We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Help please for domestic part of an international flight

Hello I will try not to confuse you, if I had a flight plan to oz with 2 stops, LHR-SIN-MEL-ADL, would we have to retrieve our bags coming off the singapore flight at Melbourne and then check them in on the domestic flight to Adelaide ourselves or is that done from aircraft to aircraft by the baggage handlers as we have 2 different flight numbers ? thanks :)

Comments

  • I think you'll be able to check the bags through for the whole flight, but you'll probably have to collect them at Melbourne to pass through Customs and then they should have a designated place to hand them back in for the flight to Adelaide.

    At least, that's what happened to me when I went to the States about 10 years ago - I collected my luggage on arrival Pittsburgh to go through Customs then handed them in to the airline staff at a baggage point before going to wait for my onward flight.
  • same with me flown in to several cities in the US on route to a different American city and had to clear immigration and customs with luggage at the first airport, bags then handed over for onward travel - staff either take them from you or show you where to put them. On the way home though bags checked straight through to London
  • Scarlett1
    Scarlett1 Posts: 6,887 Forumite
    Im hoping to get my bags at Melbourne then instead of going on to Adelaide get another flight to Sydney instead, first of all im going to ring the airline to change the domestic part of the journey but dont know if they will do it or not thats why im asking, thanks :)
  • dzug
    dzug Posts: 2,260 Forumite
    Well what goes on in the US doesn't necessarily apply in Oz - that's false logic.

    Given Australia's strict customs laws though I suspect it does.
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    May be easier just to ask to change to SIN-SYD
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
  • alanrowell
    alanrowell Posts: 5,379 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    same with me flown in to several cities in the US on route to a different American city and had to clear immigration and customs with luggage at the first airport, bags then handed over for onward travel - staff either take them from you or show you where to put them. On the way home though bags checked straight through to London
    The US is one of the few countries in the world that don't do transit - therefore everyone has to "immigrate" into the US even if they are staying a couple of hours to change flights. As a result it means you have to collect your own luggage in order to pass through customs as in theory there's nothing to stop you then turning right instead of left & leaving the airport rather than getting your onward flight.

    A further effect is that if you need a visa to visit the US, you need a US visa to travel via the US to somewhere else
  • richardw
    richardw Posts: 19,458 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    alanrowell wrote: »
    if you need a visa to visit the US, you need a US visa to travel via the US to somewhere else

    commonly known as a transit visa, I think.
    Posts are not advice and must not be relied upon.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.