New York City - International Arrivals at JFK (T3-T4 Connection)

Arriving at T4 on Singapore Airlines 11:30 AM on a weekday. After Immigration & Customs departing out of T3 on Delta at 4 PM. Once through Customs and Baggage Check where does one go? Do we have to wheel 8 bags to the Airtrain to get over to T3 and then check everything in with Delta there? Or, is there a system like Atlanta has where, once through baggage check the domestic carriers are right there a few feet away where you drop your bags and then proceed to your departure gate.

Please follow the thread as it moves to the Destinations->NYC forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Arriving at T4 on Singapore Airlines 11:30 AM on a weekday. After Immigration & Customs departing out of T3 on Delta at 4 PM. Once through Customs and Baggage Check where does one go? Do we have to wheel 8 bags to the Airtrain to get over to T3 and then check everything in with Delta there? Or, is there a system like Atlanta has where, once through baggage check the domestic carriers are right there a few feet away where you drop your bags and then proceed to your departure gate.JFK isn't ATL. You will be taking those bags with you to T3 and you will have to go through security again. You can go via Airtrain. Take the Airtrain that loops around the airport but doesn't go to Jamaica or Howard Beach. Terminal 3 will be the first stop.

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I suggest that the OP contact SQ, and inquire whether SQ has an "interline baggage agreement" with DL which would allow the bags to be checked through to the OP's final destination, and whether there is a baggage re-check desk after Customs at JFK T4 for such baggage. (I've read here on FT that JetBlue has such a desk at T4; it may be that there is also one that could handle SQ => DL baggage.) If there is no such desk, I would contact DL, which also has some departures from T4, and ask whether baggage for a DL flight departing from T3 can be checked in at a Delta counter in T4.

JFK isn't ATL. You will be taking those bags with you to T3 and you will have to go through security again. You can go via Airtrain. Take the Airtrain that loops around the airport but doesn't go to Jamaica or Howard Beach. Terminal 3 will be the first stop.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

I suggest that the OP contact SQ, and inquire whether SQ has an "interline baggage agreement" with DL which would allow the bags to be checked through to the OP's final destination, and whether there is a baggage re-check desk after Customs at JFK T4 for such baggage. (I've read here on FT that JetBlue has such a desk at T4; it may be that there is also one that could handle SQ => DL baggage.) If there is no such desk, I would contact DL, which also has some departures from T4, and ask whether baggage for a DL flight departing from T3 can be checked in at a Delta counter in T4.While I don't know definitively, I'd be very surprised if the OP needs to bring the bags over to DL.

While I don't know definitively, I'd be very surprised if the OP needs to bring the bags over to DL.

If the OP wants to he/she can check-in with DL in Terminal 4, head through security there (the B Gates) and then catch the shuttle from B19 to Terminal 3.

JFK isn't ATL. You will be taking those bags with you to T3 and you will have to go through security again. You can go via Airtrain. Take the Airtrain that loops around the airport but doesn't go to Jamaica or Howard Beach. Terminal 3 will be the first stop.

Yes, the OP will have to drop the bags off. But Delta has services in T4 and they even have a bag drop facility on the ground floor just outside customs (turn left).

If the bags are tagged by SQ all the way through (yes, DL & SQ have an interline agreement so it is possible) then they can be dropped off downstairs. If not, just take them upstairs to the DL counter and check them in there. No need to schlep them on the AirTrain.

Appreciate all the information provided. I kind of thought that there would be a bag drop, right outside customs, similar to Atlanta. I couldn't see how people, who are transferring from International to Domestic flights, would have to truck their bags all over the airport. Although I grew up in and lived part of my life in New York, I have never arrived at JFK on either a domestic or international flight. LaGuardia yes. JFK no.

I kind of thought that there would be a bag drop, right outside customs, similar to Atlanta.
And you are correct. :-:

Yes, the OP will have to drop the bags off. But Delta has services in T4 and they even have a bag drop facility on the ground floor just outside customs (turn left).

If the bags are tagged by SQ all the way through (yes, DL & SQ have an interline agreement so it is possible) then they can be dropped off downstairs. If not, just take them upstairs to the DL counter and check them in there. No need to schlep them on the AirTrain.

Yes, Singapopre does have an interline agreement with Delta and will check the bags all the way through to Orlando. So, it looks as though we can utilize the Delta bag drop service right outside customs in T4. I would imagine that we can then head to the gate as I will do an on-line check in, with both Singapore and Delta, and will print our boarding passes.

Yes, Singapopre does have an interline agreement with Delta and will check the bags all the way through to Orlando. So, it looks as though we can utilize the Delta bag drop service right outside customs in T4. I would imagine that we can then head to the gate as I will do an on-line check in, with both Singapore and Delta, and will print our boarding passes.Excellent news. :) I would also verify with the airline that you won't have to go through security again.

I would also verify with the airline that you won't have to go through security again.
:confused:

The OP will absolutely have to clear security after dropping their bags back off in JFK and heading to the DL gates.

