Flights to USA

[Motley 38]

Does it matter which airport that I fly my fiancee into? Is it OK to book a flight to the final destination in two parts? For example book her a flight from one city and then book another separately to the final destination.

[Boo&Mica 157]

I don't see any issue...

[joglen1210 10]

You have to book your flight closest to your destination (e.g MNL-LAX). If they have a direct flight, no worries. If the airline has no direct flight to the final destination, they will be the one who will break the journey (e.g. MNL-NRT, NRT-LAX). Unless you have a planned stay for a day or 2 in any city, you have to book it twice and it will cost you more because it will become a multi-legged journey. Which airport is the final destination? If the POE is LAX, he/she will be processed at LAX before continuing her journey the final destination.

Edited June 28, 2016 by joglen1210

[teddy k 35]

You just have to plan your flight out to the easiest way to get her close to your city cuz with my wife leaving the Philippines we went from manila to Japan then on to her POE IN CHICAGO THEN ON TO PHILADELPHIA where I live

[B&Z 201]

No one HAS to fly into an airport closest to where they'll be residing. If this person wanted to land at LAX and then take a roadtrip across the US all the way to New York, they could. Or if they wanted to land in Florida for a vacation at Disney World and then fly to New York a week later, that'd be fine too.

I think it'd be more expensive to fly without buying a whole trip at once, so if OP is not planning a vacation as the reason for the stop between flights, they should just buy a ticket all the way to the final destination. If you do buy separate legs of the travel, just keep your boarding passes and itinerary to show to CBP, just in case.

Edited June 28, 2016 by B&Z

[teddy k 35]

Very true

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

If your fiance hasn't been to the US before or doesn't have much air travel experience, it would be a hustle.

There are some airports with bad reputation. like getting lost or too busy. Newark, JFK, George Bush,etc for instance. And your fiance will have to recheck in luggage at each stop. Is it worth it?

And if your fiance is stopping in another country, check if transit visa is required but none is required if the stops are in the US.

It could be a fun adventure but like I said, if your fiance is not an experienced traveler then it can be overwhelming.

[Hank_ 9,172]

Does it matter which airport that I fly my fiancee into? Is it OK to book a flight to the final destination in two parts? For example book her a flight from one city and then book another separately to the final destination.

Yes it is totally fine. First airport your fiancee lands at within the USA is POE, after that no one cares. I know of one Filipina that flew into San Francisco as her POE, visited with an Auntie for a week then flew onward.

You have to book your flight closest to your destination (e.g MNL-LAX). If they have a direct flight, no worries. If the airline has no direct flight to the final destination, they will be the one who will break the journey (e.g. MNL-NRT, NRT-LAX). Unless you have a planned stay for a day or 2 in any city, you have to book it twice and it will cost you more because it will become a multi-legged journey. Which airport is the final destination? If the POE is LAX, he/she will be processed at LAX before continuing her journey the final destination.

NO YOU DON'T! No one cares what airport you fly into, any airport will do. POE is any airport that is the entry point into the USA.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Hank_

[joglen1210 10]

The question was if he can break the his journey into 2. My mindset was that he has to pick him/her up AND the convenient thing to do is to book a flight closest to the final destination to where they live/located. I would book the flight closest to where I live. There are areas that you have to drive at least an hour or 2 to get to an airport. As an answer to the question - NO IT DOESNT MATTER WHERE YOU BOOK YOUR FLIGHT. YOU CAN BOOK TO ANYWHERE YOU WANT, ITS ALL UP TO YOU.

Edited June 28, 2016 by joglen1210

[Motley 38]

Well my thought was trying to find the best way to fly her here. If I fly her through JFK there is about a 2 1/2 hour layover before the next flight which makes me a bit nervous because I don't know how long it will take her at customs/immigration. I may just have to drive to JFK which is about 6 hours in order to make it easy.

[SennaBrigante 92]

When I first entered the US I went through LAX. I needed the direct flight because I was traveling with an infant. Husband drove 18 hours from Texas, we stayed a week, went to San Diego, etc. then drove back home.

Last time I went home to visit, we went through DFW. DFW sucks but it's only 6 hours away. If we were to fly to the nearest airport to our town, we would've spent an extra $600 for me and my daughter.

Some considerations for you to think about:

• How much luggage is she bringing? If she's flying from POE to home airport, she may need to pay extra for luggage fees.
• Layover time. If it's her first time entering the US, she may need more than 2 1/2 hours, especially in an airport as busy as JFK. Lines are long and it could take the officer some time to review her packet and enter her into the system. Plus she'll have to retrieve her luggage, check them in and navigate a busy, huge airport.

[Hank_ 9,172]

Well my thought was trying to find the best way to fly her here. If I fly her through JFK there is about a 2 1/2 hour layover before the next flight which makes me a bit nervous because I don't know how long it will take her at customs/immigration. I may just have to drive to JFK which is about 6 hours in order to make it easy.

As I said earlier, after POE you can do anything you choose, connecting flights, hang out.. whatever.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Well my thought was trying to find the best way to fly her here. If I fly her through JFK there is about a 2 1/2 hour layover before the next flight which makes me a bit nervous because I don't know how long it will take her at customs/immigration. I may just have to drive to JFK which is about 6 hours in order to make it easy.

Any airport in these 50 states she can make as her POE. NY airports are some of the largest and very busy. I suggest a longer layover in NY if she is connecting to another airline. My wife flew to LAX and I had a 4 hour layover and she said she reached the connecting flight with about an hour to wait.

Give her more time. Walk her through the trip and what she can expect. Print off a map of the airport for her. Be sure she has a couple of different phone numbers to call. For sure your number but maybe someone else who can help her if she can't reach you.

I have more information on my website that lets you preprint immigration forms and such. Link is below at the red twisting arrow.

[kjcamara 6]

I always thought that the first international airport that you arrive into the US from overseas, you must go through customs in that airport. From there you need to recheck your luggage and you are good to go flying domestic now.

[aaron2020 11,651]

I always thought that the first international airport that you arrive into the US from overseas, you must go through customs in that airport. From there you need to recheck your luggage and you are good to go flying domestic now.

Every international traveler must go through custom at the first US airport. That first airport can be anywhere in the US. Once admitted into the US, the person is free to travel anywhere he/she wants while in the US.