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

[JohnK]

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

I know I have to collect luggage and clear customs in LAX but can I still check my luggage through to DEN from SYD or is that too many segments?

Arriving LAX 10:45am on Monday morning and leaving 9:25pm Monday night and then arriving ORD at 11:25am on Tuesday morning and leaving either at 1:40pm or 3:10pm on Tuesday afternoon. Would it be better to check it part of the way and the re-check at the next point? ie check luggage SYD-LAX and then LAX-ORD and finally ORD-DEN.

Is it advisable to have a 1:40pm departure from ORD, on a separate ticket, after arriving at 11:25am. Is it better to book the 3:10pm departure. By this time I should be very tired so I am just trying to minimise the waiting time.

 

[NM]

I know I have to collect luggage and clear customs in LAX but can I still check my luggage through to DEN from SYD or is that too many segments?

You will not be able to check the luggage beyond ORD from SYD.

Arriving LAX 10:45am on Monday morning and leaving 9:25pm Monday night and then arriving ORD at 11:25am on Tuesday morning and leaving either at 1:40pm or 3:10pm on Tuesday afternoon. Would it be better to check it part of the way and the re-check at the next point? ie check luggage SYD-LAX and then LAX-ORD and finally ORD-DEN.

As you have already noted, you have to collect it at LAX anyway. But if not tagged beyond LAX you will need to hold it until you can check-in for your next departure. As noted above, you will need to collect and re-check at ORD anyway, no matter is tagged from SYD or LAX.

Is it advisable to have a 1:40pm departure from ORD, on a separate ticket, after arriving at 11:25am. Is it better to book the 3:10pm departure. By this time I should be very tired so I am just trying to minimise the waiting time.

How much risk are you willing to take? Its up to you. What is the backup plan if you don't make it into ORD in time to collect you bags and check in for the next departure?

 

[JohnK]

How much risk are you willing to take? Its up to you. What is the backup plan if you don't make it into ORD in time to collect you bags and check in for the next departure?

No backup plans. I didn't even think I needed a backup plan. :shock: Are there many problems with domestic AA flights in August?

It is either a night in ORD or a night in DEN. No burning desire to be in either place. I am attempting to earn 420 SC's for a return ORD-STL-DFW-DEN-DFW-STL-ORD for the same price as a direct ORD-DEN-ORD and only 180 SC's.

But I guess if I need contingency then I can book later direct flight ORD-DEN and sacrifice SC's or just stay in ORD overnight.

 

[NM]

No backup plans. I didn't even think I needed a backup plan. :shock: Are there many problems with domestic AA flights in August?

August is peak summer storm season across much of the LOTFAP. Any sign of lightning and the airport ramps close (union rules). The knock-on affect of storms in say DFW can take 24 hours to clear up.

It is either a night in ORD or a night in DEN. No burning desire to be in either place. I am attempting to earn 420 SC's for a return ORD-STL-DFW-DEN-DFW-STL-ORD for the same price as a direct ORD-DEN-ORD and only 180 SC's.

I would not be undertaking that SC run without a backup plan, and certainly not with an award flight departing on the same day as the SC run ends. But I am basically risk-averse when it comes to my travel plans.

 

[JohnK]

August is peak summer storm season across much of the LOTFAP. Any sign of lightning and the airport ramps close (union rules). The knock-on affect of storms in say DFW can take 24 hours to clear up.

Hmmm.... Did not think about that one!

I would not be undertaking that SC run without a backup plan, and certainly not with an award flight departing on the same day as the SC run ends. But I am basically risk-averse when it comes to my travel plans.

I should have left an extra day between flights but wanted to have the extra day in ATH. I can still change the ORD-LHR-ATH flight, subject to award availability, to a day later without penalty.

The SC run opportunity is too good to pass up. Why does the saying "fools and their money are easily parted" come readily to mind?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You will not be able to check the luggage beyond ORD from SYD.

As you have already noted, you have to collect it at LAX anyway. But if not tagged beyond LAX you will need to hold it until you can check-in for your next departure. As noted above, you will need to collect and re-check at ORD anyway, no matter is tagged from SYD or LAX.

How much risk are you willing to take? Its up to you. What is the backup plan if you don't make it into ORD in time to collect you bags and check in for the next departure?

I think JohnK will be able to check bags through further than ORD (by showing the onward ticket). However, will run up against the limit of number of transfers on baggage tracking (not sure how many this is for QF/AA - perhaps 6 or 8 flights max?). Having that many transfers, probably some short connections thrown in, is asking for trouble IMHO. I wouldn't contemplate it unless I was overnighting somewhere en route or at the very least had carry on luggage only.

