Checked luggage DEN-ATH.... the long way!

[JohnK]

Later this year as part of my RTW I will be flying DEN-ATH on 2 separate tickets. One is a QF award ticket and the other will be an AA revenue ticket. The routing will be DEN-DFW-STL-ORD on AA and ORD-LHR-ATH on QF award ticket flying BA.

Can I check luggage all the way through to final destination without having to collect it along on the way and recheck it? At which point in the US would I have to clear customs? ORD?

As a transit passenger in LHR do I have to clear customs? Time should not be an issue a I have a 5 hour transit.

I am leaving terminal 5 at ORD at 5:40pm and will be arriving from DEN that afternoon. Is arriving at ORD at 3:35pm enough time for international connection? I can take the earlier flight from DEN and arrive at ORD at 1:55pm!

 

[NM]

At which point in the US would I have to clear customs? ORD?

There is no outbound customs or immigration processing when departing the USA. ORD does have the Visit USA machines to collect your own receipt when leaving.

As a transit passenger in LHR do I have to clear customs? Time should not be an issue a I have a 5 hour transit.

You do not need to clear immigration and customs. Just us the Flight Connections Centre and remain air-side if you want. However, you do have to submit to the usual security screening, including liquids limits and one piece of hand luggage only.

I am leaving terminal 5 at ORD at 5:40pm and will be arriving from DEN that afternoon. Is arriving at ORD at 3:35pm enough time for international connection? I can take the earlier flight from DEN and arrive at ORD at 1:55pm!

That is up to you as far as how much risk you are willing to take.

 

[JohnK]

There is no outbound customs or immigration processing when departing the USA. ORD does have the Visit USA machines to collect your own receipt when leaving.

Am I still able to check luggage through to ATH?

 

[NM]

Am I still able to check luggage through to ATH?

Yes. .

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Later this year as part of my RTW I will be flying DEN-ATH on 2 separate tickets. One is a QF award ticket and the other will be an AA revenue ticket. The routing will be DEN-DFW-STL-ORD on AA and ORD-LHR-ATH on QF award ticket flying BA.

Can I check luggage all the way through to final destination without having to collect it along on the way and recheck it? At which point in the US would I have to clear customs? ORD?

As a transit passenger in LHR do I have to clear customs? Time should not be an issue a I have a 5 hour transit.

I am leaving terminal 5 at ORD at 5:40pm and will be arriving from DEN that afternoon. Is arriving at ORD at 3:35pm enough time for international connection? I can take the earlier flight from DEN and arrive at ORD at 1:55pm!

Yes can through check. Show AA in DEN your onward ticket.

No outbound customs or immigration in USA.

In LHR you can stay airside by use of flight connection centre (or simple transit security if remaining in same terminal - check which terminals your flights use). No immigration or customs for this. Alternatively if you want you could go landside (5 hours is long enough to visit somewhere close to airport, or a very quick trip into the city) in which case clear immigration (and customs in respect of carry on luggage only). Remember UK carry on rules are strictly enforced at security & FCC - 1 piece (no extra personal item), of the right size, and liquids rules.

If it was me, I'd take the earlier flight to ORD since your onward ticket is not flexible. Also any delays tend to build during the day.

 

[JohnK]

If it was me, I'd take the earlier flight to ORD since your onward ticket is not flexible. Also any delays tend to build during the day.

Yes, I will ensure that I get to ORD as early as possible. I can book DEN-DFW-ORD earning 180 SC's instead of DEN-DFW-STL-ORD earning 210 SC's.

I know this is probably a silly question but if I checked in online for the BA flight ORD-LHR and I was delayed with earlier flights from DEN, would BA accommodate me on a later flight or even the next day? I know they have no obligation and they are not as flexible as QF.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

As I understand it you have award ORD-LHR-xx_ so it wouldn't just be ORD-LHR that might need accommodating for?

If you have OLCI'ed but not shown up for boarding likely there will be a small delay while paged at ORD (holding up all the other pax).

Even for airlines that do more than they need to, reaccommodation could still be unsatisfactory for you - what if it isn't until another 2 days later (if flights in between are all full)? Downgraded class of travel (I think you said you're in economy so not applicable here). What if your bags make the flight even though you don't - they could get (permanently) lost in LHR? Etc.

 

[JohnK]

As I understand it you have award ORD-LHR-xx_ so it wouldn't just be ORD-LHR that might need accommodating for?

