Minimum connection times in JFK

[qf unfort]

I'm travelling on an international flight to JFK next sunday, late morning. I need to book an onward connection and will probably do so on JetBlue as it has the best fares and is nonstop so no through checkin or AA lounges (). Question is, how long does it normally take in JFK to clear customs, immigration etc and transfer terminals and so how long do I need to give myself to be 'safe' and not miss the connection? When I've arrived in the US previously, queues at immigration have varied between huge (up to 1hr wait) at Miami, to non-existant at Chicago.

 

[serfty]

If you are arriving on Qantas, you would have cleared customs at LAX.

Here's some threads on FlyerTalk wich may assist:

• Clearing customs at JFK, can we make this flight? - FlyerTalk Forums
• International to domestic transfer at JFK? - FlyerTalk Forums
• Tight evening connection to BOS at JFK: best strategy? - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[qf unfort]

Great, thanks for the links. very useful. I'm arriving from NRT so no clearance at LAX. I'm using the JAL specials rather than the Qantas expensive fares!

 

[Alanslegal]

Sorry to *bump up this thread thread, but I need some reassurance about a connecting time at JFK;-

Flying CX888 from YVR to JFK, lands at 705am Terminal 7

Looking to fly out at 1050am (JetBlue Terminal 5) to NAS

That's 3h 45m

Ideally this should be enough time for an international to international connection?

 

[Grooba]

Baring any big delays I'd think that is plenty of time to get from T7 across to T5.

Ahh the Bahamas, somewhere I'm hanging to see!

 

[Alanslegal]

Baring any big delays I'd think that is plenty of time to get from T7 across to T5.

Ahh the Bahamas, somewhere I'm hanging to see!

Thanks for that I've just booked it, so we'll see how it all pans out on the day

 

[dk4]

Ideally this should be enough time for an international to international connection?

Take look at Thread Does YVR-JFK offer US immigration pre-clearance? | FlyerTalk Forums | BoardReader where there is discussion about your specific CX flight as well.

P.S. remember that internationally departing flights from the USA are not segregated from domestic, so you don't pass through a formal border barrier when departing their country (& thus you need an ESTA even if just in transit). If you are returning with Jet Blue through The States to get home (within 90 days), they should leave the green I94W tab in your passport*, making it quicker for you to pre-clear US immigration when you leave Nassau (i.e. using your existing I94W, rather than filling out a new one). Just remember to ensure that this stub has been removed from your passport (by airline) staff prior to departing The US on your way home (if back-tracking along a similar route).

* unless your US entry in electronically processed at the border, in which case you won't fill out an I94W.