on KLM and COPA, but it was more than US$2500. Also try one of the bigger booking sites like Skyscanner or Expedia, and just keep searching through the options until you get to ones that don’t include stops in the US. But as I mentioned, they’re coming up much more expensive. It probably isn’t worth an additional $1000-$1500 to avoid flying through the US unless you *can’t* get a US transit visa. Good luck with your search, and have a great trip to Colombia!
      
      Reply
Mary
September 13, 2015 @ 11:36 am

Hi Ali,
I’d like to ask since this is my first time travelling with a lay over flight. I’ll be travelling to Auckland via two different airlines which I booked separately. First is via Cebu pacific air from Manila to Singapore then via Air NZ from SG to Auckland. I’m quite aware that I would need to undergo immigration and customs once I arrive in SG then check in again for my flight to Auckland. I’m just quite confused if we should state in our Immigration departure card in the Phils that our country of destination would be NZ or SG since we will only be able to get our boarding passes to SG. Thank you in advance.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 14, 2015 @ 9:25 am
  
  Hi Mary, I would put New Zealand as your final destination since you’re not staying in Singapore. And don’t forget to pick up your checked luggage in Singapore and re-check it for the next flight. Have a great trip!
  
  Reply
Kay Gouwens
September 11, 2015 @ 3:17 am

Wow! This is great information. So forgive me for asking something you’ve probably answered already. I have purchased tickets on British Air from Seattle to Rome. From there, without leaving the airport, I want to fly on to Catania, Sicily, probably on Atailia. I haven’t purchased that ticket yet. How much time should I allow in Rome between flights for Passport control and such? (My flight to Rome stops in London for a long layover, but Rome is my first European city.) Thanks, Kay

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 11, 2015 @ 6:04 pm
  
  Thanks Kay! Since your flight from Seattle to Rome will be on a separate itinerary/booking from your flight from Rome to Catania, you will have to collect and recheck any checked luggage you take with you. You might be able to check in for that flight online and print your boarding pass ahead of time (if you can’t, you’ll also have to check in at the Rome airport) but you’ll still need to find a baggage drop counter at the Rome Airport. To be on the safe side, and considering you have to go through customs and immigration in Rome, I’d allow at least 3 hours for your layover there. It could end up being too much time if the lines move quickly, but I always think it’s better to have too much time than not enough. Also, when you start looking at tickets for Rome-Catania, keep in mind there are 2 airports in Rome. I assume you are landing in FCO, so make sure you also book Rome-Catania from FCO, not CIA. Let me know if you have any other questions, and have a great trip!
  
  Reply
zia
September 7, 2015 @ 7:14 pm

hi ali, so glad i found this forum because this is very informative.
anyways, i need clarification on layovers in US. We (party of 3) are in US for the first from mid Nov til early January so i booked all our domestic flights with delta. The problem is delta changed our flight times so many times i had a hard time keeping up and now getting nervous with our schedule changes because of short layover time.
The two flight times im worried at:
We leave fresno to orlando with a 1 hour & 5 minutes layover in Salt lake city
from quebec, canada to california with a layover in JFk 1hour 10 minutes.

My question is : Is the layover time sufficient enough specially the one in new york?
how do we go through the process of transit/transfer ?
do we need to go thru customs/immigration,claim our luggages , checked in and go thru security again?

Im so worried/nervous that 1 hour wont be long enough to catch our connecting flights since from my understanding specially JFK airport is a huge/busy airport.

thanks in advance and looking forward to your reply.

Reply
- zia
  September 7, 2015 @ 7:36 pm
  
  additional question : how far are the terminals from each other? i searched salt lake ciity but am still skeptic and im on the verge of panicking already. and do you have any idea if i can dispute the flight changed with delta since im not amenable with it? thanks again.
  
  zia
  
  Reply
  - Ali Garland
    September 8, 2015 @ 10:41 pm
    
    Hi again! Yes, I think you should definitely call Delta and try to get your flights changed. I don’t think the Salt Lake City layover is as much of a problem, but I don’t like the JFK layover, especially if you are NOT starting in Montreal or another airport that has US customs. I hope this helps, and good luck! Try not to panic though. Absolute worst case, you might have to pay a fee to change your flights to something you’re more comfortable with. Enjoy your trip!
    
    Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 8, 2015 @ 10:37 pm
  
  Hi Zia! I’m so sorry Delta has changed your flights so many times! Sometimes when they change flight times, you can tell them the new times/flights don’t work for you and you can often change your flight without charge. So that’s one option, maybe there’s a flight that has a better layover time for you.
  
  I don’t think Salt Lake City is a super big airport (though it’s not tiny either) so I don’t think 1 hour 5 minutes is so bad. You don’t want to waste any time, but I think you’ll be ok on that one. Here’s a link to several airport terminal maps for the Salt Lake City airport: http://www.slcairport.com/airport-terminal-maps.asp
  
  The layover in JFK does sound short since it’s an international flight. What city in Quebec are you flying out of? (Quebec is the province, not a city.) If it’s Montreal, it looks like you will clear US customs and immigration while you’re still Montreal: http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance But if it’s Quebec City, it doesn’t look like they have that service at the moment. So if your flight is from Montreal, you won’t have to worry about customs and immigration during your layover, and I’m almost positive you would not have to claim and re-check luggage in JFK. In that case, you might be ok with 1 hour 10 minutes, though that’s still short for JFK. If you’re leaving from Quebec City, you’ll have to go through customs and immigration in JFK, and you will have to claim and re-check luggage. In that case, I really don’t think an hour and 10 minutes is enough time for your layover. If that is your situation, you should definitely call Delta and see what you can do about getting an earlier 1st flight or a later 2nd flight.
  
  Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 8, 2015 @ 10:52 pm
  
  I just got confirmation from a few people who have flown from Canada and cleared customs there, with connecting flights in the US, and their flight was treated like a domestic flight, so they did not have to claim and recheck luggage on their layover in the US. So this applies to you if you’re flying out of Montreal, but not Quebec City.
  
  Reply
Andrew
September 5, 2015 @ 5:23 am

Hello!

First time flying with a layover and I will only have one carry on backpack with my laptop and some clothes for the week.

I am flying on Delta PHX -> ATL, then ATL -> PBI with an hour and a half layover in ATL. On the way back I am flying US Airways PBI -> CLT and then CLT -> PHX with a 39 minute layover in CTL.

Looking at both airlines it will be a $25 fee for my carry on bag. Will I have to pay this fee twice on a single trip, with a total of four times ($100) for the entire trip? Or will it only be a one time fee each way ($50 total)?

I can’t find anything on their websites regarding carry on fees with layovers…

Cheers,
Andrew

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 5, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
  
  Hi Andrew! If you’re traveling with just carry-on bags, no checked luggage, there shouldn’t be any baggage fees. The $25 fee you’re seeing is for checked luggage. I hope that helps, but let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
  - Andrew
    September 5, 2015 @ 11:39 pm
    
    Hey Ali,
    
    According to US Airways website their checked bags and carry on bag, policies are aligned. This makes me think it’s $25 for my first carry on and $35 for the second.
    
    http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.html
    
    I flew Frontier the other day to DEN and was not charged for my first carry on even though their website says it is $30. While at the gate they announced if you had a 2nd carry on, and did not have a “blue” mark on your boarding pass you were going to be charged $60 at the gate before they let you board the plane.
    
