Time needed for customs ?
Feb 7, 2014 | 5:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2
Time needed for customs ?
Afternoon Flyers,
Have been searching for an hour for info without any success... please advise.
Going to Cancun and flying Air Tran. On the return flight from Cancun, we change planes in Austin, TX with a connecting flight on Southwest to LAX. I'm assuming we go thru customs in Austin since it is the first stop in the U.S.?
Will we have to get our bags and go thru Customs or do they pick and choose the baggage of who gets searched?
Are the buildings/rooms connected and will there be a way to check the bags in directly to SW without going through security?
If all steps are needed, will a 2 hour layover be enough time to get bags, go thru Customs, check into SWA and go through security?
Thank you...
Have been searching for an hour for info without any success... please advise.
Going to Cancun and flying Air Tran. On the return flight from Cancun, we change planes in Austin, TX with a connecting flight on Southwest to LAX. I'm assuming we go thru customs in Austin since it is the first stop in the U.S.?
Will we have to get our bags and go thru Customs or do they pick and choose the baggage of who gets searched?
Are the buildings/rooms connected and will there be a way to check the bags in directly to SW without going through security?
If all steps are needed, will a 2 hour layover be enough time to get bags, go thru Customs, check into SWA and go through security?
Thank you...
Feb 8, 2014 | 12:04 am
#2
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,707
You will need to collect your bags, go through immigration and customs, drop off your bags again, and go through security. I am not familiar with AUS, but it is not a big airport so 2 hours should be enough.
Feb 8, 2014 | 10:37 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
Afternoon Flyers,
Have been searching for an hour for info without any success... please advise.
Going to Cancun and flying Air Tran. On the return flight from Cancun, we change planes in Austin, TX with a connecting flight on Southwest to LAX. I'm assuming we go thru customs in Austin since it is the first stop in the U.S.?
Will we have to get our bags and go thru Customs or do they pick and choose the baggage of who gets searched?
Are the buildings/rooms connected and will there be a way to check the bags in directly to SW without going through security?
If all steps are needed, will a 2 hour layover be enough time to get bags, go thru Customs, check into SWA and go through security?
Thank you...
Have been searching for an hour for info without any success... please advise.
Going to Cancun and flying Air Tran. On the return flight from Cancun, we change planes in Austin, TX with a connecting flight on Southwest to LAX. I'm assuming we go thru customs in Austin since it is the first stop in the U.S.?
Will we have to get our bags and go thru Customs or do they pick and choose the baggage of who gets searched?
Are the buildings/rooms connected and will there be a way to check the bags in directly to SW without going through security?
If all steps are needed, will a 2 hour layover be enough time to get bags, go thru Customs, check into SWA and go through security?
Thank you...
Hopefully you beat the BA flight or come well after it arrives (as it was/is to start in March).
Feb 8, 2014 | 11:56 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
It's never taken us more than half an hour.
When we are sent to customs they run our bags through an x-ray and only open those that contain anything with a density that could be food.
On the other hand you're coming from drug country, you might be subjected to more of a search.
When we are sent to customs they run our bags through an x-ray and only open those that contain anything with a density that could be food.
On the other hand you're coming from drug country, you might be subjected to more of a search.
Feb 8, 2014 | 12:25 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
No such thing in Mexico still, according to CBP.