Indirect and Baggage Charges

[Disney Hev]

Hi Everyone

This is our first year flying indirect. We are flying with US Airways from Gatwick - Charlotte - Orlando (incidentally - never heard of Charlotte??!)

How does the additional baggage charges work with indirect? US Airways' website say International flights are first checked bag free, then pay for the
2nd checked bag when checking in online at a cost of $50.

But what about when we change to the domestic leg at Charlotte? We obviously will have to check in at Charlotte, do we then have to pay for both checked bags when we check in at Charlotte airport?

Can anyone help and advise me on how these charges work with indirect?

Thanks all

Lorraine x

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Charlotte is in North Carolina.

 

[Kath2003]

If you book one 'continuous' flight with one air carrier, it shouldn't matter that you change planes.

We have connected several times with AA and at check-in we have always been offered FREE baggage for the domestic flight.

Why don't you ring US Airlines and ask?

 

[wayneg]

As Kath says you don't pay anymore fees. Allowances and fees are worked on transatlantic flights and right thru to your final destination if booked on one ticket. If you book the internal flights seperate then your allowance/fees are different.
You don't actually check in at Charlotte, what you do is collect you luggage and go thru security to bag drop, not checkin. Done Charlotte twice now but a few years ago and don't remember much about it but security/bag drop is usually very close to where you collect you luggage and very easy.

 

[LorraineH]

As Kath says you don't pay anymore fees. Allowances and fees are worked on transatlantic flights and right thru to your final destination if booked on one ticket. If you book the internal flights seperate then your allowance/fees are different.
You don't actually check in at Charlotte, what you do is collect you luggage and go thru security to bag drop, not checkin. Done Charlotte twice now but a few years ago and don't remember much about it but security/bag drop is usually very close to where you collect you luggage and very easy.

Thanks everyone. This is actually *MY* thread... not "Disney Hev"'s (who is my daughter and didnt log out !!)

Wayne, thank you, this sounds a simple process. I thought we had to check in twice. So the Charlotte to Orlando domestic flight know we are coming, *** we have checked in on the main Gatwick to Charlotte to Orlando one? We have 3 hours between flights so should be no problem. Just want to make sure Im budgeting for everything and if I need more cash for extra baggage then its ready! I have gone so over-budget on flights that I need to make sure Im aware of any other charges that may come up!!

Lorraine x

 

[wayneg]

Yes you check in at Gatwick right thru to Orlando, they will give you your boarding cards at Gatwick for your 2nd leg from Charlotte to Orlando. You will do the security/bagdrop and also Immigration in Charlotte. Once you get to Orlando then you just collect your bags and leave the airport.
They make the process as simple as possible, the last thing they want is a complicated process and confused travellers.
Only time we have to ask for advise is like last August we had a long connection time, the flight from Atlanta to Tampa had not been put on the screens we were there so early so had to goto information desk to find which gate we needed to be at but usually all info is on the screens.

 

[disney_princess_85]

As Kath says you don't pay anymore fees. Allowances and fees are worked on transatlantic flights and right thru to your final destination if booked on one ticket. If you book the internal flights seperate then your allowance/fees are different. You don't actually check in at Charlotte, what you do is collect you luggage and go thru security to bag drop, not checkin.

Is this procedure exclusive to Charlotte or is this be the case with all indirect flights? I'm flying to New York via Paris next month with Air France- will I have to collect my luggage or will it just get transferred to the NY-bound plane?

Thank you for starting this thread Lorraine, I too was wondering about baggage charges!

 

[wayneg]

Is this procedure exclusive to Charlotte or is this be the case with all indirect flights? I'm flying to New York via Paris next month with Air France- will I have to collect my luggage or will it just get transferred to the NY-bound plane?

Its a similar process for all US connections, not sure for Paris I have only ever connected in US. Just ask at check in if no-one posts.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Its a similar process for all US connections, not sure for Paris I have only ever connected in US. Just ask at check in if no-one posts.

Thanks Wayne. Hopefully someone can help me out.

 

[LorraineH]

Once you get to Orlando then you just collect your bags and leave the airport.

I am LOVIN this bit!!!

My taxi driver will be waiting... and we'll be straight off!!!!

