Help - nervous about transferring between flights!

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Hi all!

I'm counting this as a sort of Disney query as I'm going to DL California as part of the trip! On Monday I fly from Heathrow to Seattle, where I have a 5 hour layover before flying to Salt Lake City where my friend lives (we then fly to Disneyland for a short trip from there a few days later). I've never ever done a transit flight out before and I'm not sure what to expect. I assumed that my cases would transfer through to SLC but apparently I have to collect them and then re-check them in? Has anyone been to Seattle airport - is there just one terminal or will I be lugging suitcases for miles and waiting for buses to transfer me around? I'm travelling alone and have got a really bad shoulder so I'm a bit concerned about moving the suitcases a long way and . . . well . . . everything else!!!

Thank you

 

[P800aul]

Hi

Normally your bags will be off loaded and given back to you at Seattle for you to walk through immigration and customs and replace on a belt for connecting flights. You will then have to go through a security check before boarding your internal flight to salt lake city.

I haven't been to SeaTac for like 14 years but I have friends there and it's a laid back City the Airport is not massive here's a map which I got from the Airport web site https://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Maps-and-Directions/Documents/Final-Terminal-Overview.pdf

Regards

Paul

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Thank you - the airport looks manageable! Do I go to the normal carousel or is there an "in transit" one? I feel like such a novice!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Pages/International-Travel.aspx

Here's the link to the SeaTac international travel instructions, which includes the procedure for connecting flights. Though SeaTac is my home airport, I've not flown international to or from there. I can attest that it's an easy airport to navigate, there are moving walkways and light rails from the satellite terminals to others.

Have a great trip!

 

[2Tiggies]

Your bags should be on the regular carousel for the inbound flight. You would clear immigration first, collect your bags and then clear customs where they will advise you (or you can ask if nervous) about the bag drop. You don't check in again for your connecting flight but you will have to go through TSA screening. Five hours is a generous amount of time, especially if you are doing this for the first time, to be able to get all that done and not worry about missing your connection. Once you are airside for your connection you can relax and get something to eat and drink.

Happy travels

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Brilliant, thank you!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

The best laid plans... Always, always leave enough time between your connections - I thought 5 hours was ridiculously over the top but I've just made it to my gate 20 minutes before boarding due to the outbound flight leaving so late!!

 

[Jon84]

The best laid plans... Always, always leave enough time between your connections - I thought 5 hours was ridiculously over the top but I've just made it to my gate 20 minutes before boarding due to the outbound flight leaving so late!!

Glad you made it! (Just!)