Taking a DL connecting flight - a few questions...!

Hi all,

I've just booked a New Year trip to ORD, taking the 45 outbound to JFK and the 104 from ATL returning, both on DL connections to/from Chicago.

I've never taken a connecting flight with a different airline before - so had a few of questions to ask. Apologies if they're answered elsewhere, I did try having a look round for answers but didn't unearth anything.

1) I'm travelling PE on both of the VS legs. Will the same baggage allowance be given on the DL legs to/from ORD? I'm not sure if I'll need to second bag yet, but if there's an extra charge from Delta I'll be more inclined to just pack light...

2) On a related subject, what will happen with regards to my luggage being transferred at my connections - will they be simply be moved over to my connecting flight or will I have to collect them and then re-check them in again given it's a different airline?

3) And finally, does anyone have any experience with Economy Comfort on DL flights? I was able to take a free Comfort seat on the way in, but paid £18 for the upgrade on the way back, which seemed reasonable to me, at 6'4" I could use all the space I can get on a 2 hour flight.

Thanks in advance!

Rich

1) Not sure, sorry.

2) Outbound you'll need to collect your bags off the carousel at JFK, clear customs and then recheck them (there should be a desk just after customs to do that). That's standard practice at US airports for international-domestic transfers. On the return they should be checked straight through to London.

3) You've made a wise choice. EC is no PE but the extra legroom is a godsend. Plus you get priority boarding (and therefore guaranteed overhead locker space) and you'll be among the first off.

2) Outbound you'll need to collect your bags off the carousel at JFK, clear customs and then recheck them (there should be a desk just after customs to do that). That's standard practice at US airports for international-domestic transfers. On the return they should be checked straight through to London.

This is interesting, because i'm flying out on a DL flight to JFK to connect to a DL domestic and i've been told that i don't need to collect (by both VS and DL!) and re-check at JFK and it goes all the way through.

2) Outbound you'll need to collect your bags off the carousel at JFK, clear customs and then recheck them (there should be a desk just after customs to do that). That's standard practice at US airports for international-domestic transfers. On the return they should be checked straight through to London.

This is interesting, because i'm flying out on a DL flight to JFK to connect to a DL domestic and i've been told that i don't need to collect (by both VS and DL!) and re-check at JFK and it goes all the way through.

You will have to collect then but you won't have to check them in again. They will be tagged to your final destination but you will have to clear customs with them at Jfk. This is standard practice. You go through customs and there will be airline bag drops before you exit.

Just got off the phone with VS and was told that given it's all under one itinerary, my bags will be transferred onto the DL flight, so no need to pick them up and have them re-checked in again.
Will definitely save a bit of time given I only have a 2h20m layover at JFK...

Just got off the phone with VS and was told that given it's all under one itinerary, my bags will be transferred onto the DL flight, so no need to pick them up and have them re-checked in again.
Will definitely save a bit of time given I only have a 2h20m layover at JFK...

I really do believe they have given you the wrong advice for your outbound flight or have misunderstood what you asked them.

On your inbound back to the UK yes your bags will be transferred automatically and you won't have to bother with them from checking them in at ORD until you arrive back at LHR.

But NOT on your outbound where you will have to collect them and clear customs with them at JFK before handing them back over to DL. This is standard US operating procedure. You clear both immigration and customs at your initial port of entry not your ultimate destination.

Hmm, I will ring again to double check - the lady I spoke to seemed very sure that because it's on one ticket it will be put right through to the connecting flight.
I'll admit I did wonder about customs given I'll be arriving at ORD at the domestic terminal where I suspect there will not be any immigration controls...

Off the phone again - she confirmed the same as the last person (as well as checking with a colleague) that it will get sent right through to ORD. I guess I'll find out what airport is on my baggage tag in three weeks time!

Appreciate the heads up that it may be wrong though - I'll be sure to report back to solve the mystery...

That is false info from the call centre.

You will have to collect bags and re-check them in JFK as that is your first point of entry to the USA.

This is the case on all international - domestic transfers in to the US.

On your return however , you will not have to collect and it'll go straight through to LHR.

Alright. Thanks for the info gents - I'll bear that in mind with the layover time. Thankfully I'm now booked into Upper, and with the automatic entry machines (on a repeat ESTA), 2 hours or so should be enough time to get through.

Either way, I'll ask for clarification at check in - I think it's fair to assume that they will have dealt with this more often that the customer service teams in the support centre.

Off the phone again - she confirmed the same as the last person (as well as checking with a colleague) that it will get sent right through to ORD. I guess I'll find out what airport is on my baggage tag in three weeks time!

Appreciate the heads up that it may be wrong though - I'll be sure to report back to solve the mystery...

Even if it is tagged to ORD you will still have to collect it and clear customs at JFK.

They usually remind you at check-in though.


BUT I am astounded that staff (not just one but three if not more at least) in CS are giving this advice when it is clearly wrong. It's not a VS rule but a US Government one.

As others have said at JFK you clear immigration, pick up your bag from the belt walk through customswith your bag exit to the left and drop your bag with DL at their connections desk (against the back wall) go upstairs and back through security.

I have not done a connection at JFK on an outbound flight but have done it a few times at ATL before.

Thanks for the follow up all, I did some searching round on Flyertalk and it looks like they agree with your advice. I'm really not sure why VS would be saying that I wouldn't have to do that. My only assumption is perhaps they are a little naive on that front but it's a touch concerning that even after "checking" they are still giving out that guidance...

I've been given wrong info from the VS call centre a couple of times before, it's no surprise.

What about the bag allowance, as I am travelling in economy comfort in about 1 1/2 weeks I just need the heads ups as I am soon packing? I just need to know many bags I can take coming of a pe flight.

Thanks longy

The usual convention is you get the allowance from the longest flight as long as the connection is on the same ticket.

If you booked them separately then the limit generally does not flow through.

I've been given wrong info from the VS call centre a couple of times before, it's no surprise.

I can't believe the VS Call Centre are getting this basic advice wrong - it's been the case [no pun intended] for years - even long before 9/11 - that you have always had to clear US Customs with your bags at the point of entry, before dropping them off for your domestic flight(s).

Pre 9/11 there was often just a conveyor belt after the Customs exit where you dropped your bags onto (as they were already tagged to your final destination).

As the TSA became more "involved" in screening luggage, often each own airline setup it's own bag-drop area just outside Customs. An airline employee will check photo ID+ticket+bags, before "accepting" them onto the onward-bag belt. They may even do a swab test for explosive traces too.

Come on VS - this is basic stuff about flying to the USA [clear customs with bags at first point of arrival]. Get it right!

I always double check the info from the call centre, most of the time they are very good but some occasions leaves you wondering how good the training is. I was on the 45 a short tine ago and had to transfer onto a tampa flight, bags were checked all the way through but I still had to pick them up and clear customs then drop them off at the baggage area in departures