redarmy990

hi guys.
just wondering if any one has flown uk to philly then onward on a connecting flight.
im thinking of going this route and was wondering what immigration at philly is like.
i have 2 hours before my connection to baltimore if i book this
im guessing this would be plenty of time.
also im visiting my gf and hoping to stay on my vwp for around 70-80 days.

i last visited in april for 20 days,
do you think this could cause problems with the border officer

thanks
dh

rpjs

Admittedly it's been over a decade since I last flew into PHL but immigration always took ages there; I once spent over an hour just in the line. Hopefully it might be better these days.

If you do go that route it might turn out quicker to take the SEPTA into 30th Street station and then just get the next available Amtrak to Baltimore.

bilbos92

We had two friends vist for the UK recently (in July and August) one flying into Boston and one flying into Philly.
Both took over an hour and a half to go through the immigration queue (both UKC and coming in on VWP).
Both mentioned that there didn't seem to be many officers on duty for the non USC queue, and that the queue for the USC was emptied quickly but the staff were not moved over to the busy queues.

YMMV...... but it's always wise to leave plenty of time.....

RayM

I've probably flown into Philly at least 5/6 a year for the last 7 years. The new arrivals hall is great and I've never had to wait very long. Most of the time it's around 15 mins. I would say it's by far the quickest and friendliest US airport I've been through.

nethead

Immigration at Philly can be long depending on how many flights have come in etc. But it's never been too bad, the airport itself is just yuck but not as bad as JFK.

Why don't you fly directly inti BWI it's a much nicer airport? BA flies there directly from Gatwick.

tonrob

Philly's like most airports - long queues or short ones depending on exactly what landed just before you. My aunt's flown in there twice in the last couple of years and been through quickly both times. Probably impossible to predict. Your situation probably increases your chance of secondary above other VWP-ers on shorter visits so factor in time for this.

redarmy990

thanks everyone.
a niced mixed bag of answers.
ill be flying from manchester my gf is using miles for the flights.
so we are governed by the routes they give us really.

whilst im visiting we are getting married should i say this at immigration or just say im visiting my gf and doing some touring around which we are.

wanted to get to bwi as were heading to ocean city md the evening i land and from bethesda its enroute.

thanks
dh

redarmy990

also to add ive thought about just booking for 30 days then try and alter my flight home to a later date.but i guess this maybe fround upon.

ive flown to dulles normally and immigration there has always been fantastic.
from getting off plane to seeing my gf around 30 minutes.

it will be my 3rd trip once in december for 10 days. once in april for 20 days.
and now this.it will probably be my last. until green card done. were getting married then applying for iv cr-1

so wanted to make it a trip to remember.

penguinsix

Hi

Flew it once a year or so ago. No real problems. Easier than Dulles for me. However, I would note my specific flight had a suspected terrorist on board so we spent 20 minutes on the taxi way waiting for a police escort to come on board and take him off. I'm not kidding (well, he wasn't a terrorist but he was on the watch list and they de-planed him under heavy guard).

I would suggest a quick once over on the map. Bethesda is the opposite direction of Ocean City. You'll basically be driving into DC and then back out again.

You know, this might be an option (and I've done it once or twice). Screw flying to BWI or even DC. Just rent a car in Philly and head off from there. From Philly airpot to Baltimore is 90 minutes in a car. DC is about 2 hours total. Probably quicker in the long run with connections, flight time to BWI, taxiing, etc.

Also, from PHL to Ocean City is 2 hours and 40 minutes. It's nearly 3.5 hours from DC/Bethesda. Personally if I was doing this trip I'd look at the Mrs. coming up on Amtrak to Wilmington or even PHL airport station, meeting me at the airport and heading off to the Beach together. In the overall scheme of time and money, might be cheaper on both accounts.

p.s. there is hurricane this weekend, if you are coming in a few days.

redarmy990

hi the mrs has to drive as were bringing there parents back from the beech

they have a place there.
from bethesda she will drive to bwi for me then on to ocean city.
across bay bridge and down route 50. i think.

and thankyou for the suggestion much appreciated

babybyrd

personally id fly into phl over iad or bwi any day
HOWEVER the amount of time it takes to clear immigration/customs and transfer will all depend on what time of day you arrive and how many other flights come in at same time
as far as the actual officers go - the ones in phl always seem to have a better sense of humour and are more approachable and human than almost everywhere else in the usa
phl gets my vote easily

redarmy990

thanks baby byrd i land in philly if i go that route around 3 pm i think

i guess it will be busy then. when ive flown to dulles always landed around 730 pm and never been busy in immigration

RayM

Philly is generally not too bad around 3pm. The BA Flight I get lands around then and it's usually fairly quiet but as others have said you can't really tell.

fatbrit

http://apps.cbp.gov/awt/

Ignore the scripting error -- it still gives you the data.

penguinsix

Just FYI. If coming this weekend Ocean City has issued level 1 evacuation orders. No visitors. Residents on stand by for full evacuation due to major storm.