Do you need to go through customs when transiting?

Do you have to clear customs in transit?

Okay, so, do you have to, like, do customs during a layover?

Well, it’s complicated, tbh. Usually, yeah, you gotta do security again. Immigration too. Annoying, right? Like at JFK.

But customs? That’s the tricky part. It really, really depends!

See, some countries? They want to check everyone passing through for, like, smuggled stuff, right? Others? They only care if you’re actually entering the country country. So, it depends on where you’re going thru.

Two big places that people have to connect with interntional flights are Europe and the US, obviously.

• Europe: Honestly, it varries. If you’re staying in the “Schengen area,” it’s pretty easy. If you need to be in France for transit purposes, you don’t have to, because France is part of the Schengen area. But maybe you’re coming from, say, South Africa, and transiting through London before heading to Spain? Definitey, you’ll need to do customs in London because is not part of the Schengen area.

• United States: The USA? Ugh. Almost always, you’ll clear customs there, even if just for a connecting flight. Happened to me last year going to Cancun. I was SO annoyed. You gotta collect your bags and then re-check them. And like, you gotta go through customs and all that jazz. Huge pain. I’m prretty sure it’s because of the Department of Homeland Security and their whole thing.

So, tldr, depends on the country, but expect it. It’s better to be prepared, yeah?

And don’t forget to check visa requirments too. This is crucial!

• Visa Waiver Program is helpful.

• Check the transit visa.

Okay, I think that’s everythign about customs?

Where does my luggage go if I have a connecting flight?

Connecting flights. Baggage. Simple.

• Same airline? It goes straight through. Problem solved.

• Different airlines? You retrieve it. Then, re-check it. Inconvenient. Life.

This happened to me last month in Heathrow. British Airways to Delta. A hassle. Expected, though.

Airlines. Profit. Efficiency. Passengers? Details.

My flight from JFK was delayed. Stress. Typical. Learned my lesson. Now I check everything online, meticulously.

Always confirm baggage transfer policies. Avoid surprises. Travel smarter, not harder. That’s my motto. Or, something like that.

Additional considerations: Consider purchasing travel insurance.

• Insurance covers lost luggage. A small price to pay for peace of mind.
• 2023 travel insurance policies vary. Check the specifics for your trip.
• My insurance with Allianz covered my lost luggage incident. Expensive, but necessary.

Baggage claim. A purgatory. But, efficient. Mostly.

When you have a connecting flight, do you have to go through security again?

Connecting flights, huh? It’s a drag. Always a gamble.

Sometimes you clear security again. Really depends. That’s the brutal truth. My flight last year from Heathrow to JFK? Yep, full security check again. A nightmare.

International to domestic? Definitely. Customs. Immigration. The whole shebang. Ugh. Remember that awful line in Miami? Still gives me chills.

Airside connections are rare. I wish they weren’t. So much easier. But seriously, don’t count on it. Almost never happens for international-to-domestic flights.

Preclearance? Yeah, that’s a unicorn. Never seen it in action. Heard stories though.

• Security checkpoints: Expect a second screening if transferring between international and domestic terminals.
• Customs and Immigration: Mandatory process for international arrivals, even with connecting flights.
• Airside connections: An ideal, but uncommon scenario. Don’t depend on it.
• Preclearance: Extremely rare, do not plan around it.
• My personal experience: Multiple delays and long waits at security, customs and immigration. It sucks.