Flying Etihad to ORD connecting to AA?
May 25, 2011, 3:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Liberty International...
Programs: OMNI Platinum
Posts: 9,721
Flying Etihad to ORD connecting to AA?
If you are on a AA ticktet flying EY to ORD and Connecting to an AA flight to CLT do you clear customs at ORD or are you in transit still?
May 25, 2011, 3:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA PPro, 1MM
Posts: 505
You will clear customs at ORD and then transfer to Terminal 3 to catch your AA flight.
May 25, 2011, 3:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, SPG GLD
Posts: 181
ORD. AFAIK (and please correct me if I'm wrong) you always clear US customs/immigration on the first US destination in your itinerary. I'd bet it is true for any country without some kind of free travel agreement like the EU.
May 25, 2011, 4:00 pm
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Etihad to AA at ORD: When you arrive in the USA from another country, unless you have precleared, and regardless of whether you are connecting to a domestic or another international flight, you must clear U S Customs and Border Protection Immigration, collect your baggage and process Customs before you recheck your bags (and proceed landside to yet again process Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security procedures to get airside again.
At Chicago O'Hare that means arriving at Terminal 5, the International Terminal, and when you are done with formalities check your bags back in before exiting the Customs hall, go upstairs to take the ATS train to Terminal 3 (American Airlines) to proceed through Security (assuming you have ongoing boarding passes, or you will have to check in with AA first).
Link to ORD terminals map.
At Chicago O'Hare that means arriving at Terminal 5, the International Terminal, and when you are done with formalities check your bags back in before exiting the Customs hall, go upstairs to take the ATS train to Terminal 3 (American Airlines) to proceed through Security (assuming you have ongoing boarding passes, or you will have to check in with AA first).
Link to ORD terminals map.
May 25, 2011, 4:01 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,949
It's not just ORD. ALL inbound international flights to the US (including territories) require all passengers to clear immigration and customs formalities at the first point of entry (except select departure points with pre-clearance facilities). This is true even if a passengers is In-transit to another international destination.
May 25, 2011, 4:03 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Liberty International...
Programs: OMNI Platinum
Posts: 9,721
Ok thanks, I wasn't sure where you clear customs now I know.
May 25, 2011, 4:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, SPG GLD
Posts: 181
It's not just ORD. ALL inbound international flights to the US (including territories) require all passengers to clear immigration and customs formalities at the first point of entry (except select departure points with pre-clearance facilities). This is true even if a passengers is In-transit to another international destination.
May 25, 2011, 4:24 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Liberty International...
Programs: OMNI Platinum
Posts: 9,721
One more question,
If the ticket is purchased on AA.com but the flight is operated by EY what is baggage rule, is it still two checked bags or one checked bag?
If the ticket is purchased on AA.com but the flight is operated by EY what is baggage rule, is it still two checked bags or one checked bag?
Last edited by ewrfox; May 25, 2011 at 4:43 pm
May 25, 2011, 5:23 pm
#10
May 25, 2011, 5:33 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Liberty International...
Programs: OMNI Platinum
Posts: 9,721
Thanks. The booking on AA says its "on request" how long before it changes to "Ticketed" as there is a another reservation on different airline which is $400 more and it needs to be purchased soon or it'll cancel and if the AA booking wont confirm then it'll be a mess..
No worries. 
May 25, 2011, 7:25 pm
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
It depends on how far out the booking is. You could call if it doesn't ticket and provide you with a ticket number.
May 25, 2011, 8:11 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Liberty International...
Programs: OMNI Platinum
Posts: 9,721
Thanks for all your help.
