I am scheduled to go on 1st safari 8/20 flying sf to London on United and then BA to Kenya. Since I used FF miles to London, I can not check luggage all the way through. I have 3 hours to get luggage and recheck into BA flight. Does anyone think this even doable given what is going on? Originally I had planned to carry on my luggage but now everything will have to be checked. I don't know if I can delay to a later flight...say to the next day. Any thoughts. I am a nervous wreck about all of this and can't sleep. Also, I am having trouble finding those Pelican cases around here and no on line company can guarantee to get them to me before I leave. Any other suggestions as to how to pack all of my brand new gear? Or does anyone think I should simply not take it and just go buy a point and shoot camera to minimize the risk?

13moons,

I know how you feel. We're leaving on the 5th of September. We've decided to pack our backpack stuff into hard case suitcases and then assemble our backpacks and small plane carryons when we arrive. Looks like there's no choice but to pack the camera gear (very well) into these suitcases. Of course we don't own any hardsided luggage so I'm going to hit up a garage or rummage sale soon. There's nothing else to be done. I've debated switching my air reservations to Emirates out of NY but that would mean flying to NY from Chicago, an overnight in NY and missing visiting friends in London.

So I recommend we all quit worrying and take it as it comes! We're so fortunate the terrorist scheme was caught in time. What's losing a camera or having a flight delayed compared to being blown up midair?! Enjoy your safari.

Are you sure you cannot check luggage all the way through -- usually, major carriers have cooperation agreements. I know that UA and BA are members of different alliances, but I have through-checked bags on different alliances many times.

If it were me, I'd go with the original itinerary -- what happens, if anything, will largely be outside your control, so "go with the flow" and relax. Nothing you can do about it now.

You can always wrap your camera and lenses in bubble wrap and put them in a shoe box. And then put that in the center of your suitcase surrounded by clothes.

13moons, it is very possible that you will be able to check your luggage all the way through, even though SF-London and London-Kenya are on different tickets. When you check in w/United, be sure to have your ticket (or e-ticket receipt).

United will likely not be able to get a boarding pass for you, but you can get the BP in the LHR transit area (unless they've changed that process due to security).

Also, there's a week to go before you leave, and it is entirely possible that procedures will be modified by the time you fly.

Alternatively, you might consider calling United to see if you can fly in to London 1 day earlier (or take a connection that gets in earlier).

Are you sure you can't have any carry-on luggage? I'm going to Tanzania in mid-October--but, am traveling on KLM through Amsterdam. I called the airline yesterday and was told we could have carry-ons, but can't have any liquids, gels, pastes, bottled water, etc. Perhaps flights through London are more strict...

13 moons,

I leave on my trip tomorrow to SA and Bots. I did the exact packing that Marija has mentioned in the post( Yet to finish my packing)

Rizutto, look forward to seeing you at Lebala. Just ask for me (Hari) with Harry or Monique the camp managers at Lebala.

Hari

Article in today's Boston Globe (I think it was syndicated article) stating that most airlines have greatly relaxed cancellation/rebooking fees during this time of confusion - so you may be able to rebook a leg of your trip - not sure if you want to, considering distances, but it might be an option.

We are leaving September 18 from LAX to London, and London to Nairobi, all on BA. I have checked, and flights are more strict into London...British Airways is not allowing any carry ons at all, at least at this time. I would rather be safe, and if this is what it takes, then of course we'll do it, but I sure am upset about our expensive camera equipment. We added a rider to our insurance yeaterday, to cover our equipment...don't know what else we can do. I'm sorry that this has put so much worry on you, 13moons...I'm right there with you. So frustrating!
Cindy from California

Unless things have changed due to new security regulations, I also think you'll be able to through check your bags to NBO. As rizzuto mentioned, show the UA check in agent your BA ticket and have them tag the bags to NBO. At LHR, there will be a transfer desk airside where you can pick up your BA boarding pass. When you pick up your boarding pass, show the BA agent your bag receipts from UA.

You'll still have to clear security when you change terminals at LHR, but you won't need to go through immigration/customs if your bags are through checked.

And as gail said, many carriers are waiving change fees on both paid and mileage tickets if you want to change your flights/dates.

I hate to be a killjoy on this. Air Canada, like United, is a Star Alliance member. They will no longer check baggage through to a destination on a separate ticket. I had planned on using Air Canada FF points to London and connecting to Swiss (also Star Alliance) but I would have had to check-in again in London. I have decided to book all the way from Vancouver to Jo'burg via Frankfurt on Lufthansa (eventho the FRA-JNB legs are on South African however they're Lufthansa codeshare flights) and I can check my bags to final destination and get boarding passes for both legs at initial check-in. I'll use my points another time.

