Dumb question about flying indirect...

[mfoz1]

Been to Florida several times before but we've just booked for this October and couldn't get a direct flight with Virgin and British Airways was way too expensive. Instead we are flying with US Airways to Charlotte and then from there to Orlando. My question is what happens to our luggage when we get off at Charlotte? Does it get transferred to the other plane automatically or do we have to collect it first and then give it back again?!

Just typing that makes me think it must be the former but any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks

p.s. I've heard that US Airways offers slightly more leg room than Virgin, can anyone confirm this?

 

[Nick_UK]

If I remember correctly from our Dec 2001 trip via Newark with Continental we had to claim our baggage as normal in New Jersey then place it onto a 'transfer belt' for our Orlando flight.

Not sure if this is still the case though....

 

[GO2209]

You always clear immigration and customs at your point of arrival in the USA.

In other words; you will go through immigration, part with your visa waiver forms, reclaim your bags, hand over white customs forms and then 'check in' for your next flight. This last step is little more than placing your luggage onto another conveyor belt and usually involves little or no queue.

Friends were singing US Airways praises yesterday. They felt that the flight service, food and comfort was better than virgin, but the entertainment not so good. USairways was considerably cheaper for them. However, having said that, they'd still prefer to fly direct with Virgin.

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

I always fly indirect as there are no scheduled direct flights from Glasgow to Orlando.

I prefer going indirect, IMHO, because when you finally arrive in Orlando, you are off the plane and into your car in next to no time at all - as you've already cleared immigration etc before your internal flight - also the longest Im on a plane for is 7 hours which is long enough for me. I much prefer to have 2 flights - one long flight and a relatively short one rather than a very long flight and then having to queue for customs and immigration on arrival in Orlando - I like to get out of the airport as quick as possible and into the sunshine!

 

[annette_tr9]

we've been with us airways twice and changed at charlotte, it's a really nice airport!!

As GO says, you need to claim your baggage on the way because you are flying into another country and need to go through customs. on the way back though you don't need to claim your luggage until you get back to england.

that's how it worked when we went anyway!! Hope you have a good holiday!

 

[TinkTatoo]

We allways go indirect - there is only one charter from Dublin and they only take 2 week bookings - we usually go for three.

I much prefer it - as RUSHBURY said it breaks the journey up nicely.

As said above you clear immigration at the first airport and then put your cases on another conveyor then pick them up again in Orlando. One thing to check is that you have enought time to clear immigration and customs before your next plane leaves.

On the way home you check your bags in at Orlando and don't see them again till you get to your home airport.

 

[Sue F UK]

We've flown indirect with US airways a couple of times though Philadelphia and also Charlotte.

Both flights were very good. There does seem to be more legroom than Virgin and the planes don't seem as 'scruffy' as the Virgin fleet from Manchester.

The main difference is the entertainment system though. Each seat has a personal system which means you can choose what you want to watch, when you want it. Even pause, ffwd, rewind etc. much better than waiting for the next 'loop' to start.

The food was pretty good too!

The only thing you need to watch is that you have enough time in Charlotte to get though customs and to your next gate comfortably. At least 90 mins is recommended.

Have a great time!

 

[mfoz1]

Thanks everyone... my mind has been put to rest in fact, based on what you all said, I'm quite looking forward to the trip now. To be honest we've saved over £1300 by flying with US Airways instead of British Airways.

I know what you mean about the Virgin Fleet being a bit 'shabby' as when we flew out last October from Gatwick the inside of the plane was looking a bit worse for wear with the old style entertainment system, broken TVs, etc. I spoke to a hostess and apparently all of the flights to Orlando use the older fleet... you have to fly from Heathrow to get on a newer plane but the last time we flew to Miami it was a real pain.

If this next trip goes well I doubt we'll go back to Virgin unless they lower their prices considerably BUT as their planes seem to be full months in advance of school holidays I doubt that's going to happen any time soon.

Sorry for rambling. Thanks again!

 

[gilld]

I don't think Virgin are as good as they or many others think they are. The ent system is always breaking/broken, the crew very lacklustre and the seats some of the most uncomfortable I have ever sat on. Only once have we had a decent newish plane, back in 1997. I'm wary of changing planes though, as the twice we've done it, through Newark, our luggage went missing.

 

[RUSHBURY]

Hi

I've changed planes at Newark 4 times, Continental flights, and haven't had a problem with luggage going missing.

Some our luggage went missing in Tampa on the way home in October 2003, the cases were checked onto the correct flights except that a couple were tagged for the following day - all checked in and tagged by the same person - very peculiar! The missing cases were delivered to my home 2 days later.

 

[Daniel&family]

We're just back and flew U.S Airways via Charrlotte (Philadelphia on return), flights and cabin staff were very good and the connections no problems. The arrangements for luggage are as previously stated by others posters and worked without problem for us.

My only grievance was the seat allocation, when we booked (via Flight Centre) we were told that we would all be seated together, but on checking-in this was not the case. As the flights were full there was nothing that could be done at check-in, but the cabin staff did try to improve the situation by asking other passengers to swop (with varying amounts of success). With 4 children and only 2 adults this did cause some difficulties, but I'm not sure if U.S Airways or Flight Centre were to blame (although this happened on all our flights and we didn't seem to be only party with this problem).

We preferred Charlotte to Philadelphia as there was a long walk between flights at Philadelphia.

Overall I would certainly fly this way again, but would try to get the seats allocated when booking.

 

[TracyK]

Your question has already been answered but I just wanted to say that we love US Airways. We have always had great flights with them. The entertainment system is really good and they used to be great with the constant stream of free drinks and snacks. Think this may have changed recently as a number of US airlines have made cutbacks since September 11.
Tracy