Flight Transfers

byronkincaid · #1 06-26-2005, 10:13 AM

I've never had to transfer flights before so I might be worrying about nothing but... I won a seat to the WSOP on Betfair. Tha flights they have booked me on are not direct I have to transfer flights at Dallas. On the way there my flight to Vegas departs 1 hour 45 minutes after my flight to Dallas is due to arrive. On the way back there is only 1 hour 20 difference. I am told that international travellers have to collect there bags personally ie the bags are not just put onto the next flight automatically, clear customs and then presumabley take my suitcase to a counter somewhere todrop it off and then get to the departure gate for the next flight.

Now maybe I'm just used to British inefficiency but I have had to wait over an hour to collect my bags on more than one occasion. What if the first flight is delayed and I've only got 10 minutes to jump on the next flight. I've contacted the travel agents and they are just saying it will be fine don't worry but they're not potentially missing the start of the WSOP.

If anyone has any experience of transfering flights at Dallas Ft Worth please could you tell me what you think.

partygirluk · #2 06-26-2005, 10:30 AM

When I flew to Vegas there was a 50 minute stop over in Chicago and they automatically transferred my luggage.

byronkincaid · #3 06-26-2005, 10:35 AM

How long ago was that? The impression I got was that these are fairly new rules. The travel agent rang Dallas this is what they said

[ QUOTE ]
The US require travellers that are arriving on an
International flight and connecting on to a Domestic within the US, to
collect their luggage and clear customs at the transiting airport prior to
departing on their onward/connecting Domestic flight.

I have spoke to Silke at American Airlines reservations, she has advised
that when you arrive at Dallas Fort Worth Airport that you will need to
collect your luggage and clear customs before continuing on to your
departure gate for your onward to Las Vegas. Silke has advised that you
will have enough connecting time at Dallas Fort Worth to do this. You do
not have to re-checkin for the Dallas - Las Vegas flights but you do need
to clear immigration at Dallas.

[/ QUOTE ]

partygirluk · #4 06-26-2005, 03:56 PM

This was May 2002

bdk3clash · #5 06-26-2005, 10:40 AM

People that check bags are suckers. Pack light and carry on.

tbach24 · #6 06-26-2005, 03:59 PM

[ QUOTE ]
People that check bags are suckers. Pack light and carry on.

[/ QUOTE ]

busguy · #7 06-26-2005, 04:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
People that check bags are suckers. Pack light and carry on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah . . . like one of those pricks that boards just as they close the door and has a bag that barely fits in an overhead (if no one elses stuff is already in there) but has no chance of fitting under the seat (where it is supposed to fit . . if it is to be carried on) . . . and then holds everything up for 10 minutes while the flight attendants scramble around trying to find a place for the monsterous bag to go.

yah . . . people who check baggage . . .those are the suckers all right

[img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] busguy

jakethebake · #8 06-26-2005, 06:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
People that check bags are suckers. Pack light and carry on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah . . . like one of those pricks that boards just as they close the door and has a bag that barely fits in an overhead (if no one elses stuff is already in there) but has no chance of fitting under the seat (where it is supposed to fit . . if it is to be carried on) . . . and then holds everything up for 10 minutes while the flight attendants scramble around trying to find a place for the monsterous bag to go.

yah . . . people who check baggage . . .those are the suckers all right

[img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] busguy

[/ QUOTE ]

You can pack for a week in a reasonable sized carry-on. It's actually the idiots that try to carry on three large bags or something idiotic like a guitar that I have problems with. I'd venture that if nearly everyone carried on one reasonably-sized bag, they'd all fit fine.

And checking bags IS for suckers. I hate when I travel for any extended period or have a bunch of work crap that forces me to be a sucker occasionally. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

bdk3clash · #9 06-26-2005, 08:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
People that check bags are suckers. Pack light and carry on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah . . . like one of those pricks that boards just as they close the door and has a bag that barely fits in an overhead (if no one elses stuff is already in there) but has no chance of fitting under the seat (where it is supposed to fit . . if it is to be carried on) . . . and then holds everything up for 10 minutes while the flight attendants scramble around trying to find a place for the monsterous bag to go.

yah . . . people who check baggage . . .those are the suckers all right

[img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] busguy

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey--I said pack light. I always travel with a carry-on that is well within regulation size. It's really not that hard.

disjunction · #10 06-26-2005, 04:13 PM

Never transferred internationally, but my 2 cents:

You left a reasonable amount of time. There's a ~10% chance of something going awry but there's no use worrying about it. Bring enough on your carry-on so you can get by for a day if your luggage is lost. Even if the airline messes up, your luggage should be at your hotel no more than a day after you.

Ask the flight attendants before departure about your situation, and ask again on the plane if you find yourself running late. If you're running late for a connection they should tell you what to do to expedite the process. If you have to, bring your bags to the 2nd plane and if you're not too late I think they can check them in there as you board (as if you were someone who was trying to get away with a too large carryon). You're not the first person to be doing this so I wouldn't worry too much about things you can't change [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]