Connection @ IAH--need advice, please!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: YYZ
Posts: 38
Connection @ IAH--need advice, please!
Husband and I have a return flight to Canada, from New Zealand, by way of Houston, as follows:
AKL-IAH on Air New Zealand, arriving Terminal D, 1:45 p.m.
IAH LAYOVER: 1 hour, 55 minutes
IAH-YYZ on Air Canada, departing Terminal A, at 3:40 p.m.
Air New Zealand and Air Canada are part of a Star Alliance Interline Agreement.
I am assuming (a) we will have both boarding passes in hand in AKL and
(b) our luggage will be checked all the way through to Toronto, Canada.
1. Are we required to clear U.S. Customs/Immigration in IAH?
2. Are we required to pick up our checked luggage in IAH?
3. We both have NEXUS card--will that be useful here?
Can someone help 2 senior citizens understand protocols so that we can increase the likelihood that we, and luggage, will make it to our connecting flight to bring us home! I understand the Skyway connection at IAH will take us from Terminal D to Terminal A. I'm not clear on what is likely to happen in between!
AKL-IAH on Air New Zealand, arriving Terminal D, 1:45 p.m.
IAH LAYOVER: 1 hour, 55 minutes
IAH-YYZ on Air Canada, departing Terminal A, at 3:40 p.m.
Air New Zealand and Air Canada are part of a Star Alliance Interline Agreement.
I am assuming (a) we will have both boarding passes in hand in AKL and
(b) our luggage will be checked all the way through to Toronto, Canada.
1. Are we required to clear U.S. Customs/Immigration in IAH?
2. Are we required to pick up our checked luggage in IAH?
3. We both have NEXUS card--will that be useful here?
Can someone help 2 senior citizens understand protocols so that we can increase the likelihood that we, and luggage, will make it to our connecting flight to bring us home! I understand the Skyway connection at IAH will take us from Terminal D to Terminal A. I'm not clear on what is likely to happen in between!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,759
I am assuming (a) we will have both boarding passes in hand in AKL and
(b) our luggage will be checked all the way through to Toronto, Canada.
1. Are we required to clear U.S. Customs/Immigration in IAH?
2. Are we required to pick up our checked luggage in IAH?
3. We both have NEXUS card--will that be useful here?
Can someone help 2 senior citizens understand protocols so that we can increase the likelihood that we, and luggage, will make it to our connecting flight to bring us home! I understand the Skyway connection at IAH will take us from Terminal D to Terminal A. I'm not clear on what is likely to happen in between!
(b) our luggage will be checked all the way through to Toronto, Canada.
1. Are we required to clear U.S. Customs/Immigration in IAH?
2. Are we required to pick up our checked luggage in IAH?
3. We both have NEXUS card--will that be useful here?
Can someone help 2 senior citizens understand protocols so that we can increase the likelihood that we, and luggage, will make it to our connecting flight to bring us home! I understand the Skyway connection at IAH will take us from Terminal D to Terminal A. I'm not clear on what is likely to happen in between!
2) Yes, you'll collect your bags, go through customs, and then upon exit will recheck your bags by dropping them off before you go reclear security
3) Yes, very useful. NEXUS includes access to global entry so you'll be able to use the kiosks and skip the often long lines for non-US citizens. If you don't use global entry, I believe Canadian citizens can use the automated passport control which again is faster than the long normal line
Assuming your flight is on time, 2 hrs should be enough time to get through and make your flight home. To further save time, you can make sure your known traveller number is entered on your reservation so you have precheck on your boarding passes and then follow instructions in the wiki in this thread to the Terminal E security which is usually faster than the transfer security:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ional-iah.html
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: YYZ
Posts: 38
To further save time, you can make sure your known traveller number is entered on your reservation so you have precheck on your boarding passes and then follow instructions in the wiki in this thread to the Terminal E security which is usually faster than the transfer security:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ional-iah.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...ional-iah.html
TIA,
Elaine
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,759
Thank you krazykanuck, for your guidance. Will follow the link you provided. Can you clarify something: I don't understand "known traveller number" and how to enter it on our reservation. Is this something we do independently, or do we request a ticketing agent to do this on our behalf? I have never done this before.
That being said, this isn't necessary for you do to, I only mentioned it as an option.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
this has been the case for me on ua>ua flights and nh>ua flights only. i never took a nz>ac flight via iah, and i only carried on tk>ua flights. so op should double check.
edit: kk is right, all nz bags must be picked, even intl>intl https://www.airnewzealand.com/connecting-at-houston
i do know however that the d security checkpoint is always dead before 2pm. but d and e doesn't have pre check, but c and b does.
Last edited by cur; Jan 30, 2017 at 8:41 am