Is there time for a coffee break during my layover
February 21, 2012 10:04 AM Subscribe
Traveling AMS-IAH-MSY on Friday: can I exit the terminal in Houston and get back in during my 3-hour layover?
I'm flying Continental on Friday. Landing in Houston at 2pm, taking off again at 4:50pm.
1) am I allowed to exit the flight area into the public area in IAH, and then get back in for my 2nd flight leg?
2) if yes, how long would that leave me in the public area before I have to get back through security again?
3) will my luggage automatically connect? or do I have to pick it up after going through immigration and check it back myself in?
I'm flying Continental on Friday. Landing in Houston at 2pm, taking off again at 4:50pm.
1) am I allowed to exit the flight area into the public area in IAH, and then get back in for my 2nd flight leg?
2) if yes, how long would that leave me in the public area before I have to get back through security again?
3) will my luggage automatically connect? or do I have to pick it up after going through immigration and check it back myself in?
I wouldn't plan on going anywhere from IAH with a 3 hour layover. Even if immigration goes quickly, IAH is some 25 miles from the middle of Houston and can easily take an hour if the traffic is bad, which it often is. There's nothing particularly interesting near the airport and little useful public transportation.
posted by Nelson at 11:18 AM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Nelson at 11:18 AM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Seconding Nelson.
IAH is in the middle of nowhere-interesting, North of Houston. It's at least a 45 minute car ride to get to central Houston from IAH. Getting out of the airport is a nonstarter.
If you think that getting into the "pre-security" areas of IAH will be more interesting and have better amenities than the "post-security" areas, this is incorrect. All the best shops, restaurants, etc. (such as they are) are within the "post-security check" areas of the airport. The pre-security areas are largely just gigantic holding pens for baggage check, etc. Some airports (e.g., LGA) have the best amenities on the pre-security side, but not IAH.
Considering that you are on international travel, I wouldn't recommend leaving the security area with only 3 hours of layover time no matter what.
posted by slkinsey at 12:11 PM on February 21, 2012
IAH is in the middle of nowhere-interesting, North of Houston. It's at least a 45 minute car ride to get to central Houston from IAH. Getting out of the airport is a nonstarter.
If you think that getting into the "pre-security" areas of IAH will be more interesting and have better amenities than the "post-security" areas, this is incorrect. All the best shops, restaurants, etc. (such as they are) are within the "post-security check" areas of the airport. The pre-security areas are largely just gigantic holding pens for baggage check, etc. Some airports (e.g., LGA) have the best amenities on the pre-security side, but not IAH.
Considering that you are on international travel, I wouldn't recommend leaving the security area with only 3 hours of layover time no matter what.
posted by slkinsey at 12:11 PM on February 21, 2012
Best answer: Oh... and as for your second question:
If your IAH >> MSY flight is a domestic flight, then it seems likely that you will have to pass customs with your checked baggage and re-check it before boarding your second flight. This is something you should really ask Continental about. If this is the case, then there's your 3 hour layover spent right there.
Giving continental.com a brief look, it appears likely that the connecting flight you catch in IAH will be a flight that arrived from another international destination (London, England). This may good for you if it means that the connecting flight will still be on the "international side" when you take it, because this may mean that you won't have to clear customs until you reach New Orleans. Again, check with Continental on that one.
posted by slkinsey at 12:22 PM on February 21, 2012
If your IAH >> MSY flight is a domestic flight, then it seems likely that you will have to pass customs with your checked baggage and re-check it before boarding your second flight. This is something you should really ask Continental about. If this is the case, then there's your 3 hour layover spent right there.
Giving continental.com a brief look, it appears likely that the connecting flight you catch in IAH will be a flight that arrived from another international destination (London, England). This may good for you if it means that the connecting flight will still be on the "international side" when you take it, because this may mean that you won't have to clear customs until you reach New Orleans. Again, check with Continental on that one.
posted by slkinsey at 12:22 PM on February 21, 2012
Best answer: Every time the family has flown EUROPE->USA->MSP, we go collect bags and go through customs at that first US airport, then recheck our bags for the next flight. That has typically been in Detroit for me.
