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Hi, we have booked indirect flights with Continental via Newark to Orlando for this December. We have always flown direct before so my question is- what happens to our luggage? Do we have to collect it in Newark and check it in again for the flight to Orlando? Sorry if this seems[msnembarrased] a stupid question.
Margaret
The answer is, it depends!
It depends on how your flights were booked. If they were booked together then "possibly" your luggage will pass straight through to your final destination. Check with whoever arranged the flights for you. If they were booked separately then you have to pick up and check back in at each stop.
One thing to remember if your luggage is checked straight through, then DO NOT buy any liquid duty free over 100ml at any stops before your last departure point. This is because you will not be able to take these items in your carry on luggage through a security point as they can only be taken in your checked luggage. They will be confiscated. You can only take on what you have purchased after security and given at the departure point on your final hop.
In your case this shouldn't be a problem if you wait until Newark, but this does catch people out if they have an internal UK domestic flight on the way home.
Hi Margaret
Not a silly question at all.
You will need to collect your luggage to clear customs after clearing immigration as Newark is your first point of entry into the USA.
Once through customs there should be a bag drop where you pop your checked baggage onto the conveyor for your onward connection.
On the return your bags will be checked through so you won't see them until you land in the UK.
Lynne
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The answer is, it depends!
It depends on how your flights were booked. If they were booked together then "possibly" your luggage will pass straight through to your final destination. [/quote]Sorry that is incorrect.
You always collect your luggage at the first point of call and have to clear customs and immigration at that airport.
If continuing with the same airline, you hand it back to the airline after customs.
Robert,
Hate to disagree. I know from personal experience flying back from MCO into Gatwick then on to Glasgow you can check your luggage at MCO and not see it again until GLA. This has been discussed before in length and may be worth Margaret's time to look over ....
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_53298.asp
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Robert,
Hate to disagree. I know from personal experience flying back from MCO into Gatwick then on to Glasgow you can check your luggage at MCO and not see it again until GLA. This has been discussed before in length and may be worth Margaret's time to look over ....
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_53298.asp[/quote]
David,
Returning to UK your luggage is checked straight through.
However that wasn't the 'exam question'[msnwink]
The OP asked:
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Hi, we have booked indirect flights with Continental via Newark to Orlando for this December. We have always flown direct before so my question is- what happens to our luggage? Do we have to collect it in Newark and check it in again for the flight to Orlando?[/quote]
On the outward bound trip you always have to collect your luggage and the first stop in the USA and clear customs and immigration.
Well the converse of my example is still true, departing GLA change LGW onward to MCO, your luggage can go straight through A - C.
So the difference is the stop-over airport is in the US and not the UK. I shall have to concede to you on this point.
Unless anyone else can shed some light on this.
Your luggage has to clear customs (not immigration) at your first point of entry to the USA. If you have an onward flight you must check it in again.
In the simplest terms, Immigration is for people, Customs is for objects/things. Both are applicable at your first point of entry to the USA.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by DLB-GOUROCK
Well the converse of my example is still true, departing GLA change LGW onward to MCO, your luggage can go straight through A - C.
So the difference is the stop-over airport is in the US and not the UK. I shall have to concede to you on this point.
Unless anyone else can shed some light on this.[/quote]When entering the US, you have to clear immigration and customs at the first point of entry, so you will always have to collect you luggage as it is impossible to clear customs without it. Once you have cleared customs, you do not need to do it again, no matter how many domestic connections you take.
The only possible exception to this, that I can think of (although I am not certain), is if you were in transit to another international (not domestic) location. This won't apply in this case and so is not relevant really.
Getting back to the practicalities of the original question - I travel Bristol/Newark/MCO or TPA. At Newark you will go through Immigration, go to Luggage Hall collect your luggage go through Customs which means handing in your blue/white form.
At this point you will go down a slight slope of about 50 yards, keep to the left and at this point you will have your luggage taken off you by handlers asking for your destination - luggage will then be thrown on the appropriate conveyor belt.
Turn left and left again, go up a half flight of stairs to second security. Shoes off, belt off, jacket off, liquids separated. If you have bought Duty Free on the way out then it needs to be put into your luggage between Customs and the Conveyor Belt staff.
Gate for the second flight could be some distance - you need a minimum of 90 minutes at Newark in my view.
If the final destination is in the U.S. and the first port of arrival is in the U.S., travelers must clear Immigration and Customs at the first port of entry. This is also required if you are transitting via the USA, as there are still certain restrictions (eg you cannot transport goods originating in Cuba via the USA, even if your final destination is outside the USA).
The only exception is if you have arrived in the USA from one of the certified "foreign preclearance locations" which are located in Canada, the Caribbean and Ireland - in this case you will have undergone the checks at the point of departure, and will not be required to go through them again upon entry to the USA.
Thanks for all your replies, I like to be prepared [msnwink].
Clare, I'm going to print your tips off and take them with me as I have such a terrible memory these days [msnsmile2] I guess it's my age!!!
Margaret
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by DLB-GOUROCK
Well the converse of my example is still true, departing GLA change LGW onward to MCO, your luggage can go straight through A - C.
So the difference is the stop-over airport is in the US and not the UK. I shall have to concede to you on this point.
Unless anyone else can shed some light on this.
[/quote]
Robert, Keith & more importantly Clare, are perfectly correct on this question. You claim your bags at your point of entry into the US and in Newark you just give them to the bag drop desk just past where you drop off your customs form. They then get whisked off to your plane destined for Orlando. When you land in Orlando you are on an internal flight and therefore you just pick up your bags and off you go, bypassing all the visa control queues and straight to your car hire. Gill
If you have any worries about Orlando airport and what happens - check this out: http://www.orlandoairports.net/arrive/index.htm
It is a very clear explanation of each of the two arrival 'types'