Do I have to go through customs for a connecting international flight at LAX?

If you're connecting with another airline, you may need to change terminals. If you're arriving on an international flight, you need to clear US Customs checkpoints before entering the United States and collect your baggage (even if you're in transit and have connecting flights).



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Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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These are estimated walking times between different areas of LAX: 5 minutes for each portion of this route: Terminal 1 – Terminal 3 – International Terminal B – Terminal 4. 5 to 8 minutes for each portion of this route: Terminal 4 – Terminal 5 – Terminal 6 – Terminal 7 – Terminal 8.

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Five Tips to Help You Get Through Customs Faster
  1. Mobile Passport app. Launched in 2014, Mobile Passport was the first app authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). ...
  2. Self-serve kiosks. ...
  3. Get Global Entry. ...
  4. Declare everything. ...
  5. Don't pack food items.


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The recommended layover time for international flights is generally longer, as you will have to go through customs and immigration before boarding your next flight. In most cases, a 30-minute layover for domestic flights and an hour for international flights is considered a minimum, or short, layover.

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What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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To put it simply, having a connecting flight means you will have to change planes. You will not be flying directly from A to B, but there will also be C. You will fly from A to C, and then from C to B. Sometimes there will be more than a single stop.

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You'll need to clear customs and immigration. Next, you'll recheck your luggage for the domestic flight. Finally, you'll need to go through Transportation Security Administration screening. This may include a physical inspection of your luggage and personal items with a metal detector or a full-body scan.

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You will need to reclear TSA security once you arrive in your departure terminal. For international arriving passengers, you must claim all checked bags at Customs and recheck with your departing airline, even if the bags are checked to your final destination!

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You might have to go through customs during a layover, especially if your layover is in the Schengen Area (which consists of most countries in the EU). For example, if your final destination is Paris, France, but you have a layover in Madrid, Spain, you will actually go through customs in Spain, not France.

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Yes, passengers usually have to re-clear security for connecting flights. It is recommended that travelers allow enough extra time before their connecting flight to pass through security and customs again.

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If you know you'll be traveling during a peak time, it's probably still a good idea to plan on the standard two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. If you're heading to the airport at a slower time of day, then you can consider arriving a little later.

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For international layover flights booked on one airline, two hours is often recommended to make your connection. For international flights on different airlines, the connection time will need to be even greater as you may have to change terminals between the two flights.

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The rule of thumb is that you leave AT LEAST 3 hours from arrival to departure for international flights and 1.5 hours for domestic. You still have to get your bags, clear customs, re-check your bags and then go through security for your next flight. All of this can take a couple of hours.

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Allowing yourself at least a 60-minute layover for domestic flights and a two-hour layover time for international flights can often be a much more comfortable and stress-free journey than booking a flight with a very tight connection.

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If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability.

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On interline flights (where two airlines agree to handle passengers with multiple legs in their journey), your baggage will be transferred automatically. For international layovers in the US and Canada, you will have to collect and recheck your luggage independent of whether the flights are booked on the same airline.

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5. When do you go through customs on international flights? Usually, you go through customs when you exit the airport at your final destination. However, if you have a layover in a different city in your destination country, you may need to go through customs before your connecting flight.

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How long does custom clearance take? Typically, customs clearance takes less than 24 hours, however, there are times where it can take several days or weeks for goods to be inspected. When is customs clearance needed? Customs clearance is necessary for all packages entering the U.S. from other countries.

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