changing airline,novice question
May 23rd, 2010, 03:41 PM
#1
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changing airline,novice question
Hello folks, i'm planning a trip to manila, i'll depart from BNA, i'll be changing airlines 3 times i think, i have no baggage to check, my question is how difficult is it to change airlines? i've never had to do this before and i'm a little nervous...will i need to go through the check in process at each airport? or can i just go to my next gate?....thank you for your help and please excuse my ignorance....have a great day
May 23rd, 2010, 03:52 PM
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You'll need to tell us the specific flights that you are taking -- from where to where, and on which airline. Then we can give you better information.
Otherwise, asking :is it easy to change airlines" is about as easy to answer as "are sandwiches good?"
Otherwise, asking :is it easy to change airlines" is about as easy to answer as "are sandwiches good?"
May 23rd, 2010, 04:01 PM
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It's not difficult but the actual steps involved will depend on where (which airport and/or country) you are making your connecting flights, whether they are domestic or international connections and whether or not the airline offers on-line check-in and you elect to use that service, and whether or not you are flying on "partner airlines". If you give us your whole itinerary (including airlines and routing) you'll get more precise answers.
Generally speaking if you are making a domestic connection to a flight leaving from the same terminal as your arriving flight you can proceed directly to your next departure gate to get your boarding pass. There are some airports that have multiple terminals that are all interconnected so you stay within the secure area so here again you can proceed directly to the connecting gate and get your boarding pass. If you are connecting to/from an international flight you most likely will have to clear immigration/customs (upon arrival into a country) before going into the main ticketing area to get your boarding pass. you will then have to go through the security checkpoint and/or passport control. certaininternational .
Generally speaking if you are making a domestic connection to a flight leaving from the same terminal as your arriving flight you can proceed directly to your next departure gate to get your boarding pass. There are some airports that have multiple terminals that are all interconnected so you stay within the secure area so here again you can proceed directly to the connecting gate and get your boarding pass. If you are connecting to/from an international flight you most likely will have to clear immigration/customs (upon arrival into a country) before going into the main ticketing area to get your boarding pass. you will then have to go through the security checkpoint and/or passport control. certaininternational .
May 23rd, 2010, 04:06 PM
#4
There is no generalized answer to your question.
Sometimes it is very easy to change flights if it is the same airline, same terminal, still in your country of origin... you might just walk across the hall.
If it's international and you need to clear immigration and customs, different drill.
Also your country of citizenship (who issued your passport) effects exactly what you do in different scenarios.
Sometimes it is very easy to change flights if it is the same airline, same terminal, still in your country of origin... you might just walk across the hall.
If it's international and you need to clear immigration and customs, different drill.
Also your country of citizenship (who issued your passport) effects exactly what you do in different scenarios.
May 24th, 2010, 02:32 AM
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Hi. I am flying to Cairo from Sydney and have to change airlines in Kuala Lumpur. I have been told that I need to exit customs in KL and check in at Qatar Airways, with my luggage as normal. This info may or may not help you. Easy fixed by just calling the airlines. Good luck.
May 26th, 2010, 02:04 AM
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The main question is whether you have one ticket or separate tickets.
If you have a single ticket for one flight with different airlines, then it is like flying with the same airline. You will be checked in for all flights at the first check-in counter. You might have to change terminals at airports with connecting flights and re-enter security. But this can happen even if you stay with one airline (e.g. changing from a domestic terminal to an international terminal).
If you have separate tickets for each airline, things are more complicated. The main risk is that one flight arrives late so that you miss your connecting flight. In this case, your ticket for the connecting flight is void and you have to change your ticket (usually at a fee). Unfortunately, this happens all the time and there are many threads here on this forum with stories of persons who suffered greatly from this problem. This problem gets worse when you have already checked in for the connecting flight (via internet or phone). When you do not show up because the incoming flight is late then your ticket is void and gone and you have to buy an entirely new ticket for your connecting flight.
If you have a single ticket for one flight with different airlines, then it is like flying with the same airline. You will be checked in for all flights at the first check-in counter. You might have to change terminals at airports with connecting flights and re-enter security. But this can happen even if you stay with one airline (e.g. changing from a domestic terminal to an international terminal).
If you have separate tickets for each airline, things are more complicated. The main risk is that one flight arrives late so that you miss your connecting flight. In this case, your ticket for the connecting flight is void and you have to change your ticket (usually at a fee). Unfortunately, this happens all the time and there are many threads here on this forum with stories of persons who suffered greatly from this problem. This problem gets worse when you have already checked in for the connecting flight (via internet or phone). When you do not show up because the incoming flight is late then your ticket is void and gone and you have to buy an entirely new ticket for your connecting flight.
