International transfer in IAH
 

What's the min time to allow for international arrival in IAH?
Recently at EWR due to mistake by Customs/Border ( 1 hr queuing and 1 hr in back office while mistake rectifiied) nearly missed connection with 2h25min delay.

Many thanks for any advice

That is really going to depend on a lot of different things. Here are a few to consider.
1. Time of day - afternoon arriving flights will usually have big lines at immigration.
2. Class of travel - if you are one of the first off the plane, you will get through immigration faster.
3. Checked baggage - if you check bags you will need to collect them, and then re-check them for your next flight, so even if you are fast through immigration, you might find yourself waiting for your luggage.
4. Global entry program - IAH is a global entry airport, so if you have global entry, then there is no wait at immigration.
I always travel with only carry on luggage, and have global entry, and usually travel in BF - so IAH is a breeze for me. It takes longer to walk to immigration from the plane, then it does to get through the process. Usually no longer then 10 mins from exiting the plane to looking for my next gate.
To be safe, I would say that most people would need to allow a minimum of 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours for a connection, but it is certainly doable in a shorter time depending on your travel habits.

IAH is easier than EWR for international-to-domestic transfer. I'll do it with less 90 minutes if the following requirements are met:

- Carry-on only
- Not late afternoon, especially in the summer (thunderstorms)
- Traveling by myself, or with other equally-savvy travelers
- Other, later flights to take to my destinations should I miss my connection

If any of those conditions don't fit your travel, err on the side closer to 2 hours. A visit to the E P-Club is fine consolation if you blitz through formalities.

Regarding your travel at EWR (I've never actually connected there, being EWR-based), I can definitely see how several unrelated delays can pare your 'long' layover down to a real hustle. That's just the way it goes over there. 3 hours is the magic number in my mind for any connection at EWR that involves an international flight.

I have made 45 min international connections in Houston with time to spare. It depends on time of day and time of year...

and if you're a citizen. US Citizens will generally clear faster, but I have seen the occasional instance of the immigration inspectors helping more visitors than citizens.

CO-5
 

CO 5 HEATHROW L ARMSTRONG IN
LONDON HOUSTON AIRCRAFT: BOEING 777-200/300
HOUSTON NEW ORL CHANGE OF AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-800

I flew this route recently and was refused (by 2 representatives) to be on the FC standby list from IAH to MSY because it was booked as one international flight LHR – MSY. This was a first for me. I thought IAH to MSY was domestic travel and I should be eligible. In fact, on the outgoing CO-4 (MSY - via IAH – LHR), I have been upgraded in the past. Is it different leaving the country?
Does anyone know or understand the rules?


In answer to the original question, I could have made this connection in 45-min.

You should be eligible for EUA on the domestic portion of CO 5. And you should automatically be placed on the upgrade standby list by virtue of your OnePass number in the PNR.

Should, yes, but I believe it is an issue with the through-flight number not splitting correctly at IAH. Booking it as LHR-IAH/IAH-MSY, even if on the same CO5 flight number, rather than as LHR-MSY (1 stop) should resolve the issue.

I am travelling JNB-LHR-IAH-DFW on SA/CO in Y. It was bought on a single ticket. I am on CO 35 and have a 1.5 hour transfer in IAH for CO5919 to DFW.

Is it possible to make the connection at IAH or am I cutting it fine.

The answer is probably "yes" to both halves of that question. ;)

I normally try for the tight connect 1 hour +/- and make it about half the time,
but I've got plenty of back up flights to bail me out.
Watch out for the Central America and Mexico flights - they seem to all come in at the same time. Europe seems to be better but that's just my experience.

Will you be using the US citizen/Permanent resident line? If so, it shouldn't be a problem assuming the flight is on time. I've done 45 minute connections through Ag inspection, from E concourse on the train to B.

nope. I am a south african citizen, attending a students conference in dallas

I suspect you'll be fine, and there are multiple flights daily to DFW. Barring that, you can also shoot for Dallas Love Field. Barring that, you can get a very early flight the next morning.
SO- lots of options should you miss your connex at IAH, but I suspect you'll make it, so long as you're smart about it and don't fool around at customs.

Be sure to take the airside elevated "train" as opposed to the thing in the basement. While both will get you to the other terminal, passing through the doors at the end of the baggage re-check hall will cause you to have to take the basement train and have to clear security again over in B. As you leave the customs all, keep to your right and proceed upstairs via the baggage re-check area.

BTW student... DAL is closer to Dallas than DFW is.