    Does these airlines love making traveling a headache or something? 🙂
    
    I’ll be cramming everything into my backpack for the trip out there. I’m preparing to pay $50 for the whole trip, but hopefully I don’t have to!
    
    I’ll let you know how it goes.
    
    Cheers,
    Andrew
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      September 7, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
      
      Hi Andrew! I think US Airways has worded that page poorly. They’re saying their baggage policies are now aligned with American Airlines’ policies since the airlines are combining. If you click on the carry-on tab on that chart, it shows the info for bringing carry-ons. Frontier charges for some carry-on bags because they are a low cost carrier. And yes, they sure do like making travel a headache!
      
      I don’t think you have to worry about being charged for any carry-on luggage on this trip, unless your carry-on is bigger than then allowable amount and they have to check it.
      
      Reply
    - Ali Garland
      September 7, 2015 @ 3:09 pm
      
      Also, be sure to check my carry-on chart here for future reference!
      
      Reply
Suzie
September 4, 2015 @ 11:20 am

Hi Ali

I am so pleased that I found your website!

We are travelling back from Hawaii to LHR via LAX (Delta / Virgin partnership) with a 16 hour stopover in LA (arriving early am and leaving late pm). Will we need to collect and re-check our bags at LAX or will they be checked through to LHR?

Planning on heading out from the airport for the day – any suggestions on what to do / where to go? We will be meeting friends later in the day probably at Santa Monica.

Many thanks

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 5, 2015 @ 12:02 pm
  
  Thanks Suzie! Since your flight starts in Hawaii, you shouldn’t have to collect your luggage in LAX. Your checked bags should be tagged to go through to London. Verify that with Delta when you check in for your first flight, but since Delta and Virgin are operating with a partnership, they should be able to tag your luggage to London, as well as print both of your boarding passes.
  
  There are tons of things to do/see in LA depending on your interests. (I haven’t been there in *years* so I don’t think I’m much help there.) Maybe do a search for top things to do in LA, and see what your options are. Also, look at transport options if you’re not renting a car. I found this site that might be helpful: http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/los-angeles-public-transit and the LA transit site is http://www.metro.net. Make sure you allow plenty of time to get back to the airport for your flight to London. Check out http://toandfromtheairport.com for info on that.
  
  Enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
Tess
September 2, 2015 @ 7:41 pm

Hi Ali,

I’m travelling from LAX-Hongkong-Manila with a layover of 2 hrs. and 15min. in Hongkong with both flights taking the same Airline-Cathay Pacific (ticket purchase online). Am I correct that the Airline will tag my check in luggage to Manila and I don’t need to claim my luggage at Hongkong Airport?

Is the 2 hrs and 15 minutes layover enough to transfer my luggage to my next plane and also enough time for me to get to the boarding area (transit/pass thru security, etc.) for my flight to Manila?

Thanks.

Tess

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 2, 2015 @ 11:43 pm
  
  Hi Tess! Yes, your luggage should be tagged to go all the way to Manila, no need to collect it in Hong Kong. And yes, I think 2 hours 15 minutes should be enough time for your layover. If your flights were both booked together on one itinerary, Cathay Pacific should be able to print both of your boarding passes in LAX, so when you get to Hong Kong, you should only have to look for the “transit” or “transfer” signs, go through security again, and find your next gate. Enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
Lou
September 2, 2015 @ 8:16 am

Hi Ali,
Great website very informative.
My question is we are travelling in December 2015 from Sydney Australia to Toronto Canada. We have a 10 hour layover in Vancouver arriving Vancouver at 7.25am and departing Vancouver at 17:45. Are we able to leave the airport and explore the city of Vancouver and how much time will we need to do this? As our flights are all booked on the same Itinerary I am taking it we don’t have to collect luggage from Baggage claim and put into lockers? Appreciate your assistance. 🙂

Reply
- Ali Garland
  September 2, 2015 @ 11:40 pm
  
  Thanks Lou! Yes, you can leave the airport and explore Vancouver during your layover. When you land in Vancouver, you will have to go through customs and immigration, so you’ll be stamped into Canada at that point. But as far as I know, you will have to claim your luggage and re-check it. (The US and Canada are just about the only countries that make you do this at the first point of entry into the country.) You should be able to re-check your luggage right after customs and immigration though. I’d recommend getting back to the airport at least an hour or so before your flight to Toronto. You’ll have to go through security again, so make sure you have enough time. Plus calculate in the amount of time it takes to get back to the airport. Check out http://toandfromtheairport.com for info on transport options. Enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
Jen
August 31, 2015 @ 8:27 pm

Hi Ali! Thank you so much for your quick and helpful reply, and for the links! The Denver airport reminds me a little of a shopping mall in how it’s set up. So I was pretty convinced I’d get lost! I’m relieved to know I won’t have to go through security again. Appreciate your help 🙂

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 31, 2015 @ 10:07 pm
  
  You’re welcome, glad to help!
  
  Reply
Jen
August 31, 2015 @ 7:50 am

Hi Ali! Wonderful article. Thank you for the great information. I’m somewhat of a newbie flyer, but have racked up quite a few miles this year. I’m about to embark on my first domestic flight with a layover, traveling from Dulles to LAX and stopping in Denver for an hour and 17 minutes. Does this seem like enough time? I have been to the Denver airport before and remember it being quite big and confusing (but then again, I was a nervous newbie) 🙂 Would I need to go through security again, do you think?

Thanks again for your help!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 31, 2015 @ 2:47 pm
  
  Thanks Jen! For a domestic layover in Denver, an hour and 17 minutes should be enough time. It is a big airport, but it looks like the terminals are well connected. Here’s some info about the airport: http://denver-den.worldairportguides.com/index.php Look at the links there for terminal info and airline info. You should be able to determine which terminal you first flight will land in and where the next flight will depart from, and maybe you won’t even have to change terminals. Here’s a link to a map of the airport: http://www.flydenver.com/maps/ It looks a little strange at first, but if you zoom in and out, you can see more detail. It looks like there is one security checkpoint for all gates, so even if you have to change from A to B or something, you shouldn’t have to go through security again. Let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy your trip!
  
  Reply
Sharda
August 28, 2015 @ 5:32 am

Hello Ali!

I am flying from outside the US headed to Rochester in New York. I booked under one airline goinng from Houston (IAH) to Newark (EWR) to Rochester (ROC). I know that I have to go through customs and then pick up my checked luggage in Houston and then re-check my luggage.

All flights are with the same airline, however I have to change terminals in Newark (Terminal C to Terminal A). My question is, when i re-check my luggage in Houston, will I need to pick it up again in Newark or will it go straight to Rochester?

My other question is, if the baggage indeed goes direct to the final destination automatically (ROC), is there any way to intercept it so that i can retrieve it in Newark and have it with me on the layover?? How would that work? if this can be done, would doing this cause delay?

