SYD-JFK-BOS Clearing Costoms?

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Chook legs

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Hi,
In the near future my wife, 10 month old son and I will be going around the world with the first leg being SYD-JFK-BOS. We will be on QF107 to JFK and then an AA flight to BOS. Last year we did this but went SYD-LAX-BOS. on that flight we cleared customs at LAX and had the remove the bag and put it back through thing. We both prefered to stay on the Qantas flight as much as possible so that is why we are doing it through JFK this time.
Can anyone tell me whether we still do this on the short LAX stop or will it happen in JFK? Just trying to get an idea for that and flying for the first time with a baby. Any advise in that area would also be apreciated.

Thanks
Chook Legs
 
Yes.

You will have to clear Customs and Immigration at your 1st point of entry into the USA

Dave
 
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Hmm, 20+ hours flying with a 10 month old. Now lets, see - where do we start? Firstly, let me know the date so I can ensure I am not on the flight :wink: .

Unless your 10 month old is of generous proportions (and I have seen some monsters), they should be comfortable in the airline bassinets, so make sure you have requested one.

But no 10 month old kid I have known will sleep for the duration of the flight, so make sure you have plenty to keep the child occupied.

For our kids, we found that a healthy dose of Phenergan helped to promote sleep at the right time. But first seek advice from your GP and test it out at home first - a very small proportion of kids have the opposite affect from it.

Your transit at LAX will all be inside Terminal 4, but you will have to clear immigration processing, collect bags, clear customs and re-check bags for the reminder of the journey - all on the ground floor arrivals area. Then you need to go back up stair and through security to re-join the same aircraft for the flight to JFK.

I suggest keeping you hand lugguage to a minimum, and ensure you have a good method of carrying the baby and all your belongings. Trolleys are available at LAX arrivals to help you get through customs and to the re-check area with your baggage.
 
Thanks for the tips. Trust me I wouldn't like to be near a 10 month old on the flight either but I have to this time :D
We have already booked the basinet seats for all flights that have them and will be at check-in early to try and make sure we keep them.
We will also try the Phenergan as you never know how they will react to flying. He is very calm and happy so we hope it stays that way.
Can we take our buggy to the plane door at all airports and in transits? LAX,JFK, BOS, LHR, GLA, SIN

Thanks again for the help.
 
Chook legs said:
Can we take our buggy to the plane door at all airports and in transits? LAX,JFK, BOS, LHR, GLA, SIN
I would not be taking it through the airport. I would be checking it in with all the other baggage. And make sure its a good strong one given the way it is likely to be treated.

We had a wonderful baby sling thingy that Mrs NM found at a local market. It was the best design we have ever come across, being simple yet comfortable for both baby and parent. Mini NM#4 used that for personal transport well beyond 10 months of age. It was just a piece of cloth (the right shape) with a large metal ring for size adjustment, and when slung over the shoulder made the perfect baby sling. She had it made in the combination of material and mesh she wanted, all for less than $40. It made travel through airports very simple and no delays at security etc - just slip the baby out and place the sling on the x-ray belt.

That sling was very much superior to the front or back worn baby carriers from the major baby product brands. Gave full support to the baby (the front/back ones don't hold the baby's head well enough for my liking).

But our kids have not been generously proportioned. Even now at 19 months old, #4 is still under 10kg. If your child is of larger size/weight, ensure you find a suitable way to transport through the airport. I have seen some good carriers that can worn as a back-pack or pulled behind on wheels like a wheelie suitcase. Such a device could be carried onto the aircraft without the need to gate-check. That way you have it immediately when you disembark.
 
Chook legs said:
Can we take our buggy to the plane door at all airports and in transits? LAX,JFK, BOS, LHR, GLA, SIN
We took a McClaren stroller, one of the ones that folds quite small, with us to the USA some years back. QF allowed us to take it on board, so we were able to use it upon arrival for the long walk to immigration.

At LAX, as soon as one of the officials saw us approaching pushing the stroller, they immediately opened an empty laneway and we jumped the queue! Great service.

All of our flights in the USA were on AA, and they were just as helpful. At the door of each aircraft, a person would take the stroller, put it in a plastic bag, and then take it down to stow it under the aircraft. It was waiting for us on the airbridge when we arrived. It was obviously some system they had in place for parents, and was perfect.

This was all pre-2001, so you might not get the same treatment any more, but it's worth trying. Who wants to have to carry an infant a long distance from check-in to plane with carry-on luggage. A stroller is a necessity!
 
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