Newbie to Connecting flight?! LHR - SFO - YVR
Discussion
I'm off to whistler in December and the best flights seemed to be a connecting one! Only problem is, I've never flown a connecting flight before :S
Therefore I ask your asssitance in whether I've got enough time and how it works?
1st leg - LHR to SFO - UNITED Airlines - Depart - 13:35 Land - 16:30
2nd leg - SFO to YVR - AIR CANADA -Depart - 18:55 Land - 21:10
My connecting time is therefore: 2hrs and 25mins.
Thanks in advance!
Therefore I ask your asssitance in whether I've got enough time and how it works?
1st leg - LHR to SFO - UNITED Airlines - Depart - 13:35 Land - 16:30
2nd leg - SFO to YVR - AIR CANADA -Depart - 18:55 Land - 21:10
My connecting time is therefore: 2hrs and 25mins.
Thanks in advance!
@sfo Get off the plane look for a sign for transfers, go through a mini security/passport check and you're back in departures. Look for a departure or transfer screen, look for your flight number, get the gate number and head towards there.
Check in at LHR , receive 2 boarding passes, 1 for the 1st leg 1 for the 2nd leg.
Luggage will go on transfers and you will collect it at YVR. You just check in at LHR and your luggage will be collected at YVR.
Relaxxxxxxx.
Check in at LHR , receive 2 boarding passes, 1 for the 1st leg 1 for the 2nd leg.
Luggage will go on transfers and you will collect it at YVR. You just check in at LHR and your luggage will be collected at YVR.
Relaxxxxxxx.
Onemcs said:
Thanks for the rapid response!
So I take it that,
1. I don't need to recheck in?
2. I don't go through security again?
3. My baggage just get transfered or do I need to collect and recheckin?
I wouldn't count on 1/2/3 at all. In general, flights arriving in the US require you enter the US, collect your luggage, check in again and re-enter airside.So I take it that,
1. I don't need to recheck in?
2. I don't go through security again?
3. My baggage just get transfered or do I need to collect and recheckin?
There are some agreements between the US and Canada when entering the USA from Canada, but I don't think they exist the other way around. So your return would be a lot easier.
2 and a half hours can be extremely tight for this process when entering at the wrong time of day (3.5 hours was barely enough in Miami recently).
BA do have an agreement with the USA in certain airports to allow you not to collect your luggage, they'll check it all the way through. However, this isn't the case on the return journey (except from Canada)
It's an absolute mess, the US don't want you near their country.
Oh, and you'll need to pay for an ESTA, even though you're in transit, because you have to enter the USA. So, in summary - don't transit through a US airport.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Avoiding_a_transit_of_the...
Edited by Puggit on Wednesday 28th November 17:01
^^^^ I'm with you there ^^^^
If you are going to Vancover and cannot get a direct flight, look at flights connecting via Canadian airports - Toronto is one of the major crossover points
Transiting through the US is a complete pain, and stresses you out if the connections are tight, not what you want at the end of a long transatlantic flight
If you are going to Vancover and cannot get a direct flight, look at flights connecting via Canadian airports - Toronto is one of the major crossover points
Transiting through the US is a complete pain, and stresses you out if the connections are tight, not what you want at the end of a long transatlantic flight
Sorry you have been given duff information. If you fly into the USA you HAVE to go through immigration first then collect your luggage then go through customs . At that point you then find your next airline and then you have recheck your bags in. If you are going to Canada try to fly via a Canadian Airport. I fly regularly into San Francisco and LAX and unless your flying 1st class or business class you have to allow 3 hours to get through immigration and customs. United Airlines and American have their own terminals at San Francisco so try to stay with the same airline. It really does make it much easier. The US do not operate transit lounges so you have to go through immigration plus you will need ato get a visa (ESTA program at a cost of £10 roughly). But best advice i can give you is fly straight into Canada. It may cost a little more but do you want to be in the United Terminal in San Francisco and having to run to the other side of the airport to get an Air Canada flight. (United for example are in the International Terminal Area G gates 91 to 102. Air Canada is Area A gates A1 to A12) i fly on average 50,000 miles a year at least and i can tell you San Francisco is a huge airport. Also you have to go through security every time and this takes time. Security is very strict.
Edited by Geoff Stilwell on Wednesday 28th November 19:17
Edited by Geoff Stilwell on Wednesday 28th November 19:20
Save yourself the hassle and fly direct LHR to YVR with BA*. It may be a more expensive option but saving on stress and time is well worth it.
- Instead of hassle you'll have to endure 9 hours of surly, middle-aged homosexual flight attendants treating you like a peasant.
Edited by JuniorD on Wednesday 28th November 23:18
Thank you for all your replies!
FYI, I possibly foolishly had already booked the flights before my original post. It's a perquilair way but is the quickest connection flight. Direct was another £362.00 which didn't seem worth it at the time.
I rang the airlines who are convinced it's possible. Fingers Crossed?!
FYI, I possibly foolishly had already booked the flights before my original post. It's a perquilair way but is the quickest connection flight. Direct was another £362.00 which didn't seem worth it at the time.
I rang the airlines who are convinced it's possible. Fingers Crossed?!
Onemcs said:
Thank you for all your replies!
FYI, I possibly foolishly had already booked the flights before my original post. It's a perquilair way but is the quickest connection flight. Direct was another £362.00 which didn't seem worth it at the time.
I rang the airlines who are convinced it's possible. Fingers Crossed?!
Of course it's possible, or they wouldn't schedule it so - just expect a torrid time and enjoy it if it flows well!FYI, I possibly foolishly had already booked the flights before my original post. It's a perquilair way but is the quickest connection flight. Direct was another £362.00 which didn't seem worth it at the time.
I rang the airlines who are convinced it's possible. Fingers Crossed?!
Don't forget your ESTA!
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