It sounds like you have a short time between flights (considering what is going on) and I won't even attempt to guess whether you'll make it or not. There are still a few days before your flights so maybe everyone will be used to the new procedures by then and you will make that flight.

You might consider checking to see if you can change your FF ticket to the day before and catching your original BA flight.

I'm so sorry you are caught up in this. I would be totally stressing also! I would probably pack my gear as suggested (bubble wrap) and check it. I would probably also take a P&S just in case. But that's me. I would also use TSA locks or tie straps.

If you aren't sleeping now and you bought some Ambien for your trip, go ahead and take some now.

Good luck with all this!

Cindy

smacdvanbc,
Are you sure that's not just Air Canada policy?

I know that BA generally will <b>not</b> interline bags onto a non-Oneworld carrier when there are two separate tickets, but as far as I know UA has no such policy, so through checking should work on 13moons' outbound but not on the return.

Sorry didn't mean to be misleading. I should have added that this is a very recent policy change on Air Canada (but prior to events in London this week) and that perhaps it is a new Star Alliance policy as well, and that travellers should check prior to going to the airport and planning accordingly.

With all other (non British) airports allowing carry on, LHR will have to do the same. Other wise huge business loss. I'm gonna guess that Monday LHR will start allowing carry on.
regards - tom
ps - which means that I will be proven totally wrong as the ban on carry on becomes world wide !!!!

okay everyone, just when you think it can't get worse, it does...sort of. Well, I tried changing my FF flight but United has no FF seats any which way you try it and isn't being very accomodating. Next I tried to change BA flight and guess what? I have dicovered that a ground clerk had cancelled my reservation!!! Fortunately I reached the travel agent who handled this part and she says she will make sure I get on my flights as planned. Can you believe this? Had I not bee following all of yiour dear advice I wouldnot even have know I was not on the connecting flight until I tried to pull my boarding pass on line. As recently as a week ago I had received info about a time change from my travel agent who had just reconfirmed my booking! whew!I hope she does what she says she will do cause otherwise things are going to get very messy! In the interim, Ihave take this a a sign of good things to come and found a place with a Pelican case for the camera equipment should carry on restrictions not change by 8/20. I so appreciate all of you for being there for me with cheer, advice and support.

Greetings 13moons,
I have just returned home from first safari a few hours ago. We flew through London and it was amazingly smooth.
BA from Capetown to London, AA London to Miami. We were able to check baggage all the way through from Capetown, luckily we were there the last couple days and saw the news. I purchased bubble wrap from local post office to wrap our African treasures and packed everything! Including the backpacks the kids had carried on the plane going out.
You are allowed 2 checked suitcases 32kg (50 pounds)per person. The hotel had a scale and we were able to weigh everything before going to the airport. As of today you can only carry on travel docs/passports; scrip meds; female sanitary items; pocket size wallet. NO fanny packs; no purses; no books; especially NO LICQUIDS of any kind - they even took our pens (which made filling out customs forms fun) A planeful of a couple hundred people sharing 3 pens that the stewards had. No lipstick, no chapstick - pack it all.
Most important, cooperate! Security people and customs are all a bit frazzled but EVERYONE we encountered over the last 30 hours was plesant, professional, and working as fast as they could to move you through. Expect several patdowns in London, everyone went through the scanner and pat downs.
When we arrived in Miami there were dogs greeting us in the tunnel, bomb squad and police everywhere.
The flight leaving London was originally to leave at 10am, when we checked in they said 10:30. We didn't board until 11am, pulled away from the gate about 11:30, then had to sit on the runway for security clearance another hour. So we finally left about 12:30. All in all it went very well, they are on top of everything. Check w/ your airline about checking luggage all the way through. We did it going out also (before all this) but we were still able to comming home too. Put your tickets and med in a ziplock (clear plastic. Relax you'll be fine, they were amazing today and in another week they'll be even better. By the way we had our three children with us too.

Enjoy your trip, it's so worth it!
Jodi

Jodi,

Wow!!! You did very well.....nice reading your post, especially since i'm travelling out tonight. Very re-assuring. Hope you had a good safari. Hopefully will hv a trip report and some pics to share after u have settled in....

Kind regards,
Hari

Jodi,
Wow! You did really well! and with 3 kids! Thanks so much for the uplifting responce. I feel better and am just going to trust that all will work out!
rhoda

Jodi,
I am stressing so badly with this upcoming trip...your post was comforting and reassuring. Unfortunately, we are going through London, as well. Thank you for your positive post. If you can get through this with 3 kids in tow, well, I guess we can do it too. Thank you.
Cindy in California