Thanks!!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 29, 2015 @ 9:15 pm
  
  Hi Sharda! Correct, you will have to claim and re-check your luggage in Houston. At that point, it will be checked all the way to Rochester. You won’t be able to pick it up in Newark, unless *maybe* you could get the ticket agent in Houston to only tag it to go to Newark, and then you would have to check it in again in Newark. But that also means having to leave the secured area in Newark to get to baggage claim and recheck the bag for the Newark-Rochester flight. I’m not even sure if the ticket agent would be able to do this though, since technically the luggage is supposed to follow you and your flights. If there’s something you need in the bag, you’re better off having it in your carry-on, unless of course it’s something that isn’t allowed in carry-on baggage. I hope that helps!
  
  Reply
  - Sharda
    August 31, 2015 @ 6:38 am
    
    Thanks Ali! This was very helpful! I love this website! So glad I found it! 🙂
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      August 31, 2015 @ 2:36 pm
      
      Thank you Sharda! I’m glad you love Travel Made Simple, and I’m happy to help!
      
      Reply
Anita
August 26, 2015 @ 8:54 am

Hi,

Great website – I have a quick question..

I am travelling with American airlunes from London to Vegas with a 4 hour layover in Los Angeles. When I get to LA will I need to reclaim my luggage and check in again?

On the returning flight I also have a 3 hour layover in LA again..will I have to reclaim baggage here and check in or will the baggage automatically get put on the flight going to London?

Thanks!

Thanks

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 26, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
  
  Thanks Anita! When you fly from London to LAX to Vegas, you will go through US customs and immigration in LAX, and you will have to claim and re-check your luggage before continuing to your LAX to Vegas flight. On the return, your luggage will get tagged all the way to London, so no need to claim or re-check in LAX. Let me know if you have any other questions, and have a great time in Vegas!
  
  Reply
Claire
August 25, 2015 @ 6:36 pm

Hi there! Thanks for the helpful info. We are deciding between flights from Cleveland – London Heathrow with a layover in Philadelphia on American, or with a layover in JFK on Virgin Atlantic. My question is about immigrations, customs and retrieving luggage. When we called American about the CLE-PHL-LHR flight, they said that we don’t do immigration and customs until we are in the UK. When we called Virgin Atlantic, they said immigrations/customs are done in JFK before going on the plane to the UK since this is the final US stop before going abroad. We are so confused! Where will we do customs and immigration? Will luggage need to be picked up at our second US destination and rechecked before we go to London? Thank you for your guidance!!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 26, 2015 @ 12:00 pm
  
  Hi Claire! I think the two airlines just had different understandings of your question. When you depart from the US on an international flight, the ticket agent will check your passport at check-in, but there isn’t any official customs and immigration checkpoint, and you won’t get stamped out of the US. It’s possible an airline employee will check your passport again at your layover airport since that’s when you’re getting on the international flight, but it’s no big thing. Once you land in London, you will stand in line to go through customs and immigration and get stamped into the country. Also, your luggage will get tagged from CLE to LHR, you will not have to pick it up on your layover.
  
  On your way back to the US, things are a bit different. You will go through passport control in London and get stamped out of the UK. When you land in the US (PHL or JFK, doesn’t matter which) you will go through US customs and immigration and get stamped into the US. You will also have to pick up your checked luggage and re-check it before continuing onto your next flight.
  
  I don’t think it matters which flight you choose, as long as you feel comfortable with the amount of time for the layover. You’ll need more time on your layover returning to the US because of customs and immigration and re-checking your luggage.
  
  I hope that helps, but let me know if you have any other questions!
  
  Reply
Irma
August 24, 2015 @ 10:03 pm

Hi Ali! Great information you have provided I just have one question. I have a flight in December leaving from San Francisco,CA to Morelia, Mex with an 8 hour layover in Mexico City. I have family there that I will visit for a bit. My question is, are there any times when you are not able to leave the airport during a layover? I really don’t want to get there and not be able to go outside especially with a 5 year old.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 25, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
  
  Hi Irma! As far I can tell, the airport is open 24 hours. They can’t really prevent you from leaving the airport. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get back to the airport and through security again to make your next flight. Here’s some good info on transport options to and from the airport: http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/mexicocity.html I hope that answers your question, but let me know if I can help with anything else!
  
  Reply
Alyssa
August 24, 2015 @ 11:01 am

Hi Ali! I’m glad I stumbled upon your site. Definitely bookmarking for future references 🙂

I have an issue I’d like to clarify in regards to my upcoming trip..I was wondering if I could get your input on how to go about it.
I will be flying from LAX to TLV (Ben Gurion) through Lufthansa, and I have a 5hr (and 30min) layover in Munich, Germany. I currently hold a Philippine passport, but am a permanent resident here in the U.S.
Is it necessary for me to obtain some sort of visa for this trip/layover though I have no plans of leaving the airport in Munich?

Any piece of advice you’ll be imparting is thoroughly appreciated. Thank you!!

Aly

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 25, 2015 @ 1:28 pm
  
  Hi Aly! In general, if you’re not staying in the Schengen Zone (which Germany is part of) you should not need a visa. You will look for signs that say “transit” or “transfer” and go through security again, but you won’t go through customs and immigration, and you won’t get stamped into or out of Germany/Schengen. However, citizens of certain countries are required to have transit visas to pass through the Schengen Zone. It looks like the Philippines is not one but I’m having a hard time finding concrete info on this, especially with your US permanent residency, which might make things easier for you. I think your best option here is to contact the German embassy in the US and ask them. Sorry I couldn’t give you a more definite answer on this one!
  
  Reply
Sarah
August 22, 2015 @ 5:51 pm

Hi, Although I’m a seasoned traveller, I’m starting to panic a bit about a transit through Melbourne Airport.

I will be flying from Auckland to Hong Kong with a 2 hour stopover in Melbourne. I booked the flight with Qantas as an Auckland – Hong Kong flight, so I’m assuming they will be classed as one flight and my bag will be checked through. I’m also assuming I will not need a transit visa as I am a UK citizen, will not be leaving the airport, and be there for less than 8 hours.

The only caveat for the visa I’m not sure of is whether I will need to pass through customs to board my second plane. Again I’m assuming not, but I can’t see any info that says yes or no.

Any information you have would be really useful. Thanks

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 22, 2015 @ 8:06 pm
  
  Hi Sarah! Yes, if you booked your flights together on one itinerary, your luggage should be tagged to go all the way to Hong Kong, no need to claim and recheck in Melbourne. According to this https://www.border.gov.au/Lega/Lega/Form/Immi-FAQs/do-i-need-a-visa-to-transit-through-australia you will not need a transit visa. In most countries, you just look for “transit” or “transfer” signs, go through security, and look for your next gate. I’m not 100% positive Australia does it that way, but even if they don’t, as long as you show them your boarding pass for the MEL – HKG flight, that should be enough to prove you aren’t staying long enough to require a visa. I don’t think you have anything to worry about for your flights. Enjoy your trip, and let me know if I can help with anything else!
  
  Reply
Marita
August 21, 2015 @ 9:20 pm

My husband is not allowed in Canada. I booked flights and didn’t realize there was a layover in Toronto. Can he still take this flight?

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 21, 2015 @ 10:52 pm
  
  Hi Marita, it is my understanding that he would need to have permission to enter Canada since Canada (like the US) makes everyone, even passengers connecting to international flights, go through customs and immigration. But these kinds of visa situations are not my expertise, so I recommend that you contact the Canadian embassy and ask them how this works. Sorry!
  
