JFK-LHR-MIL Customs? Connection time?
Jul 16th, 2012, 06:19 PM
#1
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JFK-LHR-MIL Customs? Connection time?
I'm waiting for the right date to redeem aadvantage miles on American Airlines for a trip to Italy. Most of the flights I'm looking at go from JFK to LHR to either Milan or Venice. In the worst case scenario where I would have to change terminals at LHR how much time should I allow for the connecting flight?
It's been 10 years since I've been to Europe and I can't remember if I have to go through customs at LHR if luggage has been checked all the way to Italy.
Thanks for answering a rookie question
It's been 10 years since I've been to Europe and I can't remember if I have to go through customs at LHR if luggage has been checked all the way to Italy.
Thanks for answering a rookie question
Jul 16th, 2012, 06:27 PM
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If you have to change terminals at LHR, my experiences there is a minimum of 75 minute and even then, it's cutting it close. You will have to follow the signs for flight connections which will bring yu to a bus which will drop you at the terminal you need and then through security again to the departure lounge for your departing flight and a long walk to the gate (walks are just very long at Heathrow)....but you can check with AA for the minimum legal connection and as long as it is a legal connection, if you should mist the on-going flight, they will get yu on the next flight. The good news is no immigration or customs at Heathrow but you will go through immigration and customs upon arrival in Italy.
Jul 16th, 2012, 07:38 PM
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What is MIL? There is no Milan airport that is MIL.
JFK is irrelevant in your question too.
LHR is a terrible place to change over to transfer flights because the gates are far away from each other in Terminal 3 and it's worse if you have to change terminals.
JFK is irrelevant in your question too.
LHR is a terrible place to change over to transfer flights because the gates are far away from each other in Terminal 3 and it's worse if you have to change terminals.
Jul 16th, 2012, 08:09 PM
#5
When is your trip? As some times during the year, there are direct AA/BA flights from JFK to MXP (Malpensa).
Is Malpensa your preferred destination? Because there are also direct AA/BA flights from JFK to FCO (Rome).
When you're able to book your outbound flight, I would call American and speak with a human (for a fee). You should have other options on a code-share airline, like Iberia via Madrid or AirBerlin via Berlin or perhaps Duesseldorf. There may be other possibilities depending on your dates and other partner airlines I'm not thinking of.
Is Malpensa your preferred destination? Because there are also direct AA/BA flights from JFK to FCO (Rome).
When you're able to book your outbound flight, I would call American and speak with a human (for a fee). You should have other options on a code-share airline, like Iberia via Madrid or AirBerlin via Berlin or perhaps Duesseldorf. There may be other possibilities depending on your dates and other partner airlines I'm not thinking of.
Jul 17th, 2012, 06:15 AM
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@ xyz123 and rhkkmk... for the most part I do trust that the airline will not give me an impossible connection time, however some of the flight combinations are impossible. I live near Des Moines so will fly from DSM to ORD or DFW then on to JFK. However some of the choices available fly into Newark or Lagaurdia and requires a transfer to JFK to catch the flight to LHR and only allow 3 hrs to do it, which makes no sense to me...I would never attempt this. Or the transfer happens in London switching from LHR to Gatwick in order to fly into Italy. Not going to try that one either. I appreciate the customs info and advice to look for a connection that is longer than 75 min.
@Jean...in my dreams they would offer the direct flights from the US to Italy to the people like me who are redeeming their aadvantage points, but this is usually not the case. This morning I did see a first class milesaver option that started in DSM at 5:15pm then on to DFW and direct to VCE arriving at 6:15pm the next day. I would snag this in a heartbeat if they offer it at the business class milesaver option because it would solve the usual jet lag dilemma.
@Jean...in my dreams they would offer the direct flights from the US to Italy to the people like me who are redeeming their aadvantage points, but this is usually not the case. This morning I did see a first class milesaver option that started in DSM at 5:15pm then on to DFW and direct to VCE arriving at 6:15pm the next day. I would snag this in a heartbeat if they offer it at the business class milesaver option because it would solve the usual jet lag dilemma.
Jul 17th, 2012, 11:50 AM
#7
leia0602, I think you're missing my point. You are not limited to only American flights. You can get to your destination on one of the OneWorld Alliance airline members or a combination of American and a OneWorld airline.
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/earning-...deeming-miles/
When do you want to go? FF reservations can be made 330 days in advance, so if you're not looking 330 days into the future, you're not likely to ever find the 'perfect' flights.
Where are you trying to fly into? Obviously, more flights go into Rome than either Milan or Venice.
If you're willing to consider heading to DFW first, then flying via Madrid on American/Iberia may be the best bet.
But call American FF program reservation and talk with a human who can search all of your options/dates much faster than you can. If the first person you talk to doesn't seem very helpful, call back a few minutes later and speak with someone else. I've found their FF program usually very customer friendly.
http://www.oneworld.com/ffp/earning-...deeming-miles/
When do you want to go? FF reservations can be made 330 days in advance, so if you're not looking 330 days into the future, you're not likely to ever find the 'perfect' flights.
Where are you trying to fly into? Obviously, more flights go into Rome than either Milan or Venice.
If you're willing to consider heading to DFW first, then flying via Madrid on American/Iberia may be the best bet.