Thanks everyone for help & advice!

Lorraine x

 

[brer_rabbit]

One thing to add is that if you buy any duty free booze at Gatwick you'll have to put it into your checked bags when you get to the "bag drop" at Charlotte. We were worried this would put us over the weight limit but they didn't weigh the bags.

 

[LorraineH]

One thing to add is that if you buy any duty free booze at Gatwick you'll have to put it into your checked bags when you get to the "bag drop" at Charlotte. We were worried this would put us over the weight limit but they didn't weigh the bags.

LOL Thanks for this tip Lucy!

 

[disneyholic family]

Is this procedure exclusive to Charlotte or is this be the case with all indirect flights? I'm flying to New York via Paris next month with Air France- will I have to collect my luggage or will it just get transferred to the NY-bound plane?

Thank you for starting this thread Lorraine, I too was wondering about baggage charges!

when i've flown via paris, my luggage has been transferred directly to my flight to New York. I assume this is still how it's done.

However, when you get to New York, you will first cross passport control, then go to baggage claim, take your luggage through customs, then right before you leave customs, around a corner, is the bag drop off - i always ask the customs guy where the bag drop off is (or one of the guards)..
they always point me in the right direction...
you don't go straight out where the people getting out in new york go..
you usually have to turn a corner, right before where all the people are going out...and around that corner is the baggage drop off..

that's why i always ask first.....because once you go out of that area, you can't come back in....
so be sure to ask the customs people exactly where the connecting flight baggage drop off is...
they'll know exactly what you're talking about..

also, when you check in at the beginning of the flight (in the UK) , make sure your luggage is tagged all the way to orlando....
i always make sure.......i tell them that it should be checked through to orlando, and then i look at the tags as they put them on my bags...
it sounds a bit obsessive, but i've had ground agents who've made mistakes..
so it doesn't hurt to be careful..

 

[pandv_2000]

We're looking at flying indirect for the first time this year so this thread is really useful. The times between flights we have are 1hr 55mins on the way out and 1hr 15mins on the way back. Will this be enough time to get through customs on the way in?

 

[wayneg]

We're looking at flying indirect for the first time this year so this thread is really useful. The times between flights we have are 1hr 55mins on the way out and 1hr 15mins on the way back. Will this be enough time to get through customs on the way in?

Which Airport are you changing in?
We have changed in New York, Charlotte, Philly, Atlanta, Washington, Detroit & Chicago
If you have no delays transatlantic then 1:55 is enough time, most airports you can get thru immigration and to your next gate in around 1 hour so 2 hours gives a little spare time.
Out of all these we found Atlanta (last August) to be worst for time, gate we landed at was a very long walk to Immigration then the lines there were crazy, never seen such a busy immigration line then a long way to next gate.

Coming back again if flights on time 1:15 is OK, no luggage to deal with it goes direct from Orlando to your home airport & no immigration to do on way back.

 

[pandv_2000]

It would be Philly with US Airways. We haven't booked yet so can switch things around if need be (gone for the shortest gap poss which means the price would come down slightly if we were willing to wait a bit longer anyway!) Is £1600 a good price for October return for two adults, 1 child and an infant?

 

[wayneg]

What are you actual dates and child ages? I will have a quick look at prices.
Edit, and airport you want

 

[pandv_2000]

Thanks Wayne. We are looking at flying out of Manchester on 22nd or 23rd Oct and flying back 5th or 6th November. Oldest child will be 7 - youngest will be 3 months. I *think* I'm ok with him/her on our laps as the rear facing car seats are only meant to be used for a couple of hours at a time.

 

[wayneg]

Expedia have same flights I believe at £1,541.00 going 22nd-5th

More expensive day after, slightly cheaper day before.

Quidco pay 1% cashback, £15.41, total price £1525.59 after cashback.

Looks to be about best price around just now, direct are very expensive. Not as cheap as past years but they are good flight times.

Direct with Usairways.com total for all travellers 1,458.00 GBP didn't have time to double check but I think times not quite as good an their own site, have look and see, might be worth the saving.

 

[pandv_2000]

Probably into MCO if poss as want to take DME to hotel then pick up hire car later rather than a truck from the airport!