  Reply
PAK
August 21, 2015 @ 3:53 pm

Hello, I just wanted to make sure I am thinking of something the right way. I am traveling as follows:

Boston > Madrid > Rome and then Rome > Madrid > Boston (both to and from Rome are on the same airline and all legs were booked together)

On the layover in Madrid, we will go through immigration, and get our “enter stamp” into the Schengen territory. We will also need to get our checked bags, go through customs, and re-check them. When in Rome, no Immigration or customs will need to be gone through. Is this correct so far?

When returning home, we will go from Rome to Madrid as if it is a domestic flight with regular security checks. In Madrid, we will need to retrieve our checked bags, go through immigration to get the “exit stamp” out of the Schengen, go through customs and re-check the bags.

Hopefully that makes sense. Is my thinking correct? I need to be sure, as 2 of us will be traveling with 2 passports (1 USA, 1 EU), so we need to know when we are actually entering and exiting the EU.

Any advice/comments you have would be great!

Thanks.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 21, 2015 @ 10:44 pm
  
  Hi Pak! On your layover in Madrid, you will go through customs and immigration and get stamped into the Schengen Zone. But you will not have to pick up your luggage. The airline will tag it to Rome since you’re booked on one itinerary. You will claim your luggage once you arrive in Rome.
  
  When you’re leaving Rome, your flight from Rome to Madrid will be sort of like a domestic flight with security, and no customs checks. You will not have to claim your luggage in Madrid – again, it will be tagged back to Boston. In Madrid, you will go through passport check and security again. You’ll claim your luggage in Boston after going through US customs and immigration.
  
  So you will officially enter and exit the Schengen zone in Madrid. I hope that helps, but let me know if you have any other questions!
  
  Reply
bobby
August 19, 2015 @ 12:07 am

hi we are taking a plane from quebec city to calgary canada we have a 1 hour layover in toronto any tips on how and if its enough time to catch the other plane thank you

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 19, 2015 @ 9:15 am
  
  Hi Bobby, I think a one hour layover in Toronto should be fine for a domestic layover. Here are some tips for what to do if you think your layover is too short: https://travel-made-simple.com/if-you-think-your-layover-is-too-short/
  
  Reply
Hannah
August 17, 2015 @ 1:48 pm

Hi, so next week I leave from nashville to Seattle with a layover in Charlotte. The layover is only 47 minutes long and I am kind of nervous it won’t be enough time, I’m only 19 and this is my first flight alone and first layover. So one question is will I find out my gates and everything when I get my boarding pass? like I didn’t know if there was any way to get that information before. Also I’m doing all carry on so my stuff will be transported for me? Right. The article was helpful, just a few questions because I’m terribly nervous. Thanks!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 17, 2015 @ 4:19 pm
  
  Hi Hannah! A 47 minute layover in Charlotte is a little on the short side, but as long as you don’t waste any time, I think you’ll be ok. Traveling with only carry-on means you’re not checking luggage, so anything you have with you, you will carry from one flight to the next. I think it’s great because the airline can’t lose your luggage, and with a slightly short layover, you won’t have to worry about your bags making the switch.
  
  Sometimes the airline will be able to tell you your connecting gate ahead of time, but not often. When you check in for your first flight, they’ll print both boarding passes, and it might be printed on there. If not, ask the flight attendant on your first flight if they have any connecting gate information. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. If they don’t, when you land in Charlotte, just look for one of the big departures boards and find your flight. Sometimes there’s even a gate agent standing around when you get off the plane, and they can help too. Just don’t be afraid to ask for help, that’s what they’re there for.
  
  Try not to be nervous. I totally understand, I’ve been there, but you’ll be fine! Enjoy your trip, and let me know if you have any other questions!
  
  Reply
Tina
August 16, 2015 @ 11:34 am

I am going to be booking flights from Las Vegas to the Galapagos Islands via Panama City, Panama & Guayaquil, Ecuador. Using COPA air from Las Vegas to Guayaquil then TAM air to get to Galapagos. The layover in Panama City is a short 1 hour or 3 hour. Will I need to go through customs & re check my luggage while in Panama? Then there is an overnight layover in Guayaquil where we plan to get a hotel room and stay the night. The final leg of the flight is on a different airline, will we need to get our luggage while in Guayaquil or can we leave it at the airport? Then finally on the way home we are doing the same only the short layover will be in Guayaquil and the overnight will be in Panama City.

I know that’s a lot of questions but I just want to be informed when booking the flights to know how much time will be needed for layovers & choosing flight times.

Thank you so much!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 16, 2015 @ 11:07 pm
  
  Hi Tina, no worries! If your flight from Vegas to Panama City is on the same itinerary as your flight from Panama City to Guayaquil (meaning you booked them together) then the airline should be able to print both boarding passes and tag your luggage to Guayaquil. Which means you shouldn’t have to deal with customs in Panama. In most countries (besides the US) you just look for “transit” or “transfer” signs, go through security, and look for your next gate. This is because you’re not staying in that country, Panama in your case. So they basically treat you as if you were never there. They will also transfer your luggage from the first to the second flight.
  
  When you get to Guayaquil, it sounds like you have a completely separate flight for the Galapagos. You will go through customs and immigration, and you will need to collect your luggage. Since your flight isn’t until the next day, I doubt they’ll let you check in your luggage, so you’ll have to take it with you to your hotel.
  
  On the way home, if your flight to Guayaquil is separate from the Guayaquil-Panama City-Vegas flights, you’ll have to claim and re-check your luggage in Guayaquil, but then it’ll be tagged back to Vegas. You’ll go through Panama City the same way as on your way to Ecuador.
  
  I would personally choose the Panama City layover that’s 3 hours. One hour might be enough, but it doesn’t take much delay for that to be too short. It takes time to de-plane, find the transit section, get through security, and find your next gate, plus boarding probably starts 30-45 minutes before the flight takes off.
  
  As for your layover in Guayaquil on the way home, try to leave yourself at least 2-3 hours. You’ll have to de-plane, collect your checked luggage, check in for your next flight, go through passport control to be stamped out of the country, go through security, and find your gate. Always better to have extra time to wait instead of rushing and potentially missing your flights.
  
  I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any other questions. And enjoy, should be an amazing trip!
  
  Reply
ines
August 14, 2015 @ 11:37 pm

I am going from frankfurt to jfk arriving at 1:25 then i have to leave from newark new jersey at 445 pm to chicago. Will i have to pick up my checke baggage at jfk and take it with me to newark? Is that enough time to get to the other airport?

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 15, 2015 @ 9:28 am
  
  Ines, this is a tough one! Having to switch airports on a layover can be a nightmare! When you land in JFK, you will have to clear customs and immigration. Yes, you will have to claim your checked luggage, and since your next flight is out of Newark, you will have to take it with you and check it in again in Newark. Your layover is 3 hours 20 minutes, which I think is a bit tight considering you have to deal with customs and immigration plus change airports. Check here for info on getting between the two airports, just scroll down to where it says JFK to Newark: http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-airport-connections.html I think it’s possible for you to have enough time, but it’s a really close call. If your flight from Frankfurt is delayed even a little, or if there are long lines at customs, or if there is a lot of traffic on the way to Newark, you could miss your flight. Consider calling the airline and seeing what it would take to get a later flight out of Newark, or even if you could switch to a flight that leaves from JFK. Good luck and have a great trip!
  