You won't be left to your own devices. Almost everyone on the plane will be doing the very same thing. We have typically been herded through the whole process. There was literally no way to go off the beaten path and miss getting our bags checked for the next flight unless we really tried to and went and hid in the bathroom or something. We got off the plane, collected our bags, went through customs, handed our bags back to the airline staff a couple minutes later [who were generally very rushed and anxious to get it back from us already!!!] back through security and on to the connecting gate to wait around. It's been a couple years since the last trip, but I seem to recall this all taking place pretty much in the same giant room, or in a very limiting space [i.e. you're not sent to baggage claim to get your bags, then expected to go find customs on your own, then check your bags yourself, etc.]..
posted by chazlarson at 12:37 PM on February 21, 2012
You won't be left to your own devices. Almost everyone on the plane will be doing the very same thing. We have typically been herded through the whole process. There was literally no way to go off the beaten path and miss getting our bags checked for the next flight unless we really tried to and went and hid in the bathroom or something. We got off the plane, collected our bags, went through customs, handed our bags back to the airline staff a couple minutes later [who were generally very rushed and anxious to get it back from us already!!!] back through security and on to the connecting gate to wait around. It's been a couple years since the last trip, but I seem to recall this all taking place pretty much in the same giant room, or in a very limiting space [i.e. you're not sent to baggage claim to get your bags, then expected to go find customs on your own, then check your bags yourself, etc.]..
posted by chazlarson at 12:37 PM on February 21, 2012
slkinsey: This may good for you if it means that the connecting flight will still be on the "international side" when you take it, because this may mean that you won't have to clear customs until you reach New Orleans.
Unfortunately, you will 100% have to clear customs and immigration in Houston, which involves picking up your luggage and then re-checking in after clearing customs. All passengers always enter the US on their first port of entry, which in this case is Houston. Then when you land in New Orleans it's like you just hopped on a short domestic flight from Houston and you pick up your bags and walk out of the airport.
As chazlarson says, the flow of luggage will probably be pointed out to you so you don't have to go through this yourself. (Though caveat that I am not personally familiar with transiting through IAH.)
posted by andrewesque at 1:02 PM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, you will 100% have to clear customs and immigration in Houston, which involves picking up your luggage and then re-checking in after clearing customs. All passengers always enter the US on their first port of entry, which in this case is Houston. Then when you land in New Orleans it's like you just hopped on a short domestic flight from Houston and you pick up your bags and walk out of the airport.
As chazlarson says, the flow of luggage will probably be pointed out to you so you don't have to go through this yourself. (Though caveat that I am not personally familiar with transiting through IAH.)
posted by andrewesque at 1:02 PM on February 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers. I was actually simply considering having a drink with a friend from Houston at the airport itself, hence the "coffee break" in the question's title. I never considered leaving the airport proper.
Yet I do understand 3 hours may be a bit tight, so I won't tempt my fate too much.
posted by knz at 7:09 PM on February 21, 2012
Yet I do understand 3 hours may be a bit tight, so I won't tempt my fate too much.
posted by knz at 7:09 PM on February 21, 2012
I would assume you would be fine to have a drink with a friend who comes out to the airport if your flight arrives on time and it doesn't take you too long to get through passport control and customs. But that is a pretty big if.
posted by grouse at 7:44 PM on February 21, 2012
posted by grouse at 7:44 PM on February 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Yes. In fact, you will have to, after you go through immigration and customs.
if yes, how long would that leave me in the public area before I have to get back through security again?
Continental recommends allowing 1.5 h for processing at IAH at that time. So not long enough to do anything interesting.
will my luggage automatically connect? or do I have to pick it up after going through immigration and check it back myself in?
You will have to retrieve it and take it through customs. Continental will probably print a tag that goes all the way through MSY, so I'm guessing you will be able to just drop it off after you go through customs. Someone who has gone through IAH recently can confirm.
posted by grouse at 10:14 AM on February 21, 2012