I would also be thinking about back up plans - it is one thing having a refundable side-trip for mileage/status run that if turns to custard you just ditch for minimal cost (or a cheap non-refundable one).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

August is peak summer storm season across much of the LOTFAP. Any sign of lightning and the airport ramps close (union rules). The knock-on affect of storms in say DFW can take 24 hours to clear up.

I would not be undertaking that SC run without a backup plan, and certainly not with an award flight departing on the same day as the SC run ends. But I am basically risk-averse when it comes to my travel plans.

I would, and have done, similar myself - eg in the middle of my DONE5 last year. But I deliberately chose a simpler nested ticket and had contingency plans to deal with problems at any step along the way. I also was not travelling in summer, and my onward ticket was flexible enough to easily cope with a 1 or 2 day delay if needed.

BTW I think I read somewhere recently that ORD has the worst on time/cancellation record of any US airport.

JohnK - how much gear will you be taking? On AA, especially in F, you can take onboard a lot more than you'd get away with on non-US airlines like QF. That won't help with delay/misconnection risk, but at least gets rid of the risk of lost luggage along the way. The other alternative is to store bags in ORD while you do the side trip. I don't know if the airport has luggage storage, so may need to do it off airport. Obviously you'd need sufficient time to collect them before your onward award flight.

 

[NM]

I think JohnK will be able to check bags through further than ORD (by showing the onward ticket). However, will run up against the limit of number of transfers on baggage tracking (not sure how many this is for QF/AA - perhaps 6 or 8 flights max?). Having that many transfers, probably some short connections thrown in, is asking for trouble IMHO. I wouldn't contemplate it unless I was overnighting somewhere en route or at the very least had carry on luggage only.

The issue will be the backtrack through the same port (STL). Hence he cannot check them beyond ORD as the turnaround point for the STL-ORD-STL portion.

His routing is: SYD-MEL-AKL-LAX-IAD-STL-ORD-STL-DFW-DEN. In my experience, no carrier will check luggage for a turnaround such as his STL-ORD-STL. This has nothing to do with max transfers or different tickets, its the turnaround that is the limiting factor for check through to ORD.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The issue will be the backtrack through the same port (STL). Hence he cannot check them beyond ORD as the turnaround point for the STL-ORD-STL portion.

His routing is: SYD-MEL-AKL-LAX-IAD-STL-ORD-STL-DFW-DEN. In my experience, no carrier will check luggage for a turnaround such as his STL-ORD-STL. This has nothing to do with max transfers or different tickets, its the turnaround that is the limiting factor for check through to ORD.

While I haven't myself (I hardly ever check baggage), I know of some who have successfully checked in bags for an itinerary that has similar AAA-BBB-CCC-DDD-EEE-DDD-FFF, although of course that doesnt necessarily mean QF/AA can/will do it also.

 

[JohnK]

I think JohnK will be able to check bags through further than ORD (by showing the onward ticket). However, will run up against the limit of number of transfers on baggage tracking (not sure how many this is for QF/AA - perhaps 6 or 8 flights max?).

It will not be a problem for me to collect luggage in ORD and recheck through to DEN. My biggest concern was LAX as I will have a potential 11 hour transit and was thinking of doing a tour or quick trip into the city and did not want to get stuck with luggage.

Having that many transfers, probably some short connections thrown in, is asking for trouble IMHO. I wouldn't contemplate it unless I was overnighting somewhere en route or at the very least had carry on luggage only.

I think the connections are OK. The shortest is 50 minutes in STL and 1:00 hour in DFW and this is on the AA revenue ticket.

I would also be thinking about back up plans - it is one thing having a refundable side-trip for mileage/status run that if turns to custard you just ditch for minimal cost (or a cheap non-refundable one).

Well not sure if these airfares are refundable. I do not have to do ORD-STL-DFW-DEN and have the tighter connections. I can do ORD-DFW-DEN for only 30 SC's less and this will potentially leave me with 3:30 hours transit in ORD and 2:30 transit in DFW.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

It will not be a problem for me to collect luggage in ORD and recheck through to DEN. My biggest concern was LAX as I will have a potential 11 hour transit and was thinking of doing a tour or quick trip into the city and did not want to get stuck with luggage.

As long as bags tagged through just redeposit at security after customs. No need to carry them with you.

I think the connections are OK. The shortest is 50 minutes in STL and 1:00 hour in DFW and this is on the AA revenue ticket.

If your inbound flights are late your bags could still misconnect.

