VAR to YYZ via JFK - international transit help?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1
VAR to YYZ via JFK - connection time
Update: Actually found out I don't the alternate route through London doesn't necessarily need a Gatwick-Heathrow change, so can bypass the need for the below question anyway.
Thanks!
Hi everyone, was looking to book a flight from Varna, Bulgaria to Toronto via JFK, but don't see the option come up directly. The best option would seem to be going to VAR-BUD with Malev (codeshared with AA), BUD to JFK with AA, and then JFK to YYZ on one of many AA flights - however when I do a serach on Expedia or AA or anywhere this never comes up as an option - all they suggest is transitting through London (with a hideous Gatwick to Heathrow transfer!)
I can find the option of transitting thorugh JFK if I do a multi city booking though, booking VAR to JFK, and then separately JFK to YYZ same day... but I'm concerned about why I can't find this route through a normal, direct point to point search, and whether it's due to transit rules in the US - do you need to collect and re-check your bags in the US even if you're just transitting through on the same airline? If so I might still book it, but what kind of leeway would I need to give? Would 3 hours be enough? Booking this for a Canadian citizen so no visa issues at least!
Thanks
Thanks!
Hi everyone, was looking to book a flight from Varna, Bulgaria to Toronto via JFK, but don't see the option come up directly. The best option would seem to be going to VAR-BUD with Malev (codeshared with AA), BUD to JFK with AA, and then JFK to YYZ on one of many AA flights - however when I do a serach on Expedia or AA or anywhere this never comes up as an option - all they suggest is transitting through London (with a hideous Gatwick to Heathrow transfer!)
I can find the option of transitting thorugh JFK if I do a multi city booking though, booking VAR to JFK, and then separately JFK to YYZ same day... but I'm concerned about why I can't find this route through a normal, direct point to point search, and whether it's due to transit rules in the US - do you need to collect and re-check your bags in the US even if you're just transitting through on the same airline? If so I might still book it, but what kind of leeway would I need to give? Would 3 hours be enough? Booking this for a Canadian citizen so no visa issues at least!
Thanks
Last edited by lifexplorer; Dec 30, 2011 at 3:04 pm Reason: Found solution to questin asked
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: dallas texas usa
Programs: aa plt 4.9MM LTAC
Posts: 14,828
what booking site[s] are you using?.....
i believe you have to enter the us even for an intl connection.....3 hrs should be enough....
i believe you have to enter the us even for an intl connection.....3 hrs should be enough....
#3
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
When transiting the USA from an inbound international flight from a location without preclearance, like BUD, you always have to collect your bags to get through customs (US airports do not have the ability to do sterile international transfers, so everyone passes through US customs and immigration). Assuming you have onward travel, you would then recheck baggage immediately after that.
As to why this isn't showing up, it isn't due to any government transit rules. The reason would be rules and restrictions based on the published fares between the two cities. It does appear that AA do have a constructed fare between VAR and YYZ, which is based on a published SOF-YYZ fare with an add-on for VAR. That said, AA metal into and out of BUD has been suspended for the winter--could that be part of the problem?
Bottom line is that, if you can construct the flights you want using a multi-city search, just book those.
As to why this isn't showing up, it isn't due to any government transit rules. The reason would be rules and restrictions based on the published fares between the two cities. It does appear that AA do have a constructed fare between VAR and YYZ, which is based on a published SOF-YYZ fare with an add-on for VAR. That said, AA metal into and out of BUD has been suspended for the winter--could that be part of the problem?
Bottom line is that, if you can construct the flights you want using a multi-city search, just book those.
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
When transiting the USA from an inbound international flight from a location without preclearance, like BUD, you always have to collect your bags to get through customs (US airports do not have the ability to do sterile international transfers, so everyone passes through US customs and immigration). Assuming you have onward travel, you would then recheck baggage immediately after that.
Due to US airport design (and US customs rules), the passengers still have to go through customs.