Free stopover in the USA?

ekoforshow

Hi all, my first post in a long while. I am looking for some advise!

We intend traveling to the Caribbean in the summer and we found an interesting ticket. It flies out of the UK with a 19 hour outbound and a 21 hour stopover in Atlanta (we have friends in Atlanta).

The two questions I have are:

1. Do you think if we can satisfy the immigration requirements, we will be able to spend the evenings in the city and return to the airport in time for our connecting flights? The stopovers are overnight

2. If we can leave the airport, will we have to collect our bags and check them back in when we return.

Basically, we want to use the plane changeovers as a cheap way to see friends on our way

TartanSaver

ekoforshow wrote: »

1. Do you think if we can satisfy the immigration requirements, we will be able to spend the evenings in the city and return to the airport in time for our connecting flights? The stopovers are overnight

Yes. You will need to fill out (and pay for) an ESTA before you fly, but as long as you do this there will be no issue. It's pretty common for people with long layovers, and they'll be happy enough that you are spending money in the country. I have never been to Atlanta, but a quick read of the airport page reveals a train station in the airport.

ekoforshow wrote: »

2. If we can leave the airport, will we have to collect our bags and check them back in when we return.

My understanding (and experience) is that, in the USA, you always have to clear customs at the point of entry. This means you actually have to take your bag anyway, to go through customs, before rechecking it on your next flight. If you don't want to carry it around, there is nothing to stop you from checking it straight back in, and most people on layovers do exactly that. It doesn't affect your ability to leave the airport.

callum9999

TartanSaver wrote: »

Yes. You will need to fill out (and pay for) an ESTA before you fly, but as long as you do this there will be no issue. It's pretty common for people with long layovers, and they'll be happy enough that you are spending money in the country. I have never been to Atlanta, but a quick read of the airport page reveals a train station in the airport.


My understanding (and experience) is that, in the USA, you always have to clear customs at the point of entry. This means you actually have to take your bag anyway, to go through customs, before rechecking it on your next flight. If you don't want to carry it around, there is nothing to stop you from checking it straight back in, and most people on layovers do exactly that. It doesn't affect your ability to leave the airport.

There is if it's an overnight connection - which at 19 hours almost certainly will be!

If you want to make the most of a stopover, you may be able to extend it for free depending on the rules of the ticket you found.

ekoforshow

TartanSaver wrote: »

Yes. You will need to fill out (and pay for) an ESTA before you fly, but as long as you do this there will be no issue. It's pretty common for people with long layovers, and they'll be happy enough that you are spending money in the country. I have never been to Atlanta, but a quick read of the airport page reveals a train station in the airport.


My understanding (and experience) is that, in the USA, you always have to clear customs at the point of entry. This means you actually have to take your bag anyway, to go through customs, before rechecking it on your next flight. If you don't want to carry it around, there is nothing to stop you from checking it straight back in, and most people on layovers do exactly that. It doesn't affect your ability to leave the airport.

Fantastic! I have an ESTA in force already, as does the Mrs (we were in the states last Oct), just need to renew the kids ones. I've been to Atlanta a few times and will probably get a lift to and from the airport too! I just thought given the travel tickets, I could spend the night with family rather than in the airport, kill two birds with one stone. The kids get to see their cousins on the way there and back. Ticket prices are actually cheaper than direct flights with BA or Virgin

Kerching!!

ekoforshow

callum9999 wrote: »

There is if it's an overnight connection - which at 19 hours almost certainly will be!

If you want to make the most of a stopover, you may be able to extend it for free depending on the rules of the ticket you found.

Now that sounds tempting as well!!

TartanSaver

callum9999 wrote: »

There is if it's an overnight connection - which at 19 hours almost certainly will be!

Fair enough. Since you're getting a lift anyway, maybe you could take your hold luggage with you? Alternatively, check with the airline about the earliest you can check it back in. Anyway, sounds like you've found a nice way to add value to your holiday

blindman

ekoforshow wrote: »

Now that sounds tempting as well!!

There is a difference in terminology in how long the time is between connecting flights and this is treated differently in terms of cost of the ticket.

A Layover is less than 24 hrs between landing and take off and is a "free" part of the ticket.
What you do in that time is dependant on the airport\country rules.
QATAR will give you a free tour of DOHA, IIRC Singapore airlines do a free tour of Singapore. They also give you a free hotel (at the airport).

A Stopover is when there is more than 24hrs between landing and take off and usually incurs some kind of extra cost, though at times this can be minimal or even free.

IIRC stopovers can be quite lenghty (months rather than days).

We did a layover from NZ to Istanbul on 31st Dec -in Sydney- for 23hrs 30 mins
Guess what we did that night:D