LauraC

I'm looking at flying through the US with Air New Zealand. I was looking at the security stuff on Heathrow's website and there's a section that says:

If you are transferring to another flight before you reach your final destination, particularly within the EU, store staff may need to place your purchases in a special sealed bag. However if you are transferring within the USA or Canada you will need to place your purchases over 100ml in your hold baggage, which all passengers have to pick up before transferring to their next flight.

Is this a new 'security' meaasure? Do you really have to pick up your bags and check them in again? If you do that's the dumbest thing I've heard. I'm going to have 2 hours in LA. Don't they get checked straight through like they have everytime I've flown to Aus through Asia?

Amazulu

You are correct. You pick up your bags, go through customs and check them back in again. It can be a real nightmare - especially at LAX.

lj2

I have had recent experience of both - sometimes they seem to send them on (recent experience Detroit), sometimes you have to collect them again (recent experience MSP)!

Pollyana

Its not new, its one drawback that has always existed flying via the US.

LauraC

How are you supposed to do that with 2 hours between flights? I'm going to guess I'll have to join a queue to do the security screening, then get my bags then go to departures and join a queue to check it all in again! Seems like a needless amount of faffing about, when it could just be checked straight through!

I'm hoping I'll be able to check it straight through though.

Swerv-o

You don't have to check them in as you would at the first leg check in. You collect your bags from the carousel, then just chuck them onto a separate conveyor for transiting passengers after customs/immigration.

Well, you do at San Francisco anyway. No extra paperwork or queues, just pick up and dump. The transit luggage is not screened again.

S

wannabauzzienurse

I flew via LAX with air new zealand in june and did not have to collect my luggage till i got to my destination

comet555

You will most likely have to pick up your bags.

Flying from Oz to Canada through LA we had to go collect bags, go through customs and quarantine and exit the terminal. Then walk 15 minutes to other terminal (you can take a bus but was told it would take longer). In my opinion 2 hours is very tight, you will make it but don't be surprised if your bags don't make the flight. We've done this in 2 hours and it was very tight. Surprisingly our bags did actually make it.

Now...flying from Canada to Oz through LA our bags were checked straight through and we just had to walk right out and go to Qantas terminal. This is because we went through customs in Canada though. Again tight connection and this time our bags didn't make it. This was how we arrived in Oz for the first time, with all 5 pieces of luggage missing (all delivered the next day). The only thing we had was our carry on and the baby's stroller

On the bright side the second tiime we did the Canada to Oz trip, we managed to get 4 out of 6 pieces of luggage (delivered 2 days later). So a much higher success rate! The LA connections are notorious for not getting luggage on the plane on time. I asked the girls at the Qantas counter and they said it happens on just about every flight they have from LA!

Anyway, not trying to scare you. But just be sure to ask your travel agent, and again at the airport of the correct procedure. It also wouldn't hurt to get a map of the airport (off the website) and have it handy so you can find your way around. And just in case, the luggage insurance at the airport might not be a bad idea

comet555

Just reading through your initial post again. It really does sound like you won't be going through customs in the UK. So this will mean you will have to collect your bags, go through customs and quarantine, leave the terminal and walk to Qantas. Then, check in and go through security AGAIN.

It really sucks but it can be done in 2 hours. I certainly wouldn't stop off for a bite to eat though. Just go as quick as you can.

windog

If you are flying through the us with Air Newzealand you will not have to deal with your baggage, indeed you will most likely be on the same plane

LauraC

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

JAJ

The exception to this is that if you are not physically changing aircraft (eg London - Auckland via LA or Vancouver - Sydney via Honolulu) the checked luggage remains on the plane.

I suspect it is screened "behind the scenes" by TSA personnel.

comet555

You're lucky you got to do it that way.

We had to pick up our luggage from the spot where luggage goes when you're connecting. Then we had to get us and our luggage down to the Qantas terminal, and check in, check luggage and go through security again. We've done this twice now, it was the same both times.

There was no option for us to through it on a transfer conveyor or anything. We had to bring it all the ourselves.

Huge pain in the butt, and a terrible system. But we did do it in 2 hours.

JAJ

Whether there is the option of a "transfer conveyor" really depends on the airport. Which airport was this?

Swerv-o

I flew through SFO. My mate came via LAX about a month ago, and he managed to arrive in Sydney with all his luggage, so it can be done I guess.

S