But call American FF program reservation and talk with a human who can search all of your options/dates much faster than you can. If the first person you talk to doesn't seem very helpful, call back a few minutes later and speak with someone else. I've found their FF program usually very customer friendly.
Jul 18th, 2012, 07:10 AM
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Jean, I've called American FF customer service twice in the past two weeks to check flights as the time we want to travel has just reached the 331 days in advance (late May to mid-June 2013). The first person I talked to was very helpful and suggested we fly into either Milan or Venice as we are starting our trip in Bologna and working our way south. She did check the OneWorld members but could only come up with itineraries that had 4-5 connections that were at the price point I wanted, and my preference was to not spend two full days getting to Italy.
The second person was not helpful at all.
I agree that another phone call is warranted but I will probably wait another week in hopes that seats on flights with fewer connections will become available.
The second person was not helpful at all.
I agree that another phone call is warranted but I will probably wait another week in hopes that seats on flights with fewer connections will become available.
Jul 18th, 2012, 05:19 PM
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LHR is a complete bear. Even if you are saying air side I would want at least 3 hours between flights. We have had that long a window and made the ongoing flight by the skin of our teeth a couple of times - trotting through terminals pulling my wheelie - but then waiting 20 or 25 minutes for a bus going to the next terminal - and then being stuck in a security line behind the clueless.
Jul 18th, 2012, 05:20 PM
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American allows you to use your miles on their partner airlines. The idea is to piece together each leg of your trip, and then call the AA number for assistance. See if you can fly from OHare to Rome, or Paris or Madrid or to Germany and then change planes in Europe to either Milan or Venice.
Unless you want to spend time in Britain, changing in NY or Newark to go to Heathrow and onwards will make for some very long flights and lots of jet lag. You want to change planes as little as possible.
Look at this website below for a better explanation.
http://millionmilesecrets.com/2012/0...-award-travel/
Unless you want to spend time in Britain, changing in NY or Newark to go to Heathrow and onwards will make for some very long flights and lots of jet lag. You want to change planes as little as possible.
Look at this website below for a better explanation.
http://millionmilesecrets.com/2012/0...-award-travel/
Jul 19th, 2012, 10:17 AM
#13
The OP wrote: "I agree that another phone call is warranted but I will probably wait another week in hopes that seats on flights with fewer connections will become available."
In my experience, seats don't open up over time. FF availability gets worse. I would be calling every day.
In my experience, seats don't open up over time. FF availability gets worse. I would be calling every day.
Jul 19th, 2012, 02:36 PM
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>Reconsider arriving in Rome. There are many more flights.
This was my thought too at first. When I made the first call to AA I had them check for flights on the partner airlines and there were no flights to Rome. That was one of the reasons she suggested Milan or Venice as there were more flights offered. She also advised me to check the website twice a day. She told me that there is no "formula" for figuring out when seats will be released or on which flights.
>In my experience, seats don't open up over time. FF availability gets worse.
Generally, this has been my experience too. The earliest date we would be able to travel in May 2013 is May 30 (I'm a teacher, so I'm limited to a school calendar). If I look at business class into Rome there are 0 dates available in June, 0 dates in May, and 1 date in April. Into Milan there are 0 dates in June, 6 dates in early May, and 15 dates in April.
Even though I can't travel in April and early May I've been tracking flights. There seems to be a small window of opportunity where the airline will release a few seats on flights, several months out but not as far out as the 331 or even the 300 day mark. And yes, there is less availablity in flights in the remainder of 2012 and even January 2013.
Since there aren't any flights available right now from May 30, 2013 through the first half of June I'll just have to keep checking.
>Remember Heathrow can be (famously/infamously) VERY slow with clearing people through immigration.
>LHR is a complete bear. Even if you are staying air side I would want at least 3 hours between flights
I did connections through London 10 years ago and I remember it as very slow, but couldn't remember how slow, so I appreciate the 3 hour recommendation.
maxima, thanks for the link to the website, I bookmarked it.
This was my thought too at first. When I made the first call to AA I had them check for flights on the partner airlines and there were no flights to Rome. That was one of the reasons she suggested Milan or Venice as there were more flights offered. She also advised me to check the website twice a day. She told me that there is no "formula" for figuring out when seats will be released or on which flights.
>In my experience, seats don't open up over time. FF availability gets worse.
Generally, this has been my experience too. The earliest date we would be able to travel in May 2013 is May 30 (I'm a teacher, so I'm limited to a school calendar). If I look at business class into Rome there are 0 dates available in June, 0 dates in May, and 1 date in April. Into Milan there are 0 dates in June, 6 dates in early May, and 15 dates in April.
Even though I can't travel in April and early May I've been tracking flights. There seems to be a small window of opportunity where the airline will release a few seats on flights, several months out but not as far out as the 331 or even the 300 day mark. And yes, there is less availablity in flights in the remainder of 2012 and even January 2013.
Since there aren't any flights available right now from May 30, 2013 through the first half of June I'll just have to keep checking.
>Remember Heathrow can be (famously/infamously) VERY slow with clearing people through immigration.
>LHR is a complete bear. Even if you are staying air side I would want at least 3 hours between flights
I did connections through London 10 years ago and I remember it as very slow, but couldn't remember how slow, so I appreciate the 3 hour recommendation.
maxima, thanks for the link to the website, I bookmarked it.
