Arrive at airport 2 hours before international flight - do I go through customs?
I am flying from Kansas City to Salt Lake City and then Puerto Vallarta Mexico. I've never flown out of the country - but do I need to arrive at my home airport 2 hours early or do we go through Customs in Salt Lake since we are flying to Mexico directly from there? This is a Delta flight if that helps.
Air Travel - 10 Answers
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1 :
yeah always go through customs - i fly Delta all the time
2 :
yes you have to it's a procedure
3 :
Doesn't matter, you have to go through security at every airport. Arrive 2 hours early at Kansas City airport, check in and go through security. Make sure you check whether your luggage has to be collected at SLC or if it is transferred to Puerto Vallarta automatically (not sure what Delta do, I know United Airlines transfer luggage). In SLC, follow directions for transfer flights. You'll be checked again, more thoroughly this time since you'll be flying out of the country. Make sure you have enough layover time.
4 :
The airport you leave from (Kansas City) needs the extra time to process your checked baggage for international flights. This is why arrive 2 hours early arrival. Once your bags arrive in Salt Lake, they will just be transferred around but don't go through any more security. Where you go through customs, ??, as I don't fly international.
5 :
All international passengers have to clear customs. That is the rule and you are no exception.
6 :
No. You go through Customs when you arrive in Mexico. Works that way with all airlines. Some countries want you to pass through customs & immigration on the way out but the US isn't one of them. You only have to report to customs & immigration on the way INTO the States not out of. There are exceptions to this rule and they usually involve visas, other paperwork and non citizens.
7 :
Yes, you do. Airport security checks are VERY time-consuming, and no, I'm not talking about customs, I'm talking about checking people and bags to make sure that they are not carrying on items that could be used as explosives. They are very thorough, so make sure you can put all metal items like keys and phones into the containers, and wear shoes that you can slip on and off easily as you will be asked to put your shoes through the x-ray machine, and don't try to bring liquids through with you - so leave your favourite skin cremes, perfumes, etc. in your main luggage you check in. Then once you're through, you have plenty of time to have a snack, coffee and a browse through the duty free and get to your departure gate. You really DO need to get there early and check in 2 hours beforehand, then make your way to the security check and do all that first, especially if you're travelling during a holiday period. Customs are at the other end (in Mexico), and you'll save yourself a lot of hassle if you fill out the customs card properly.
8 :
no you only go though customs in the fogein city on your arrival (in Mexico) NOT in Salt city now if your flight on the return is nonstop from mexico to salt lake city THEN you would go though US customs in salt lake on the return also i checked delta fight schedule there is no nonstop flight Puerto Vallarta Mexico. you will have to change planes in Mexico city to a codeshare flight to Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
9 :
You go through customs when you arrive in a foreign country, so you will go through customs in Puerto Vallarta Yes, since you are flying internationally you should arrive 2 hours early just to be safe, but security at Kansas city is fairly easy. However on a busy day it may take longer to check in at the ticket counter if you are checking baggage, so allow yourself plenty of time.
10 :
You will not go through customs until you arrive in the foreign country--- in your case, Puerto Vallarta, Mex. The answer to your next question depends on whether or not you are flying with the same airline the entire trip and whether or not you booked the flights together or separately. If you booked the entire trip together and/or are flying the same airline the whole way through, you need to arrive at Kansas City at least 2 hours early because the airline will need additional time to check your bags, passport, and any visa requirements (such as proof of onward travel). Also, international security checkpoints tend to take longer to get through than national ones. If you booked your flights separately or are flying with different airlines, you *might* be able to get away with arriving one hour early in Kansas City since it would technically be a national flight, followed by an international flight. It depends on if the airline will automatically forward your bags to the next airline (mine never did because I booked separately). However, if the airline will not forward your bags then you will need to give yourself ample time (2-3 hours) between connections because you will need to claim your bags, recheck them with the second airline, go through international security, etc. In any case, since you are new to traveling internationally, I think you should give yourself some extra time (like an hour and a half instead of 2 hours) so that you have plenty of time in case something unexpected comes up, especially if you are traveling on a weekend, holiday, or during the busier times at the airport (check the airport web pages, they often have recommendations about when to arrive based on where and when you are traveling).
Title : Arrive at airport 2 hours before international flight - do I go through customs
Description : Arrive at airport 2 hours before international flight - do I go through customs? I am flying from Kansas City to Salt Lake City and then Pu...