Connecting between Different Airlines?

sapper

Looking at flying to Fiji for my honeymoon later this year and got a pretty good quote from Trailfinders for a flight with British Midland to Heathrow and then with Air New Zealand to Fiji via LA.

The thing is, the time allowed to connect in LA between the flight in and the flight to Fiji is only slighty more than 1hr, which I think is cutting it mighty fine....Also, Aer Lingus fly direct to LA from Dublin and would get there 5 hours before the onward flight, which should be loads of time and would allow me to avoid Heathrow altogether (for the same price).

Trailfinders say that their offering would give me more cover in case of delays as I would be flying with the same carrier all the way from Heathrow to Fiji...

Is this true? if (god forbid) the Aer Lingus flight was delayed by 4 or so hours and I missed the onward flight to Fiji with Air New Zealand, wouldn't Aer Lingus be obliged to get me on the next flight? Or do they typically try to get out of it?

BuffyBot

Well going with bmi and AirNZ via Heathrow is the way I would recommend doing it. bmi and AirNZ are both in the same alliance, and with both flights on one ticket which means that a) your luggage should be checked through to Fiji from Dublin and b) should something go wrong (delays etc) they'll look after you. If you're unsure about the time between the flights why not contact AirNZ directly and ask them if it really is enough time (1800 551 447). As this is a popular route for people going to Fiji (AirNZ do quite a bit of trade from Heathrow on) I'd imagine it is, but why not ask?

Now you could go via Aer Lingus, but if the tickets were seperate tickets then should the flight be delayed etc you're on your own. Aer Lingus' responsiblity would be over. If it's booked on the one ticket then your looking at a broadly similar situation to the first one, but to be honest, doing it the first way would probably be one I'd recommend - anyway, you really don't want to spend 5 hours in LAX - it's a dump.

sapper

Thanks Buffybot - I had actually checked with Air NZ and they said that 60mins was the normal requirement. Didn't realise I would be able to check everything through.

You're probably right of course - but just once I would have liked to have gone on a long haul flight without the extra side trip to London town. I just know I'll be sitting in LAX on the way back looking at people boarding the direct flight to Dublin while I look forward spending a jet lagged afternoon wandering around WH Smiths in terminal one. Harumph.

BC

Thats not true about the luggage as far as i know. Yes you can have the same ticket and you can check yourself right the way through but its a requirement in the airport in LA that you still have to pick up your bags bring them to the transfer desk. That was the case when i flew there two years ago and it was still the case when my friend flew there in December. To be honest i don't think an hour is enough and i wouldn't risk it.

BC

BC wrote:

Thats not true about the luggage as far as i know. Yes you can have the same ticket and you can check yourself right the way through but its a requirement in the airport in LA that you still have to pick up your bags bring them to the transfer desk. That was the case when i flew there two years ago and it was still the case when my friend flew there in December. To be honest i don't think an hour is enough and i wouldn't risk it.

Unfortunately that is correct.
The new post 911 regulations mean that you will have to collect your baggage in LAX and re check them and put them through the scanners again.
1 hour wont be enough-especially if your Fiji flight is in a different terminal.
Explain this to air new zealand.

However regardless of what they do, they will book you on the next flight if you miss one as its their fault and not yours and its a through ticket.

As its your honeymoon,I'd advise packing maybe 2 clothes changes in your hand luggage just in case your luggage gets lost.

Bluehair

Earthman wrote:

Unfortunately that is correct.
The new post 911 regulations mean that you will have to collect your baggage in LAX and re check them and put them through the scanners again.

Collecting your baggage at first point of entry to the US was always a customs requirement and nothing to do with 9/11.

For this connecting flight you never actually enter the US and stay airside in the terminal the entire time. Air NZ send the bags right through and you just get off one plane and onto the other. They've been doing this for years for their connecting flights to/from London.

Enjoy Fiji and don't worry about the flights (other than being knackered by the time you get there )

BC

"For this connecting flight you never actually enter the US and stay airside in the terminal the entire time. Air NZ send the bags right through and you just get off one plane and onto the other. They've been doing this for years for their connecting flights to/from London."

When i flew i went dublin-LA-Sydney with 5 hours in LA. I also wasn't actually 'entering' the US. But you still have to clear immigration (i did it in dublin) and you still have to collect your bags. You don't have to check in again, you just go to the transfer desk.

Bluehair

BC wrote:

When i flew i went dublin-LA-Sydney with 5 hours in LA. I also wasn't actually 'entering' the US. But you still have to clear immigration (i did it in dublin) and you still have to collect your bags. You don't have to check in again, you just go to the transfer desk.

But you didn't do it with Air NZ. As i'm at pains to point out at this stage and as they told him themselves Air NZ have a special arrangement for this flight from/to London Heathrow and onwards with themselves only.

They've been doing it for years, it works seemlessly and is a great way and hassle free way to do it.

BuffyBot

http://www.eu.airnewzealand.com/travelinfo/travelsupport/importantcustomerinfo/changes_to_lax_transit_facility.htm#transitprocedure

This makes for some interesting reading. It depends on whether the OP is travelling on to Auckland (and then on to Fiji) with Air New Zealand, or it going onto another flight and aircraft altogether.

Sheera

I went to Fiji the same way last year

Dublin to London with British Midland
London to Nadi, via LA.

We only had about an hour between connecting flights at LA too. We did have to go through immigration/baggage/security as stated by previous posters. However, there was no problem at all with catching the connecting flight - I doubt trailfinders would be selling those flights to you if they thought there would be.

btw I can recommend the Hideaway resort in Fiji - total paradise!
www.hideawayfiji.com

sapper

Didn't realise this thread was still going (!). I got on to Trailfinders to book the all-the-way through flight with Air NZ, but the person on the other end got very sceptical about the connection without me saying anything...She checked with someone in the office who flies to Raratonga all the time and that person said "no way". So we booked the flight with Aer Lingus to LA (arriving 5 hrs) earlier.

She pointed out that, even if we did miss the connection, they would have to be right b#stards not to put us two honeymooners on to the next flight....

Fingers crossed!:D