SlimpyJones

Hi all,

I've been getting conflicting advice for what happens with I-I connections at JFK, specifically whether I need to pick up my bag or not. I am travelling MEX-JFK-LHR, all on Delta, and will have checked luggage. I have read in another thread that DL offers international-to-international luggage tags that mean that bags aren't routed to the reclaim belts and just loaded onto the next plane, meaning I don't need to pickup and recheck them. Below is my reply from Delta on Twitter:

It sounds like a fairly clear reply but there's a nagging part of me wanting extra clarification, as the last thing I want is my bag getting left on the belt at JFK. I have a 1h 40m connection so any kind of time saving would be very handy.

SlimpyJones

Just to add as well, the same rep has advised that the same rule applies to my outbound LHR-ATL-MEX trip. Virgin have advised the contrary (i.e. that bags must be collected).
How confusing.

flyerCO

You need to be connecting DL to DL for ITI bags. Make sure they put a purple ITI tag on the bag at checkin or it will not transfer at JFK/ATL. The bag will still show on the belt in customs hall. Do not grab it. A DL agent will pull the purple ITI tagged bags and transfer to next flight.

ajwright

Deleted

C W

I had no idea they still showed up on the belt, very interesting. I've ITI tagged a number of times and naturally had no reason to go to the belt to see.

wrp96

Not quite. There are a few US airports that offer ITI baggage transfers for international-international connections. If your airline participates and the connecting airport participates, then your bags are tagged ITI at check in, and you don't have to collect them at the US connection point (you still have to clear immigration).

I know ATL does offer ITI. I didn't think JFK offered ITI transfers. MIA, DFW, and IAH also offer ITI and there are probably others.

flyerCO

For security reasons the belt system for international inbound flights dont connect to the domestic portion. Ensures bags dont get skip going through customs on accident or purpose. Thus agents has to pickup and transfer.

SlimpyJones

Great, thank you for that.

I should clarify that I am doing LHR-ATL-MEX with the LHR-ATL portion on Virgin. They advised they do not issue international to international tags for luggage. Which would make sense with what you said about it being DL-DL only. So it looks like I'll have to pick them up as normal in ATL but at MEX I will enquire about the I-I tag and see if they put one on as it's DL-DL.

danielonn

Wouldn't there be signs for International Transit Passengers? You could ask the rep meeting the flight where to go. I would just follow the signs to the "Transit area" and you would clear security again and go back to the terminal.

For the Customs Declaration Form you would put "In Transit" and there are signs for connecting passengers not docking in the USA. Ask the US Border Patrol Rep to direct you and it helps to have your connecting boarding pass in hand to show the rep that you are transiting.

It seems easier to connect in Europe rather than in the USA. I have done Schengen to Non Schengen flights and vice versa without an issue.

If you could try switching to the AeroMexico flight to Europe you may be better off.

You should allow yourself at least 3 hours to make the connection for lines depending on your Passport you may be able to use the Mobile Passport Control or Automated Passport Control Machines if not there would be lines for clearing customs, you may be asked to go to secondary screening and then TSA security.

I hope this helps. Bien Viaje.

danielonn

My Father and I connected in Mexico City from San Francisco to Sao Paulo on Aero Mexico to TAM. When we cleared Mexico Customs we put our bags on the transfer belt and it was automatically transferred to TAM and we then went on a day tour of Mexico City sans bags.

When we returned to the airport we went through passport control and security and waited in the Lounge. A very painless experience.

Had a nice lunch in Zona Rosa. You have such a beautiful city and country. I have been to Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. I hope to go to Cuernevaca, Zacatecas, Gudalajara, Cancun, the pyramids. I heard Alcupulco and Mazatlan are beautiful beaches as is the Sea of Cortez(Penasco).

bennos

There is no such thing as a "transit area" in the US. All arriving passengers clear immigration regardless of destination. Connecting to a domestic flight and connecting to an international flight are the same procedure, except if you can get your bags tagged ITI.

flyerCO

You've obviously never transited in the US for ITI.

Often1

There is no such thing as an "International Transit Passenger" in the U.S. and has not been for over 20 years.

All arriving passengers are processed through CBP. If you require a visa or ESTA for the US, you will require it for these two sets of flights.

I-T-I is simply ad administrative convenience and CBP may still inspect bags if it wishes.

kennedytower

You will have to collect your bags at JFK after clearing Immigrations. JFK does not offer the ITI mentioned in the other posts. After exiting customs turn left and you will be at the DL transfer counters. There you can give you bag to DL to be sent to the LHR flight. Both of your flights will operate from T4 so the connection should not be too difficult.

flyerCO

Did they stop it? I thought I've done it in past.