Flight Transfer and Luggage

Flight Transfer and Luggage

Author
Discussion

stevebrookman

Original Poster:

66 posts

126 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Good morning all,


We are flying to Malta next week. We are flying from Heathrow to Vienna using Austrian Airlines then Vienna to Malta using Air Malta one hour later. Will we have to retrieve our luggage in Vienna or is it automatically put through to the Air malta flight?




May be a silly question but have only done this in the past using the same carrier.




Many thanks

Steve

thetrash

1,847 posts

205 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
I just flew to San Francisco via JFK and had to pick up the bags and re check them in and go through security. It was a ball ache.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
They will tell you at the airport. Usually the baggage goes straight through.

GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
thetrash said:
I just flew to San Francisco via JFK and had to pick up the bags and re check them in and go through security. It was a ball ache.
But thats because you need to clear customs & immigration at 1st point of entry to the US.

OP if it's all on the same ticket then you'll be fine & it should be checked through.

tim0409

4,354 posts

158 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
I don't know for sure but I wouldn't have thought a carrier would book your luggage straight through when you are switching airlines (unless there is a tie up between the two). I will be interested to hear the definitive answer. Hopefully they do as a 1 hour connection time doesn't leave much time for any delays.


I am sure you will enjoy Malta; I went for the first time in April and really liked it. The only issue was Avis and a clapped out hire car and being shafted for extras (disputed) which is seemingly endemic there.

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Should be absolutely fine, but double check when you check in.

As above, US entry is very different to most places (because they are morons...)

GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Just doing a quick check Austrian will sell you a ticket from LHR to Malta via Vienna, leg to Malta on Air Malta.

You are fine & will be checked through

essayer

9,011 posts

193 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
I think with an hour transfer I'd be putting my toothbrush and spare underwear in my hand luggage, just in case!
It will remain their responsibility to get it to you, but if there is any screw up along the way your luggage might go on the next flight.


stevebrookman

Original Poster:

66 posts

126 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Many thanks!

I will pack a spare toothbrush just in case!
Didn'y really check the transfer time when booking!

halfpenny43

1,015 posts

235 months

Sunday 2nd August 2015
quotequote all
Don't panic.

I recently flew Austrian from Budapest to Stockholm via Vienna and had no issues with checked in baggage with a 40 min transfer.

sooperscoop

408 posts

162 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
If you are booked on a single ticket/itinerary (i.e. one booking with two legs) then you are good. But it's always good to check when they put the tag on to make sure, they have been known to screw up. You should get two boarding passes at check-in.

If the two legs were booked seperately (UK-Vienna, Vienna-Malta) then you can have issues if the two airlines are not interline partners (note: not the same as alliance partner airlines). Budget airlines being the main culprit here.

The exceptions to this are the US (maybe Canada?), where you have to clear immigration and customs on port of first entry, and China, where the transfer options are limited to certain airlines with a host of restrictions.

All of the above may be balls.

stevebrookman

Original Poster:

66 posts

126 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
quotequote all
Many thanks!!

The flight was booked in one transaction so should be ok.

Thanks for all your help.

Regards

Steve

stevebrookman

Original Poster:

66 posts

126 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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Morning all,
Just back 2.30 am this morning from sunny Malta to be greeted by torrential rain as soon as I reached the Severn Bridge.
Transfer was no problem at all.
The only problem we had was arriving at Heathrow to be greeted in terminal 2 with 2 desks open in passport control and hundreds waiting to get through, then part of the A4 was shut which made getting out of the Purple parking a hassle.

Again many thanks for your advice and I must recommend Travel Republic who we booked with.

Regards

Steve