  Reply
Sean Q
August 14, 2015 @ 4:36 pm

Hi Ali

Great site.

I am flying from Cape Town to New York/JFK (via Dubai). I have an 8 hour layover in New York before I fly to Detroit.

Can I go through security and customs and visit the city for the day and then come back later for my flight. I am due back in New York 2 days later, staying for a week before flying back to Cape Town from JFK via Dubai again.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 14, 2015 @ 5:18 pm
  
  Thanks Sean! Actually, you will be required to go through customs once you land in NYC, regardless of your final destination. So yes, you can leave the airport and visit the city after that if you want, just make sure you leave yourself PLENTY of time to get back to the airport and through security to make your next flight. Also, you will have to claim and recheck your luggage in JFK, so try to do that before you leave the airport so you don’t have to lug it through the city with you.
  
  If you decide to do this again on your way back to Cape Town, your luggage should be tagged to go the whole way and you won’t have to do anything with it at JFK. Have a great trip, and let me know if you have any other questions!
  
  Reply
Steve
August 13, 2015 @ 6:03 pm

Hi—I wanted to ask if you or heard anything more about what you mentioned in an earlier post about not having to collect baggage when flying in from a foreign county, landing in the US, and then connecting to another flight outside the US. You mentioned you were on a flight from Europe to Atlanta, and understood that individuals connecting to flights did not need to collect luggage but did need to clear customs/immigration. Any idea if this is true universally? Thanks.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 14, 2015 @ 9:09 am
  
  Hi Steve! It was pretty recent (May 2015) when I flew to Atlanta from Europe and heard the announcement that passengers connecting to INTERNATIONAL flights did not have to pick up their checked luggage, but passengers connecting to DOMESTIC flights did still have to collect and recheck their luggage. And in either situation, you will have to go through customs and immigration in the US.
  
  So far I haven’t been able to track down anything more concrete. My guess is that it’s more of an airport-by-airport thing based on how the airport is set up to handle things. But I’m going to keep researching and see what I can find, and I’ll update the layover posts when I have more definite info.
  
  For now, if you have a layover in the US but your journey didn’t start in the US and is not ending in the US, you should still plan on having to claim and re-check your luggage on your US layover, as well as clear customs and immigration.
  
  Reply
  - Steve
    August 17, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
    
    Thank you. very much. I am a US citizen, and will be traveling from out of the country into LAX and changing planes to a flight to Canada. I have a long layover at LAX and was actually planning on meeting some family in LA (leaving the airport/terminal). Because of their size, I had planned to pack some gifts/etc. in my checked luggage, get them out when I arrived at LAX, recheck my bags, and then give the gifts to my family. Obviously, this won’t work if my bags are going to straight through to Canada.
    Thanks,
    Steve
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      August 18, 2015 @ 9:33 pm
      
      I wish I could tell you for sure. Until I had that flight to Atlanta a few months ago, I would’ve said 100% you will have to claim your checked luggage. My gut instinct is that you will have to do that, but I’m just not 100% on it anymore. I would hate to tell you you’ll have to claim and re-check if it turns out that’s not the case. The LAX website is horrible and I can’t find info on there about dealing with checked luggage on an international layover. You could try calling the airline and asking them if they know how it works. I’m still trying to research this, and I think it might be just a policy with the Atlanta airport, but I’m still looking for confirmation one way or the other.
      
      Reply
      - Steve
        August 18, 2015 @ 10:00 pm
        
        First—I genuinely appreciate the info/help you have provided. Since I made my last post, I also checked the LAX website (useless), but did call Customs at LAX. The official there told me that, yes, I will need to collect my checked bags, go through Customs, and then recheck them. Hopefully that is the most current and correct information. other than the experience you had on your Atlanta flight, I have not read or seen anything that would indicate that you do not have collect your checked baggage when arriving at a US airport. Guess I will find out for sure in a few weeks. Again, thanks for your help.
      - Ali Garland
        August 19, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
        
        Thanks for letting me know Steve! I think it must be something specific to the Atlanta airport, or even with Delta at the Atlanta airport. So it sounds like procedures are the same as they’ve been for years. You’ll go through customs and immigration and claim your luggage, go re-check it and find your next gate. Have a great trip!
Jen
August 11, 2015 @ 4:46 pm

Hi I hope you can clarify something for me as you are an expert!
I’m flying back to Australia from France transiting with Etihad in Abu Dhabi with a layover of 3.5 hrs. I hold a UK passport and during this transit it won’t have 6 months validity… I’ll be 5 days under! Am I able to connect or will I be stopped or denied boarding in France or Abu Dhabi?
Australia have no issues according to their immigration dept but does the UAE?
Thanks! Jen

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 12, 2015 @ 8:58 am
  
  Hi Jen! I don’t think you have to worry about it in this case. You will only be transiting through Abu Dhabi, so you won’t even go through customs there. Just look for the “transit” or “transfer” signs when you get off your first flight, and you’ll have to go through security again, but that’s about it. They’ll treat you as if you were never really in the country. So even if UAE does require 6 months validity, you’re not entering the country anyway. Happy travels!
  
  Reply
Andrew
August 6, 2015 @ 9:40 pm

hello

i am flying to vancouver with a 6 hour stop in san francisco. what will i need to do ?
im completly new to all of this.

thanks

Reply
- Andrew
  August 6, 2015 @ 9:44 pm
  
  both flights are the same airline(united airlines)
  
  Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 6, 2015 @ 9:50 pm
  
  Hi Andrew! It depends on where you’re starting from. If you’re flying from somewhere in the US with a layover in San Francisco and then on to Vancouver, you won’t do anything special in San Francisco. When you check in for your first flight, the ticket agent will check your passport, but that’s about the only thing you’ll notice that’s any different from a regular domestic flight. Just look at the departures board in San Francisco and find the gate for your next flight. Your checked luggage will be tagged to Vancouver, assuming you’ve booked both flights together on one itinerary. You’ll go through customs and immigration in Vancouver.
  
  However, let’s say you’re flying from outside the US to San Francisco and then to Vancouver. You’ll have to go through customs and immigration in San Francisco, even though you’re not staying in the US. You will also most likely have to claim and recheck your luggage at that point. Again, look for your next flight/gate on the departures board, and again, you’ll go through customs and immigration once you land in Vancouver.
  
  I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any other questions!
  
  Reply
  - Andrew
    August 6, 2015 @ 10:48 pm
    
    sorry forgot to mention that.
    i leave from australia
    
    Reply
    - Andrew
      August 6, 2015 @ 10:49 pm
      
      thank you for you quick response.
      
      it has helped a lot
      
      thanks
      
      Reply
      - Ali Garland
        August 7, 2015 @ 8:58 am
        
        No problem, have a great trip!
Rajesh Kumar
August 5, 2015 @ 4:54 pm

Hello

Please help me on this matter.

I have a question for layovers. First let me give you my itinerary for the coming trip.

