I am flying internationally for the first time next month to London. I have only done domestic flights. What do I need to know about customs, passport control, and layovers?
International flying is simpler than it seems once you know the process. Before the flight: make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date (many countries require this). US citizens do not need a visa for the UK for stays under 6 months. Sign up for your airline app and download your boarding pass. At the airport: arrive 3 hours before departure for international flights. Check in and drop your bag. Go through TSA security as normal. Then proceed to your gate. Some airports have a separate customs/immigration area before departure but for US to UK flights, you clear immigration on arrival in London, not before departure. On the plane: fill out any landing cards the flight attendants hand out. For the UK, you usually do this electronically now. At London arrival: follow signs to "Border Control" or "UK Border." Use the ePassport gates if available for US passport holders (automated, fast). You scan your passport and look at the camera. If you have a connecting flight with a layover, the process is: land, go through immigration and customs at your first international arrival point, collect your checked bag, re-check your bag for the next flight, and go through security again. Leave at least 2-3 hours for international connections. For London specifically, have some British pounds for the first day or just use your credit card everywhere since London is nearly cashless. Notify your bank you are traveling internationally so they do not freeze your card.
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