Overseas Flights - cancelling internal connecting flight

Icequeen99

I travelled from Dallas last year to Newcastle via LHR. My flight was American Airlines connecting to BA. I had the same issue, a meeting cropped up in London.

I asked the American Airlines agent to tag my bags to LHR which she did. I picked them up and left the airport. It didn't seem to be an issue, I just explained that last minute meeting meant I needed to stay in LHR.

Of course, that doesn't mean they followed the official rules.

What cabin are you travelling in? I have just travelled first in British Airways with 3 legs each way in the US and they asked me where I would like my bags ticketed to on each journey. I always find them more amenable to helping you out when in First or Club.

IQ

Caz3121

could you not just ask for the bags to be tagged to London as you are meeting someone there who is collecting something that is in your case

jpsartre

I bet they never heard that one before

agrinnall

Is the AA flight from Chicago to London actually a code share with BA? If it isn't I would have though there's a chance you would have to collect your luggage at Heathrow anyway.

mad_rich

agrinnall wrote: »

Is the AA flight from Chicago to London actually a code share with BA? If it isn't I would have though there's a chance you would have to collect your luggage at Heathrow anyway.

Nope. Codeshare or not, the bags would normally be checked all the way to Manchester in this case.

watpoae

OK, I've contacted American Airlines (UK), British Airways (UK) x3, British Airways (USA).

Here are the responses I got:

American Airlines UK (yesterday)- Just tell them at check in that I want to get my bag at Heathrow, this 'won't be a problem'.

British Airways UK #1 (last week) - Initially said I'd have to pay a booking fee change but she didn't understand what I meant at first. Then concluded saying I just need to tell them at JFK I want my bag at JFK and no charge would occur.

British Airways UK #2 (yesterday) - The lad went away, asked a manager and came back saying if it was him he'd just say at JFK I want to collect my bag at JFK and I'll be fine.


Each of these responses though were wishy-washy and still left me concerned about it so I then contacted the following:

British Airways USA - I'd need to pay a charge of £100 to amend the flight.

British Airways UK - If it was 'black & white' I'd need to pay the charge. However 'alot of people' opt to collect their bags at the destination of their internal flight to ensure it isn't lost etc. She said just do this and I'll be fine. I also asked in the worst case scenario at JFK they call my bluff and refuse to allow it what will be the maximum charge and she said £100. My main concern was that they'd charge the difference in flights and she said no.

I still remain unconvinced however!

I'm thinking.. worst case scenario I have to pay £100 at JFK to amend. I wouldnt do this however, I'd just rent a car for cheaper and drive back to London.

Can anyone confirm what the lady said is true and I'd only pay the cancellation fee and NOT the difference in price?

Also have any of you any experience in requesting the collection of your baggage at a connection airport? I've never done this before so have no experience of it. Does it occur?

Thanks all. Its proving a headache and a half this and it really shouldnt be!

jpsartre

watpoae wrote: »

I'm thinking.. worst case scenario I have to pay £100 at JFK to amend.

No, worst case scenario is that you'll be asked to pay the £100 change fee + the difference in fare which, as I said, is likely to be substantial if you wait until the last minute. I don't really see how you could avoid the latter part, when changing a ticket (not just with BA) the cost is usually always a change fee + the difference in fare.

If it's possible for you to make your meeting by doing your original trip and driving down from Manchester, I'd ask at ORD (or JFK, based on your posts I'm not exactly sure which is your departure airport) if they will short-check your luggage to LHR. If they will, Bob's your uncle. If they won't, fly through to MAN and drive down.

I will say this, it's poor customer service that you're getting conflicting answers. Going by the terms of your ticket, they should have all told you that a change is necessary.

watpoae

jpsartre wrote: »

No, worst case scenario is that you'll be asked to pay the £100 change fee + the difference in fare which, as I said, is likely to be substantial if you wait until the last minute. I don't really see how you could avoid the latter part, when changing a ticket (not just with BA) the cost is usually always a change fee + the difference in fare.

If it's possible for you to make your meeting by doing your original trip and driving down from Manchester, I'd ask at ORD (or JFK, based on your posts I'm not exactly sure which is your departure airport) if they will short-check your luggage to LHR. If they will, Bob's your uncle. If they won't, fly through to MAN and drive down.

I will say this, it's poor customer service that you're getting conflicting answers. Going by the terms of your ticket, they should have all told you that a change is necessary.

Thanks. Yeah thats what I'm planning on doing, if they let me collect my bag at Heathrow.. great. If they don't I'll just drive back down.

The customer service is a joke. If they don't let me collect the bag at Heathrow they'll be getting a complaints letter because I was advised twice that I'd be able to do this no problem.

callum9999

While I haven't checked up on them afterwards, I've read countless posts on forums (including by very frequent fliers on the likes of flyertalk) where they've all said it would be completely fine to short-check the bags and skip the last flight. Generally the only repercussion is if you skip a flight that isn't at the end of your trip - as it causes the rest of them to be cancelled.

While the airlines technically have the right to impose various charges if you do that, they invariably don't if it's a one-off.

jpsartre

Do come back to tell us what ended up happening.