FLIGHT L6 112 – MAURITANIAN AIRLINES INT FRI 21 AUGUST 2015
—————————————————————————–
DEPARTURE: NOUAKCHOTT, MR 21 AUG 07:00
ARRIVAL: ABIDJAN, CI (F HOUPHOUET BOIGNY) 21 AUG 10:50
FLIGHT BOOKING REF: L6/NM059
RESERVATION CONFIRMED, ECONOMY (H) DURATION: 03:50
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: 40K
MEAL: MEAL
STOP 1 NOUAKCHOTT TO BAMAKO
STOP 2 BAMAKO TO ABIDJAN
OPERATED BY: MAURITANIAN AIRLINES INT, L6
EQUIPMENT: EMBRAER RJ145

FLIGHT W3 391 – ARIK AIR FRI 21 AUGUST 2015
—————————————————————————–
DEPARTURE: ABIDJAN, CI (F HOUPHOUET BOIGNY) 21 AUG 13:35
ARRIVAL: COTONOU, BJ (CADJEHOUN) 21 AUG 15:55
FLIGHT BOOKING REF: W3/K5JM4B
RESERVATION CONFIRMED, ECONOMY (T) DURATION: 01:20
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: 30K
NON STOP ABIDJAN TO COTONOU
OPERATED BY: ARIK AIR, W3
EQUIPMENT: CANADAIR REGIONAL JET 900

FLIGHT(S) CALCULATED AVERAGE CO2 EMISSIONS IS 360.69 KG/PERSON
SOURCE: ICAO CARBON EMISSIONS CALCULATOR
http://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/CarbonOffset/Pages/default.aspx

FLIGHT TICKET(S)
—————————————————————————–
TICKET: L6/ETKT 495 9362508393 FOR KUMAR/RAJESH
TICKET: W3/ETKT 725 9362508394 FOR KUMAR/RAJESH

So basically my question is, i have to travel by 2 different flights so i have to checkin my luggage again or they will change automatically in to 2nd plane.

Please reply me.

Thanks
Rajesh Kumar

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 6, 2015 @ 9:34 pm
  
  Hi Rajesh! Did you book these flights all together one itinerary, or as two separate itineraries? In other words, did you go to each airline separately and make two bookings, or were you able to book it all at once?
  
  If you booked this as one itinerary that just happens to be on two airlines, normally the first airline will be able to tag your luggage to go to your final destination, which means you would not have to collect or recheck your luggage during your layover.
  
  The other issue is if Mauritania Airlines has access to Arik Air’s system to be able to print your boarding pass and luggage tag for the second flight. Again, if you were able to book this all as one itinerary, they should be able to do it, especially the luggage tag.
  
  Unfortunately I’m not so familiar with these airlines, and their websites aren’t very helpful. I can’t find any information about partner airlines. If you’re all on one itinerary, I wouldn’t worry much about it, but if you really want to be certain how it will all work ahead of time, your best option is to call Mauritania Airlines and ask them if they will be able to print both boarding passes and tag your luggage to your final destination. Sorry I couldn’t be 100% certain in this situation, but I hope this helps put you at ease a little!
  
  Reply
Sunita
August 5, 2015 @ 8:37 am

Hi,
I’m flying from India directly to Newark NJ -Terminal C, & after a layover of 6 hours
proceeding to RDU Raleigh Durham from Terminal A through the same airline.
My question is whether I can exit the transit area to meet friends during the layover period?
I will be getting both boarding passes when I check-in at India.
Also will I be allowed to check-in my baggage after completing customs & immigration at NJ,
if I am exiting the airport & checking in again at Terminal A for my onward flight.

Thanks.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 6, 2015 @ 9:13 pm
  
  Hi Sunita! Once you land in Newark, they will process you through customs and immigration and stamp you into the country, so you are free to exit the airport for a few hours if you would like. There isn’t really an official transit area like you’d find in a lot of other countries because once you land in the US, they count you as being there no matter how short. You will have to claim and recheck your luggage, and you should be able to recheck it right away once you’ve finished with customs. 6 hours isn’t a terribly long layover, so the only issue would be if there aren’t any employees at the Air India counter to take your luggage. Just make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to get back for your next flight, and enjoy!
  
  Reply
  - Sunita
    August 7, 2015 @ 3:58 am
    
    Thanks a lot for the extremely prompt reply…you have been very helpful.
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      August 7, 2015 @ 9:01 am
      
      Glad to help!
      
      Reply
Jessica
August 1, 2015 @ 11:08 am

Hello,

Your article was quite informative. However, I am perpetually confused on this stuff! I will be flying to Tokyo from MEM with connections at ORD and Vancouver. My question is: Will I have to collect my luggage and re-check it at any point? My flight is booked through Air Canada. Thanks!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 6, 2015 @ 9:09 pm
  
  Hi Jessica! Is this the correct order: Tokyo – ORD – Vancouver – MEM? That sounds painful! The US and Canada both require you to go through passport control and customs at the first point of entry, as well as collect and recheck your luggage. Based on that, it appears you would have to do this in Chicago, Vancouver, and again in Memphis. If the order of your flights is actually Tokyo – Vancouver – Chicago – Memphis, you will have to do it in Vancouver and Chicago, but no passport control or customs in Memphis.
  
  However, some airports have been changing how they deal with checked luggage on international layovers. I recently flew to Atlanta from Europe, and they made an announcement that passengers connecting to another international flight did not have to claim and recheck their luggage (but they still had to go through customs). I have not yet been able to verify if that is a policy specific to the Atlanta airport or if this is something more broad that the US and possibly Canada might be changing.
  
  My best advice is to be prepared to go through customs and immigration (those are a definite) as well as claim and recheck your luggage (most likely) the first time you enter either country. I hope this helps, but let me know if you have any other questions!
  
  Reply
  - Jessica
    August 6, 2015 @ 11:21 pm
    
    Thank you for replying, but the order is reversed. I’ll actually be going from MEM > ORD > Vancouver > NRT. It still seems like I will be doing a lot of customs, etc.
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      August 7, 2015 @ 9:01 am
      
      Jessica, this will actually work a tiny bit easier for you. Your checked luggage will automatically transfer from MEM – ORD – Vancouver. In Vancouver, you will most likely have to pick up and recheck your luggage. You’ll also have to go through passport control and customs in Vancouver. But leaving the US isn’t a big thing with customs. The ticket agent in MEM will check your passport and print all your boarding passes, and you’ll hardly notice anything difference that you’re flying internationally at that point. Have a great trip!
      
      Reply
      - Jessica
        August 7, 2015 @ 9:32 am
        
        Oh, good! Thank you so much! 🙂
Tracey
August 1, 2015 @ 7:51 am

Hi Ali
I found your site extremely interesting as I have been trying to find some information about layovers. I am travelling alone from San Jose CA to heathrow with a connecting flight in Chicago. I only have 50 mins to make this connection. Will I have to collect my bags and recheck them and will I need to go through customs and immigration again. Both flights arrive and leave terminal 3 at O hare but I’m very nervous about missing the connecting flight. Any advice would be extremely helpful.
Thanks

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 6, 2015 @ 9:02 pm
  
  Hi Tracey! When you’re flying FROM the US to another country, it’s actually pretty simple. As long as your flights were both booked on one itinerary, the airline will tag your luggage to go all the way to Heathrow, so you won’t have to do anything with it in Chicago. You also won’t go through any formal customs and immigration checkpoints like you do when you’re flying out of most other countries. The ticket agent in San Jose will check your passport when you check in, and it’s possible another airline employee will want to check it in Chicago, but you won’t see any of the formalities the UK and Europe do. The fact that your first flight lands in terminal 3 and the next one departs from there as well helps a lot. O’Hare is a big airport and 50 minutes isn’t much time, but I think you’ll be ok if you don’t have to switch terminals. I don’t think you’ll have time to waste, but you should be ok.
  