If you have OLCI'ed but not shown up for boarding likely there will be a small delay while paged at ORD (holding up all the other pax).

Any difference if the PNR's were linked and they knew that I was arriving from DEN or DFW if any of the earlier flights were delayed?

Even for airlines that do more than they need to, reaccommodation could still be unsatisfactory for you - what if it isn't until another 2 days later (if flights in between are all full)?

I have a week in ATH before the tour of Central Europe so no major problem if I had to wait another 2 days to get there.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Any difference if the PNR's were linked and they knew that I was arriving from DEN or DFW if any of the earlier flights were delayed?

Maybe, maybe not - hard to say. They'd at least know where you were. That might be a good thing if they're inclined to wait for you (eg they expect you to turn up at the departure gate just a few minutes late), or it might make no difference (eg they decide having flight on time is most important, or that you will be too late, or they can't be bothered to check your previous flight).

I have a week in ATH before the tour of Central Europe so no major problem if I had to wait another 2 days to get there.

One problem you face if misconnect to ORD-LHR is that as award pax and misconnecting through own fault (in their eyes), as opposed to earlier flight on same ticket being late, you may be bottom of the queue to be sorted out. For example BA might decide to take line that you can only fly when they have award availability (which could be days later), and in the meantime accommodation at Chicago is your own cost. Then again they may look at your status and decide to be generous including rerouting on another airline if it gets you to Athens quicker. A bit hard to say. IMHO it is worth posting on BA forum of FT to see if others have experienced misconnect in similar circumstances and what has BA done or not done.

 

[JohnK]

One problem you face if misconnect to ORD-LHR is that as award pax and misconnecting through own fault (in their eyes), as opposed to earlier flight on same ticket being late, you may be bottom of the queue to be sorted out. For example BA might decide to take line that you can only fly when they have award availability (which could be days later), and in the meantime accommodation at Chicago is your own cost.

This is a risk I need to assess before booking any potential status runs. As long as it did not jeopardise the validity of the remainder of the RTW award ticket then the risk may be worth contemplating. Just need to ensure that there is adequate time between connections and hope that weather stays clear for 2 days.

Then again they may look at your status and decide to be generous including rerouting on another airline if it gets you to Athens quicker. A bit hard to say.

Should be Oneworld Emerald at that stage but I wouldn't expect them to go out of their way to accommodate me.

This is where comprehensive travel insurance should cover but we have had this discussion in another thread about flights on separate tickets and whether the insurance company is obliged to pay out if the airline refuses to help.

 

[NM]

If you miss an award flight, the carrier has no obligation whatsoever to get you to your chosen destination. Worst case is they just say tough, your ticket is no longer valid. If they chose to be helpful they may look for the next available X class award seat to ATH and try and rebook you. But BA will be reluctant to do that since they will not be able to seek any further compensation from QFF for the seat and they already had an award seat held for you that ended up going empty. You would have more chance of having the airline be helpful if the flight was operated by the same carrier as the FF award was provided or the inbound delay was the fault of the award flight carrier.

If you miss the BA flight, they will likely tell you to contact Qantas (the airline that issued the ticket) and ask them to assist. They will be limited in what thet can do and they will not book you into a revenue seat. They will likely only be willing to book you into an award seat on the same route for a later day, and will probably want to charge you either 2500 points revalidation fee (if the routing remains the same) or 5000 points re-issue fee if they have to route you some other way.

 

[NM]

JohnK, you should read Section 13.3.7 of the QFF Terms and Conditions. It applies to failing to board an award flight.

13.3.7 If a Member fails to board a Flight Segment of an Award Flight Itinerary, the remaining Segments will be cancelled. The cancelled Segments will only be reinstated if Award Flight seats are available. If any Segments are reinstated, the Reinstatement Fee will apply (see the Fee Schedule). In addition the points required for the entire itinerary including both travelled and reinstated Segments will be recalculated and any additional points required will be deducted from the Members account.

 

[JohnK]

NM, useful information and point taken. Thanks.

There has to be a way to get from DEN-ORD by around 2:00pm leaving at 6:00am even with a connection along the way. Yes I know the weather can have some effect but as mentioned earlier if I worried about every flight I took then I would not be purchasing any of my own flights and going to a travel agent to issue all flights on the one ticket and end up paying twice the amount.

 

[NM]

... going to a travel agent to issue all flights on the one ticket and end up paying twice the amount.

As with all type of business, risk minimisation or insurance costs money.