Well not sure if these airfares are refundable. I do not have to do ORD-STL-DFW-DEN and have the tighter connections. I can do ORD-DFW-DEN for only 30 SC's less and this will potentially leave me with 3:30 hours transit in ORD and 2:30 transit in DFW.

My point is that when doing side trip for miles/status sometimes my contingency plan is to ditch it. So far I haven't had to do that, but I know I've been lucky. It's up to you how you deal with contingencies, and what risk you are comfortable bearing. We can only help with information where known.

 

[simongr]

Thanks for posting this JohnK - when I first read the post I thought it was all pretty obvious that things could be checked through a long way and that multiple sequential connections were de rigeur - now it seems my thoughts of doing JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-LAX-HKG-SYD in a couple of days in sequential flights (no landbased overnights) may not be sensible


Also noted that there is A0 on dfw-anc-dfw for the days I am planning

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks for posting this JohnK - when I first read the post I thought it was all pretty obvious that things could be checked through a long way and that multiple sequential connections were de rigeur - now it seems my thoughts of doing JFK-DFW-ANC-DFW-JFK-LAX-HKG-SYD in a couple of days in sequential flights (no landbased overnights) may not be sensible


Also noted that there is A0 on dfw-anc-dfw for the days I am planning

Less of an issue if all on one ticket. I've had several times when I've had 6 flights in a day with minimal risk. I've also had times with several consecutive days where all overnights are in the air.

For JohnK it is riskier due to separate tickets, inflexible award ticket, schedules.

Context is everything.

 

[simongr]

My key learning was the risk of luggage going back through the same point (twice [JFK and DFW] in my potential itinerary) potentially being a no-no...

Still waiting for formal confirmation of my europe trip so I can start planning that (apologies in advance for another DONE4 planning thread).

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

My key learning was the risk of luggage going back through the same point (twice [JFK and DFW] in my potential itinerary) potentially being a no-no...

Still waiting for formal confirmation of my europe trip so I can start planning that (apologies in advance for another DONE4 planning thread).

As long as have one long connection somewhere, or able to travel on carry on only (and remembering AA allows much more than QF other than liquids), then that shouldn't cause any hassle.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK - how much gear will you be taking? On AA, especially in F, you can take onboard a lot more than you'd get away with on non-US airlines like QF.

As I will be doing an escorted tour of Central Europe, I will have one piece of luggage approximately 20-22kgs, too big to fit in overhead locker unfortunately, and maybe a small backpack or carry bag. No liquids as the lounges should take care of that need.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

As I will be doing an escorted tour of Central Europe, I will have one piece of luggage approximately 20-22kgs, too big to fit in overhead locker unfortunately, and maybe a small backpack or carry bag. No liquids as the lounges should take care of that need.

AA's overhead lockers are bigger than QF's. For example my rollaboard fits easily wheels first in AA's bins with inches to spare (at least on the jets - will be different on some American Eagle aircraft) vs has to go sideways on QF, NZ, etc. You may be able to take onboard after all.

 

[JohnK]

The issue will be the backtrack through the same port (STL). Hence he cannot check them beyond ORD as the turnaround point for the STL-ORD-STL portion.

Thanks. Good to know about checked luggage and backtracking through the same port.

His routing is: SYD-MEL-AKL-LAX-IAD-STL-ORD-STL-DFW-DEN. In my experience, no carrier will check luggage for a turnaround such as his STL-ORD-STL. This has nothing to do with max transfers or different tickets, its the turnaround that is the limiting factor for check through to ORD.

AKL is only a transit on same flight but I think change of aircraft? Not sure.

Would it make a difference if the routing is SYD-MEL-LAX-IAD-STL-ORD-DFW-DEN?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks. Good to know about checked luggage and backtracking through the same port.


AKL is only a transit on same flight but I think change of aircraft? Not sure.

Would it make a difference if the routing is SYD-MEL-LAX-IAD-STL-ORD-DFW-DEN?

If you are flying MEL-AKL on QF25 then that is the same a/c that continues to LAX. If you are flying MEL-AKL on QF39 then you arrive around midnight and continue on to LAX next day (or later) on different a/c.

 

[JohnK]

My point is that when doing side trip for miles/status sometimes my contingency plan is to ditch it. So far I haven't had to do that, but I know I've been lucky. It's up to you how you deal with contingencies, and what risk you are comfortable bearing. We can only help with information where known.

Absolutely. My main objective of the trip is Greece and tour of Central Europe. The side trip is going to cost ~$1,000 and if I felt at any stage that it would jeopardise the core part of the trip then I would ditch it.