  Reply
Sunil GC
July 30, 2015 @ 7:46 am

Hi Ali,
I am student on F1 visa travelling to Miami from London and have overnight layover at Miami before travelling to Phoenix; can I go out of airport and visit miami city, since I already have visa. Miami my port of entry and this is my first time visit.
Thanks,
Sunil

Reply
- Ali Garland
  August 6, 2015 @ 8:57 pm
  
  Hi Sunil! I am not an expert on those types of visas, so you might want to verify this with someone who has more experience. But when you fly into the US, you go through passport control and customs at the first point of entry. So if you land in Miami first, even though your final destination is Phoenix, they are checking your visa and stamping you into the country. The visa allows you to be in the US, not restricted to Phoenix. So I don’t see a problem at all with you leaving the Miami airport for a few hours. You’ll probably have to claim and re-check your luggage though, so allow time for that too. You’ll claim your luggage while you’re still in the customs area. I hope that helps!
  
  Reply
Lisa
July 28, 2015 @ 3:00 am

Hello Ali,

I am traveling to Lisbon and on the last three days of my trip i will be taking a mini trip to Barcelona. My question is, my flight from Lisbon to the USA leaves at 130pm. I was looking at a flight back from Barcelona to Lisbon (same day that I’m leaving to USA) that gets me to Lisbon airport at 11:15am on the same airline that will be taking me from Lisbon to USA. Since I am leaving the Schengen zone from Lisbon to come to USA would I have to clear security again, even though I did so in Barcelona? Would I have enough time to make it to my 130pm flight since it is with the same airline? I would only be bringing a carry on.

Thanks for the help!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 29, 2015 @ 10:27 pm
  
  Hi Lisa! When you fly from Barcelona to Lisbon, you’ll go through security in Barcelona but not passport check because flights within Schengen are like domestic flights in the US. When you get to Lisbon, you’ll go through passport check to get stamped out of Schengen. You will have to go through security again, but I think 2 hours 15 minutes should be plenty of time, especially with carry-on only.
  
  Reply
C.J.
July 27, 2015 @ 4:31 pm

Your site has such a wealth of information. Thank you for sharing!

I typically avoid layovers during travel. But I decided to be adventurous and booked a trip that has a 23 hr. layover in Panama. I was just curious, will I receive a passport stamp for Panama, since I’ll be leaving the airport to explore the city and get a room for the night? Thanks again!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 29, 2015 @ 10:25 pm
  
  Hi CJ! Yes, if you want to leave the Panama airport during your layover, you’ll have to go through customs & immigration first, & you’ll get a passport stamp into the country. Leave yourself plenty of time before your next flight because you’ll have to go through passport check again & get stamped out of Panama. Have a fun layover!
  
  Reply
Jack
July 26, 2015 @ 9:51 pm

Hi Ali, I recently booked flights with Delta departing from Manchester Airport, UK to Las Vegas with a 1h 35m layover in Atlanta. Although I booked the entire journey through Delta, the Manchester to Atlanta flight is operated by Virgin.

I guess what I am wanting to know is when I get to Atlanta will I have to collect my bags a check them in again? It’s just a little confusing as I booked the entire journey with Delta but part of it it operated by Virgin, does this effect my checked baggage?

Also is this long enough?

Cheers,

Jack.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 29, 2015 @ 10:23 pm
  
  Hi Jack! Yes, you will have to claim & recheck your checked luggage in Atlanta. It has nothing to do with the airlines. You’ll go through customs & immigration right after landing in Atlanta, then pick up your checked baggage. Then look for the Delta luggage drop-off (though your bag will most likely already be tagged to go to Vegas) and go through security & your next gate.
  
  An hour 35 minutes does sound tight but not impossible. If you land at a busy time, you really might not make it, but if the passport & security lines are short, you’ll be fine. Sorry there’s just no way to know for sure. Check out my advice for dealing with a short layover here: 8 things to do if you think your layover is too short
  
  Reply
Christie K
July 23, 2015 @ 11:57 pm

Hi Ali! Great article.

I was wondering – If I’m over-nighting in MIA (after int’l flight) before another international flight out of MIA, will I be able to take my bag with me during my layover and recheck it without any issues or will I have to pay to check the bag in again when I come back to the airport for my flight? Both trips are on the same airline so the bag is gonna be checked straight through. I may worded this really bad but if so could you help me figure it out?

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 29, 2015 @ 10:17 pm
  
  Hi Christie! In most cases, you have to claim your checked luggage when you land in the US & then recheck it. So theoretically you could take your luggage out of the airport & recheck it the next day for your next flight.
  
  However, some US airports are changing this policy for international layovers, meaning you would not claim your luggage in Miami if your next flight is international. My suggestion is to call the airline & see if they can explain the procedures there. The Miami airport website couldd be of some help too.
  
  In case you can’t get a definitive answer (& I’m sorry I can’t be 100% sure in this case) make sure anything you need for your overnight layover is in your carry-on.
  
  Reply
Margaret
July 18, 2015 @ 7:33 am

Hello Alo

I am baffled at what the requirements are with the US. I am an Australian citizen and my husband is a British citizen. We are flying from Sydney on QF12 which stops at LAX for 90 minutes but apparently we won’t even have to get off the aircraft if we do not want to. We then fly to TOronto where we will be for 2.5 months. Following that we come into the US to DC and leave via JFK on April 2nd. The whole length of the trip is 98 days which can mean that we need an actual visa but since we do not enter the US until March 11th, our actual stay in the US is under 30 days which should mean that we do not need a visa. Some of my reading of the regulations indicate that the US would count our stay as starting the day that we land at LAX even though we do not enter the US at that time. Help, which is correct?

Thank you for attempting to decipher this quagmire.

Margaret

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 21, 2015 @ 10:06 am
  
  Margaret, that’s a tough one! There are so few layovers where you don’t have to get off the plane! I think your best bet is to call the airline and find out for sure if you can stay on the plane in LAX and confirm whether or not this means you don’t go through customs. If you don’t go through customs, you won’t officially enter the US at that point. I’m sorry I can’t give you a definite answer on this one, I think you need someone with more authority and knowledge on these unique circumstances.
  
  Reply
sachin
July 17, 2015 @ 11:24 am

hi I want to know that if I have 16 hours lay over at London airport can I go to house of my family members who are in London. I am travelling on student visa of Canada. I am an indian citizen.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 17, 2015 @ 1:00 pm
  
  I believe you would need a visa to enter the UK. I’m not an expert on visa rules, especially with other citizenships, so you should check with the UK embassy. Your Canadian student visa might help you, but I’m not positive of this. Sorry I can’t help more!
  
