We are departing Bon for Aua on Dutch Eagle Express. Then American to Miami.
We arrive in Mia at 4:44 Depart at 6:13 for Boston. Does anyone know if we check our bags all the way through to Boston, or do we have to pick up in Mia and recheck?
Also what about customs? American says we have plenty of time. I question that statement.
Thanks for any input you might give us.

You will clear US customs and immigration on Aruba. Be sure to allow plenty of time between your arrival on Aruba and your departure from Aruba.
When you check your bags on American in Aruba, you can check them all the way through to Boston. Because you "enter" the US on Aruba, you need not pick up your bags in Miami. Your arriving flight will be treated as a domestic flight.
Tish

Thank you Tish.
You just made me feel better about the time in Mia.

Tish, are you sure? Since when did Aruba become part of the US?
Very curious,
Mare

Tish is correct, you clear U.S. customs in Aruba. We had similar connections through Miami to Atlanta last year and made it, but just barely.

Wow!
Mare

Mare -

You might be interested to know that even in the early 1980s you could go through U.S. Customs & Immigration at Calgary's airport. And it seems to me as if I remember doing the same thing in Toronto at about the same time.

Others can perhaps add to the list of airport locations around the world at which you are "in the U.S." before you leave a foreign airport. It would be interesting to know.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

It sure would...
thanks,
Mare

You think I'm pulling Jerry's leg, Mare?
I fly that route regularly. It's just like I said. Scout's honor.
Tish

NO Aruba is not part of the U.S.

But because of the high demand of American tourists when u clears customs/security for flights to the U.S. u have entered the U.S. and it will be treated as a domestic flight.(which really helps when arriving).

Benji

Hi Mare:
C. Poteet is right about a little bit of U.S. soil in larger Canadian airports.

For example, in Toronto, if travelling to the States you go through U.S. Customs and Immigration and have your bags x-rayed; theoretically that should mean that you don't need to go through U.S. Immigration again when you land in your American destination city.

However, after 9/11 when landing in some U.S. airports on business trips (say LAX) I've had to go through Customs and Immigration AGAIN, even though I was cleared in Toronto.

So, depending on where in the U.S. you land, there is potentially no time-saving advantage to clearing U.S. Immigration in a large Canadian airport like Toronto, since you may have to do it again.

I just budget lots of extra time for connecting flights these days.....

Fiona

Fiona -

Interesting bit of updating...thank you. You can tell it has been a while (too long!) since we traveled from Canada to the States.

Charles Poteet
Dalla

Fiona's experience may have to do with her citizenship, especially since 9/11. We all know how dangerous the Canadiens are. :–)

Seriously, I expect she goes through the 'foreigners' lines not the 'citizens' lines at US airports. Possibly the difference.

I fly from Aruba to JFK several times a year.
At JFK, nobody coming from Aruba goes through US immigration or customs.
I have also taken the route via Atlanta. Same thing. All immigration and customs processing takes place on Aruba.
I have not flown from Aruba to Miami, but I have trouble imagining that Miami would somehow duplicate what has already happened on Aruba, where the US-bound flights are not regarded as international flights.
Don't worry, Jerry!