Customs and Airport Check In International FLights

Our family will be traveling to Cancun from IAD, transferring in Miami. I am assuming that we must check in at IAD in person rather than printing boarding passes on line. Is this correct? Will they check us in all the way through to Cancun or will I have to go through check in again in Miami.

When we return from Cancun, will we go through customs in Miami or our final destination, IAD (Washington-Dulles)?

Thank you for the assistance. I like to be well informed before I travel, especially when taking 3 children.

First, because you are connecting in Miami, I assume you are traveling on AA. It makes a difference for at least one of my answers.

You will need to check in at IAD and have your passports scanned. You will not be able to check in online. At many airports you can use a self-service kiosk when checking in for an AA international itinerary, but IAD is not one of them. Even at those airports, you would need to see an agent if traveling with someone under the age of 2.

At IAD you'll be checked through to Cancun and won't have to check in again in Miami. You'll get boarding passes for both flights at IAD.

When you return from Cancun, you'll clear Customs and Immigration in Miami.

Thank you, Dave! Yes, you are absolutely right, we are traveling on AA. I am wondering if you know how long of a layover is recommended on the return flight to allow for bagage retrieval customs, and re-checking bags in Miami (I assume we will have to go through check in again due to having non carry on luggage).We have a long layover and I was thinking of trying to chnge flights to shorten the layover buy now think that I might be better off with the extra time. Also, when we land in the Miami international terminal on our return trip, will we be allowed to do any duty free shopping?

Are you familiar with IAD? If so, is it a terribly busy airport. We have an early afternoon flight.

You should plan on a minimum of two hours when arriving back in MIA; preferably three hours. That might be two hours too much, but you might also need most of that time, depending on how many other flights arrive in MIA in close proximity to yours.

If you have elite status with AA, you might be able to breeze through check-in at IAD in about 10 minutes. However, from your questions, I'm guessing you don't. Everything depends on how long the lines are. Officially, AA recommends that you arrive in the check-in lobby at least two hours prior to your international itinerary. That's good advice.

Your waiting time at IAD Security – for the time of day you are traveling - is likely to be less than 10 minutes.

You'll need to do your duty-free shopping in Cancun. However, don't buy booze or other liquids, which, as carry-ons, will be confiscated when you go through TSA security in MIA. If you want to bring back liquids, pack them carefully in your checked luggage.

Dave M said:

You'll need to do your duty-free shopping in Cancun. However, don't buy booze or other liquids, which, as carry-ons, will be confiscated when you go through TSA security in MIA. If you want to bring back liquids, pack them carefully in your checked luggage.

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In MIA, do you not have the option to pack the duty-free items in your bags after you clear customs and before you go through security again. At SEA, you can do so.

Thank you, Dave, for taking the time to answer my many questions! You are very helpful. One last question. After going through customs in Miami on the return flight, do we have to stand in the check in line again or is there a way to expediate it in Miami since we will now be domestic.

I agree, Steve. What I intended (as part of that "in Cancun" paragraph) was to suggest that the packing of liquids should be done in Cancun.

brego said:

After going through customs in Miami on the return flight, do we have to stand in the check in line again or is there a way to expediate it in Miami since we will now be domestic.

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You'll recheck your luggage immediately outside of Customs.

Dave M said:

I agree, Steve. What I intended (as part of that "in Cancun" paragraph) was to suggest that the packing of liquids should be done in Cancun.

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My last experience was coming out of Puerto Vallarta. There the duty free shop brings the goodies to purchasers at the gate. (Can't pack it in baggage because that's already been checked.) There's a second security check at the gate that screens out liquids, so you pick up your duty free package beyond that check, and carry it on the plane.

After you clear customs in the US, you then have to put it in your bag, because you can't have it with you when you reenter a secure area.

As if you don't have enough to remember, you should also be aware that IAD has specific cut-off times to check your baggage in and for passenger check-in as well that's different from other airports. Check the AA website for these times.

My husband recently flew out of IAD and watched a family of 4 denied boarding on a domestic flight because they didn't check their baggage in 40 minutes before flight as required in IAD. They were only 5 minutes late but were switched to a later flight anyway.

Min

Brego: I think you stated that you have some layover time once you land in Miami. I certainly hope that is correct. After my first flight on AA two years ago from EWR to Aruba with a connecting flight in Miami, I stated that I would never fly into Miami again. I could not believe how far apart the gates were. Our flight from EWR had a tire blow out upon landing. We were already delayed from EWR, so this did not help. By the time we were pulled into the gate, the connection to Aruba should have left, but they waited for us. We were advised to run to make it. Well, that was good, but we had no idea that it would take a half hour for us to walk/run from the gate we arrived at to the next gate! The signs were posted on the walls telling us how much time it would take for us to arrive at the next gate. Since I was traveling with two 20 yr old great neices, I told them to run ahead and hold the plane.

I could not believe that an airline/airport would schedule connecting flights in gates that were a half hour walking distance. Plus, there was no straight route. We were up and down stairs and escalators for a half hour. By the time I finally arrived at the gate for Aruba, I was totally out of breath. An elderly person would never have made the flight. Of course, we had to walk the very same distance upon our return from Aruba. I certainly hope that things have changed at the airport in Miami.

After that experience, we always fly wearing sneakers or walking shoes. You never know if you'll have to run to catch the plane.