another question...i am travelling from newark to heathrow via virgin atlantic and then on to glasgow via british midland. the airline that booked the flight says that i don't need to pick up my bags at heathrow, that they'll be checked in to my flight from london to glasgow. i don't believe them. anyone got any input? here i the states, you always have to pick up your bags at the first u.s. destination you land from abroad and recheck them for any other flights, which is why i don't believe the airline folks. what do you guys think? thanks!

Assuming you'll go through curtoms at LHR, your first port in the UK, you'll probably have to personally take your bags through. This isn't a major problem. Usually there are airline people at the end of customs who will re-check your lugggage through. Since you are changing airlines at LHR, this may not be the case. Ask the Virgin people; I've heard they are very customer conscious. At LHR, the passenger is directed to a "final destination" area or a "transit" area. Transit people are in a sort of purgatory, in between. Another factor may be the time between your arrival in London and your departure. (Usually the airlines want a 2 hour cushion.) Your dilemma points up a cardinal rule of travel, too often broken: Travel light! As you pack your bag, consider whether you want to lug it across far too many terminals, up and down stairs, etc., and start deleting items. One carry-on bag and one check-through bag should be enough for anyone traveling up to 3 weeks.

Jenny: Looking over your question again, the question occurs: Why don't you fly direct to Glasgow? Surely there's a non-stop on some airline or the other that would take you to Glasgow (one of the least-appreciated tourist destinations in the UK, in my opinion, but that's another message) without stopping at Heathrow. Check around. Get a good travel agent on the job.Try BA or American, both good airlines with many overseas destinations.

In an earlier message I suggested flying direct to Glasgow from Newark, by passing LHR. Continental Airlines, according to a NTimes ad the other day, starts Newark-Glasgow direct service July 15.The web address is www.flycontinental.com.

Jenny, my husband and I have made several trips with Brittish Airways from Stockholm -London Heatrow - Chicago and we never check in the suitcase at LHR. When you fly with domestic flights, you must carry your own suitcase. We have though had problems with suitcases that have been lost... Elisabet