  Reply
Ujjwal
July 16, 2015 @ 5:16 am

Hi Ali! Thanks for sharing such useful insights on travel related questions. Have a question of my own for you. I am an Indian citizen travelling to Athens, Greece on Schengen VISA. I have layover during onward flight of around 4 hours and layover of 17 hours on my way back in Amsterdam. Would I need to go through immigration and security checks to go out of the airport for sight seeing in Amsterdam? I was thinking to utilize my layover time to the maximum possible extent.

Thanks,
Ujjwal

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 17, 2015 @ 12:52 pm
  
  Hi Ujjwal! I believe your Schengen visa allows you to travel throughout the Schengen countries because there are no border controls between those countries. So if you want to leave the airport in Amsterdam, that shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t think 4 hours is long enough on your way to Europe. If that’s the first place you land within the Schengen zone, that’s where you’ll have to go through customs and immigration, so that’ll take a little time. And you’d have to be back at the airport at least an hour or so before your flight to Greece, so when you add in how long it takes to get in and out of the city, it’s just not worth the stress and the tiny amount of time you’d have there. But 17 hours on the way back? Perfect! Your flight from Athens to Amsterdam is still within Schengen, so you won’t have to deal with any customs or immigration checks to get out of the airport. Make sure you’re back at the airport about 2 hours ahead since that flight from Amsterdam will be international, and you’ll have to go through passport check on your way out of the Schengen Zone. I hope that helps!
  
  Reply
  - Ujjwal
    July 18, 2015 @ 4:39 pm
    
    Thanks Ali! That would sure help me. Thanks a ton again.
    
    Reply
    - Ali Garland
      July 21, 2015 @ 10:07 am
      
      Glad to help!
      
      Reply
Hannah Johnston
July 15, 2015 @ 11:15 pm

Im flying from Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi (terminal 3) then from Abu Dhabi (terminal 1) to Jaipur all on one itinerary. In Abu Dhabi will i have to pass through immigration even though i wont have a visa?

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 17, 2015 @ 12:46 pm
  
  Hi Hannah! No, you shouldn’t have to pass through immigration. When you land in Abu Dhabi, look for signs that say either “transit” or “transfer.” You’ll have to go through a security check again, but this should allow you to bypass customs and immigration since you aren’t staying in UAE. I’ve flown through there twice for connecting flights, and it was a simple process.
  
  Reply
Sunya
July 14, 2015 @ 5:06 am

Hi Ali, please help me.

I am an Indian citizen. I booked my domestic ticket from Guwahati to Bangalore, and reach at 19.50. My next flight is an international flight from Bangalore to Manila(Philippines) by airasia is at 23.45. Do you think I can make it? Both, international as well as domestic terminals are at the same building.

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 14, 2015 @ 11:38 am
  
  Hi Sunya! Yes, I think 4 hours is plenty of time. The one thing to keep in mind is that in most cases, AirAsia doesn’t transfer luggage from one flight to the next because they are all separate. I don’t know what airline you’re flying from Guwahati to Bangalore, but you will most likely have to go pick up your checked luggage and then check your luggage again with AirAsia. You will also have to go through passport control before boarding your international flight. But 4 hours should be plenty of time for all of this. Have a great trip!
  
  Reply
nadia
July 13, 2015 @ 5:37 pm

hi please help sos! friends of mine bought me a ticket to come visit them. I am a South African citizen. I flew Cpt, Jhb, Istanbul, Toronto and is now in VIctoria (Canada). I have my Canadian visa. when I fly back on 29/7 I fly Victoria, Toronto, Jfk (New York), Jhb, Cpt. I heard that I need a transit visa for Jfk?! I am south African: how will I get this visa in Canada, my nerves is finished and I do not know where to start, my entire holiday is a mess!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 13, 2015 @ 11:03 pm
  
  Hi Nadia, I’m sorry to hear about the stress! Yes, unfortunately you do need a visa to transit through the US. It’s one of the few countries that processes every single person regardless of your final destination. I don’t know exactly how the process works, but there is some info here: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/other/transit.html. There’s a section where you can look up the estimate for an appointment time depending on the city but it looks like you can’t get an appointment for a couple of weeks, give or take a few days. Make sure you look at the requirements and determine if you even have all of the documents with you. If you do have everything you need, try calling the embassy and see if you can get squeezed in for an appointment. I have no idea if this is a possibility but it’s worth trying.
  
  Unfortunately your best option might be to call the airline and get your flight changed to something that does not require you to fly through the US. I realize that’s a pain (though probably not as painful as trying to get a visa at the last minute) and will cost some money, but better to do it sooner rather than later. And consider getting yourself to the nearest bigger city if that makes it easier and/or more affordable to change your flights.
  
  I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this on your vacation!
  
  Reply
Brijet
July 13, 2015 @ 5:16 pm

Ali, I must commend you for the wonderful work that you have been doing. I am a Jamaican Citizen going to Nigeria for the summer. I will be travelling from the Norma Manley International Airport in Kingston via JFK, New York U.S.A. via Lagos and final destination Abuja. Since I will be travelling with a carry-on, do I have to pass through customs and immigration?

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 13, 2015 @ 10:53 pm
  
  Thank you Brijet! Yes, you will still have to go through customs and immigration in JFK. It’s a rule that has to do with traveling through the US, nothing to do with your luggage situation. You might need a visa to transit through the US, though I don’t know the exact requirements for Jamaican citizens, so be sure to check with the embassies. I hope you have an amazing trip!
  
  Reply
Kat
July 12, 2015 @ 2:17 pm

Hi Ali! Thanks for the excellent article, it’s been a great help!

I have a question regarding my hand baggage. I’m flying from DEL to IAD with layovers at Dubai and JFK and am hoping to shop at duty free in Delhi and Dubai. Do you know how this will impact my hand baggage allowance? I believe I’ll have to go through security at both my layovers.

Thanks!

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 13, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
  
  Thanks Kat, glad to hear it! Yes, you will have to go through security at each layover. If you’re purchasing non-liquid items, as long as it’s just a small amount in a shopping bag, you should be fine. If you’re planning on buying a lot of stuff, you might have to put it in your checked luggage. You won’t be able to get to your checked luggage on your Dubai layover, so I think this will be less of a problem, but try to keep your shopping to a minimum. If you’re buying liquids, make sure they are in sealed duty free bags. I don’t know what Dubai’s policy is on getting through security with those, but for JFK, here is TSA’s take: https://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-food-or-gifts (scroll down to the bottom section) I hope this helps!
  
  Reply
klaus
July 11, 2015 @ 9:02 pm

Hi i’m flying from the caribbean to the US ( Boston to be specific) on US airways but i have a layover in philadelphia, would i have to clear my luggage and recheck in? Even though i booked the ticket online it gave me all the necessary info for both departure and returning to the caribbean such as my seat # etc. I just wanna know if i’d have to clear my luggage at philly and recheck for boston?

Reply
- Ali Garland
  July 12, 2015 @ 11:02 am
  
  Hi Klaus! If you are flying from outside the US to Philadelphia, you will have to claim and re-check your luggage in Philadelphia. It doesn’t have anything to do with the airlines, it’s a US customs rule. You won’t have to check in for the second flight though because you should get both boarding passes when you check in for the first one.
  
  Reply