Booking luggage through

[Nostromo]

If someone is travelling from Gatwick to Indianapolis via Newark using Continental connections for both flights, can he book the luggage right through to Indianapolis International Airport (and only transit in Newark) like we used to be able to? I am not sure if things have changed under the 'new' checking system.

I reckon Indianapolis airport will be quicker and quieter than the bigger airports to go through Immigration.

[blott]

You can still check your luggage through to your destination Nostromo but it only works really well when you're returning home. On your outward journey as soon as you land on US soil, you have to retrieve your luggage to take it through Customs but can then hand it back again without queueing at the check-in desk again if you already have your boarding passes for your next flight.

[Y]

Don't be like us and make the mistake of thinking you have to transfer the luggage on the return journey.All six of us walked all the way to the baggage hall at Newark(A long way)only to find the luggage had been transferred automatically.We then had to queue up to go through Immigration to get back to the gate.It all took about an hour to get ourselves back to the connecting flight gate which turned out to be about 20 feet from the gate we had arrived at earlier[grin]Never mind it passed some of our waiting time.

[jolliffee]

Hello Nostromo. I'm sure you will need to clear immigration at Newark, your entrance gateway. Likewise your baggage will clear customs there too.

[Nostromo]

OK, thanks people. I am so used to going directly to my US destination from London that it has been a very long time since I connected within the US on the same day as arrival. Hopefully, Immigration clearance at Newark won't be too bad; there is just over 2 hours between flights there.

[Matt]

Nostromo, make sure that your baggage is checked all the way through.

Virgin were unable to check my luggage on a Delta flight earlier in September so we had to retrieve the luggage in JFK and then check-in again for our onward flight.

However, flying back DeltaSong were able to check the bags all the way through with the Virgin connection in JFK.

Matt

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Matt
Nostromo, make sure that your baggage is checked all the way through.

Matt
[/quote]

Matt, from the posts above, it seems like I will be unable to do so on the outward journey. I have to go through the wringer at the first port of call, which in this case would be Newark. I am hoping that immigration at Newark won't be too bad - at least not as slow as JFK or MCO.

In any case, Continental have just told me that they will be able to allocate me a seat near the exit so that I can make a quick getaway after the first flight lands and try to be one of the front line passengers at the immigration queue. The staff are usually helpful to people with connecting flights to catch.

My ultimate destination is Danville, Illinois where I have relatives. The reason I prefer Indianapolis to Chicago airport is that it takes twice as long to get to Danville from Chicago as compared with Indianapolis. After a long flight, I prefer to keep the driving to a minimum.