PHL International connection. How much time needed?
 

Hi,

I'd like to fly into PHL from Zurich at 16:35 and fly out to Binghamton at 18:20.

It seems very tight.

Any idea how much time one must calculate for clearing customs?

I assume one must clear customs with your bags and then recheck them for the domestic flight.

Thanks for you input.

S

This question is probably more appropriate in a Destinations forum. But I think your connection is possible but tight. I've done LH F (from FRA) to US (from F terminal) in about 1 hour but with no checked bags. Is the Binghamton flight the last of the day? I'd be a bit worried if it was, if there is another, you should be ok.

SwissM, since this involves US Customs in PHL, I'll switch it to the geographical forum that encompasses Philadelphia.

Good luck on the trip.

_________________________
Cholula
CommunityBuzz! Co-Moderator

Check out this recent thread here.

Oh...and this one, too.

If your inbound flight is on time, this can be done pretty easily--although I would strongly advise you not to check bags if at all possible. After going through immigration (usually less than 20 minutes at PHL), you will have to wait for your checked bags, clear customs, and re-check them. If the baggage handlers are doing their jobs properly, that part *can* take as little as 15 minutes, but this is PHL and the baggage handlers almost never do their jobs properly.

Your Binghamton flight is probably leaving from Terminal F, which is a bus ride from where you'll be at Terminal A. Another 20-30 minutes there, including walking and waiting time. So if you don't check bags, you can make it from the inbound plane to the second gate in under an hour and be on time for your next flight.