SDLSimme From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 436 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2027 times:
This summer, I will fly to DSM from ARN with a connection at LHR and ORD. The ARN-LHR-ORD ticket is on BA, but to get to DSM, I will have to buy a one way ticket. My flight from LHR arrives at 3.20 PM. How much time will I need to go through immigration, pick up my luggage, get to either the AA or UA terminal (haven't decided on airline yet, there are several departures on both airlines), and check-in for my flight to DSM?
Also, would you prefer an AA ERJ, UA CRJ or UA A320?
ManchesterMAN From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1192 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2021 times:
Well if you fly with AA to DSM then they BA will be able to check you in at ARN all the way through even on a seperate ticket so that will reduce the necessary transfer time. With BP in hand 2 hours is sufficient as I've always found immigration at T5 to be pretty quick and painless.
UA A320 would be best but for checking straight through go for AA.
SLUAviator From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 357 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2013 times:
Are you planning on checking bags all the way through? If so, you should plan on 2.5-3 hours connection time if you want to see your bags in DSM when you get there.
SDLSimme From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 436 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2009 times:
Quoting SLUAviator (Reply 2): Are you planning on checking bags all the way through? If so, you should plan on 2.5-3 hours connection time if you want to see your bags in DSM when you get there.
I'm not exactly sure how it works. According to ManchesterMAN, it seems like I can check it all the way through if I go AA. I'm not sure what would be the best option though. The UA A320 flight leaves at 7.45 PM so I'm guessing that would be enough time to transfer even though I have to pick up my luggage and do all the check-in again. Last time I went through immigration at T5, it took me almost 2 hours. Is that normal? If it's not, how long does it usually take?
Brokenrecord From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 772 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1987 times:
I just checked ba.com, and you can buy the entire ticket through BA, and the ORD-DSM segment will be on AA. This will allow you to earn Executive Club miles, and be extremely simple.
Rdwootty From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2005, 900 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (7 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1980 times:
Remember that although you might have "checked through" you will need to clear both Immigration and customs at ORD and then hand you bags back in.
It is always the first point of entry that you need to do this so maybe your b ags will be labelled but they will not just go through without you taking them through customs at ORD.
ManchesterMAN From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1192 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 1886 times:
Quoting Rdwootty (Reply 5): Remember that although you might have "checked through" you will need to clear both Immigration and customs at ORD and then hand you bags back in.
It is always the first point of entry that you need to do this so maybe your b ags will be labelled but they will not just go through without you taking them through customs at ORD.
Yes but my experience is as long as your bag goes back on the belt 1 hour before next flight there will be no problems. Actually put my bag back on the belt at T5 40 minutes before I departed for DEN once from T1 and it still made it.
Even though you have to pick up your bag and walk it about 10 metres through customs its still a great help to have it tagged through. Alternatively US airlines are very generous with carry on baggage so unless you have a giant bag you could even carry it on. Worse case scenario here is that they gate check it but you still get your bag on the flight.
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