:confused:

The OP will absolutely have to clear security after dropping their bags back off in JFK and heading to the DL gates.That's what I thought as the OP wrote this:

I would imagine that we can then head to the gate as I will do an on-line check in, with both Singapore and Delta, and will print our boarding passes.I read this and thought there is no way I would make such an assumption but so far on this thread, I've been proven wrong which is why I advised the OP to confirm his assumption. :D

I read this and thought there is no way I would make such an assumption but so far on this thread, I've been proven wrong which is why I advised the OP to confirm his assumption. :DThe process for all passengers arriving in the United States from foreign countries is the same at all airports: passengers must clear immigration, claim their luggage, and then clear customs. Connecting passengers must then re-check their luggage, proceed to the terminal of their connecting airline, and re-clear security. So the only question is where they re-check their luggage: at the terminal at which they arrive, or at the terminal from which they're departing. Although many passengers chose to take their luggage with them to the terminal from which they are departing, more often than not this is not necessary. Due to interline agreements among almost all major (and most smaller) carriers, one can re-check their luggage at the terminal at which they arrived, and thus avoid having to take it to the terminal from which they're departing.

The only exception to the above are passengers arriving from foreign airports (such as YYZ) where the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has set up immigration and customs clearance facilities. Passengers who have cleared immigration and customs at the departing airport arrive in the U.S. as domestic passengers, and thus can check their luggage to their final destination and transfer to their connecting flight without re-clearing security if airport facilities provide for it. (So a passenger who flies YYZ-JFK on AA can proceed to a connecting gate at JFK without claiming their luggage and without re-clearing security. The same passenger, though, if connecting on DL, will not have to claim his luggage -- AA will interline it to DL -- but the passenger will, of course, have to re-clear security at the DL terminal. This is due only to the airport layout at JFK and nothing to due with CBP rules and regulations.

The process for all passengers arriving in the United States from foreign countries is the same at all airports: passengers must clear immigration, claim their luggage, and then clear customs. Connecting passengers must then re-check their luggage, proceed to the terminal of their connecting airline, and re-clear security. So the only question is where they re-check their luggage: at the terminal at which they arrive, or at the terminal from which they're departing. Although many passengers chose to take their luggage with them to the terminal from which they are departing, more often than not this is not necessary. Due to interline agreements among almost all major (and most smaller) carriers, one can re-check their luggage at the terminal at which they arrived, and thus avoid having to take it to the terminal from which they're departing.

The only exception to the above are passengers arriving from foreign airports (such as YYZ) where the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has set up immigration and customs clearance facilities. Passengers who have cleared immigration and customs at the departing airport arrive in the U.S. as domestic passengers, and thus can check their luggage to their final destination and transfer to their connecting flight without re-clearing security if airport facilities provide for it. (So a passenger who flies YYZ-JFK on AA can proceed to a connecting gate at JFK without claiming their luggage and without re-clearing security. The same passenger, though, if connecting on DL, will not have to claim his luggage -- AA will interline it to DL -- but the passenger will, of course, have to re-clear security at the DL terminal. This is due only to the airport layout at JFK and nothing to due with CBP rules and regulations.

There are some further exceptions at some airports where the passenger arrives from a foreign country and is departing to a foreign country. LAX have some flights which allow for international transit.

At some airports whilst passengers have to re-clear security they are able to take a different route, such as DL T5 in LAX where incoming foreign passengers can use the ground level security clearance rather than the main security clearance on the mezzanine.

There are some further exceptions at some airports where the passenger arrives from a foreign country and is departing to a foreign country. LAX have some flights which allow for international transit.There is only one that I'm aware of - AKL-LAX-LHR. Are there any others??

At some airports whilst passengers have to re-clear security they are able to take a different route, such as DL T5 in LAX where incoming foreign passengers can use the ground level security clearance rather than the main security clearance on the mezzanine.IAH has a similar setup in E where connecting passengers have a separate security area.

IAH is also one of a few airports (MIA is another, maybe ATL, too) where passengers on an I:I connection with checked bags do not have to collect their bags. The system is set up to allow for the bags to be passed straight through in many cases. It is quite nice.

Of course, none of this is relevant in NYC or to the OP. :eek:

Of course I'm aware of the fact that once we clear customs and the bags are dropped at the Delta bag drop, that we proceed to the gate through security first. Even in Atlanta I believe that we had to go through domestic departure security after dropping our bags outside of customs on arrival from a foreign country. Didn't mean to indicate that we would go straight to the domestic gate from customs, even though we would already have our domestic boarding passes.

Of course I'm aware of the fact that once we clear customs and the bags are dropped at the Delta bag drop, that we proceed to the gate through security first. Even in Atlanta I believe that we had to go through domestic departure security after dropping our bags outside of customs on arrival from a foreign country.But that security line at ATL is just for those transferring at ATL, isn't it? At T3, the security lines are for all entering T3.

But that security line at ATL is just for those transferring at ATL, isn't it? At T3, the security lines are for all entering T3.

I believe, in Atlanta, you still have to go through security before you head for your gate, even though you are able to drop your bags with the domestic carrier after clearing customs. I am told by Delta that we can drop our bags with Delta, after clearing customs at JFK, and then take the Delta shuttle from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. don't know if this entails a security clearance or not.

I am told by Delta that we can drop our bags with Delta, after clearing customs at JFK, and then take the Delta shuttle from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3. don't know if this entails a security clearance or not.

It will as the shuttle between T4 and T3 is behind security. Gate B23 as per the link.

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/airport_information/airport_maps/newyork_jfk.jsp

But that security line at ATL is just for those transferring at ATL, isn't it?
Atlanta is one of the few "special" airports where everyone gets to re-clear because it was laid out in an era where passengers having been screened previously arriving in the USA were considered safe. Now that the TSA doesn't allow that they have to be rescreened so they can pass through the terminals to get to the exit. I thought that the new terminal was supposed to help fix that but I don't know the current status of that.

There are a few others around the country with similar layouts. It sucks.