Do I HAVE to get up?
 

I'll be flying CO98 from Chep Lap Kok to Houston via New York. Will I have to get off the plane for customs at Newark, only to get back to the same seat I was in? Or will I be allowed to go through customs at IAH?

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

[This message has been edited by ConcordeBoy (edited 03-18-2002).]

Most likely (definitely) you'll have to clear at EWR, your first point of entry into the U.S. How else would they separate you in IAH from all the domestic EWR-IAH flyers?

If the EWR-IAH is even the same equip, in all likelihood, you'll even have to board at a different terminal (Int'l Arrivals are terminal B, the departure will be terminal C).

Bummer. Thanks for the info http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

Also, what's been you guys' experience with customs in EWR? I normally use ATL or JFK. What would you say would be the optimal time it takes to get through? Also, the worst time?

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

Everytime I have ever flown internationally, I have always had to clear customs at the initial point of entry.

Immigration/Customs will indeed need to be cleared at the initial point of entry. Domestic flights (i.e. EWR-IAH) arrive in the domestic arrivals section, and "hiding" on the plane is not possible.

That being said, the EWR folks have been very nice to me overall. And it's usually well staffed and waiting time is minimal, compared to say IAD. Make sure you fill out those forms in advance though.

It all depends, in Feb we had to wait for almost 1 hour!

Yes, but you are not a US citizen, right? So that is a whole different line, whole different ballpark since ConcordeBoy is from New Orleans.

I have never seen the US citizen line at EWR be more than 20 minutes, usually less. I've been through it about 50 times.

It is federal law that you must clear immigration at first port of entry, not CO policy.

Well, CB could still be a foreigner! In any case, I've never waited more than about 15 minutes in either line at EWR. (Sometimes us Canadians are directed to the US Citizens line, and sometimes not). 1 hour is really nasty, regardless of citizenship -- especially given that the INS tacks on a $6 fee for their "service" to all tickets.

Again, thanks for all the responces.

Question #2) will I have to take all my carry-on off with me, only to put them back on the same plane and most likely the same seat? I suppose I would for the sake of safety, but just wondering.

PS. Though I loath to admit it, it's true: I'm actually from this backwater snakehole called Louisiana http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif lol

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

CB - It is extremely unlikely that you will be on the same aircraft for your second leg. While you are clearing customs in Terminal B, the aircraft is clearing quarantine, which process takes longer than yours. You will need to go over to Terminal C for your flight to Houston, and even tho it reads the same kind of aircraft, it will be another plane.
The monorail gets you over quickly unless you want to add to the tobacco fumes outside, and then you have a five or so minute walk from one building to the other, just enough for a quick smoke.

I'm willing to eat warm nuts (including ramekin) if the 777 that takes you from HKG to EWR is the same plane that takes you from EWR to IAH. Even if it was also a 777 (highly unlikely, most likely a 737), it wouldn't be BF-configured.

All 777 are BF-configured!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

BON APETIT!!
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Viele Grüße

Oliver

Interesting. How is it then that other int'l carriers can have as little as 1-2hr turnarounds after their quarantine inspections?

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy

Also, what about an int'l carrier's route such as Qantas' SYD-LAX-JFK. Do all pax have to do customs in LA since it's an foreign carrier, or can they wait until arrival at NYC?

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Faire du ciel le plus bel endroit de la terre c'est impossible sans Concorde!
~ConcordeBoy