Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Mileage Run Deals > Mileage Run Discussion
Reload this Page >

Mileage Runs turnarounds / turnabouts / transits:- Experiences please

Old Sep 12, 2014, 6:12 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: dordal
As this thread has gotten quite big, here is an index of links to the relevant posts for quick reference, sorted by airport code. If you are unsure of the airport code please use the FT airport code lookup.

Key

e = link to post external to this thread
w = link to post within this thread
> = transit
< = turnaround
APT = airport code

e/w >/< APT airport name, country [specific airline, terminal or type of connection here]

INDEX

Code:

 A
 w < ACC Accra, Ghana
 e < ADE Aden, Yemen (warning difficult to do)
 w < AKL Auckland, New Zealand on CX
 e > AKL Auckland, New Zealand
 e < AKL Auckland, New Zealand
 w < AKL Auckland, New Zealand on TG
 e > AMM Amman, Jordan
 e > AMM Amman, Jordan
 e > AMM Amman, Jordan
 w < AMS Amsterdam, Netherlands
 e > AMS Amsterdam, Netherlands
 w < AMS Amsterdam, Netherlands on UA
 w < AMS Amsterdam, Netherlands on SQ
 e < ANC Anchorage, USA
 e < ANC Anchorage, USA
 w < APW Apia, Samoa
 e < ARN Stockholm, Sweden
 w < ARN Stockholm, Sweden on TG
 e < ATH Athens, Greece
 e > AUH Abu Dhabi, UAE on BA
 
 B
 w < BCN Barcelona, Spain on SQ
 w < BDL Hartford, USA
 e > BEG Belgrade, Serbia
 e < BEY Beirut, Lebanon
 e > BEY Beirut, Lebanon
 w < BHM Birmingham, USA on NW
 w < BIO Bilbao, Spain
 e > BKK Bangkok (Don Muang), Thailand
 w < BKK Bangkok (Don Muang), Thailand
 e < BKK Bangkok (Don Muang), Thailand
 e > BKK Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Thailand on SQ
 e > BKK Bangkok, Thailand TG -> TK
 e > BKK Bangkok, Thailand LH -> TG
 e > BNE Brisbane, Australia domestic to international on QF
 e > BOM Mumbai, India international -> international
 e > BOM Mumbai, India domestic -> international
 e > BOM Mumbai, India
 e > BOM Mumbai, India international -> domestic
 w < BOM Mumbai, India
 w < BOS Boston, USA
 w < BQN Aquadilla, Puerto Rico on UA
 e < BRU Brussels, Belgium
 w < BZE Belize City, Belize
 
 C
 e < CAI Cairo, Egypt
 e < CAI Cairo, Egypt
 w < CAI Cairo, Egypt on QR
 e > CCS Caracas, Venezuela international -> international
 w < CCU Kolkata, India
 w > CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle, France
 e < CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle, France
 w < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia
 e < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia
 e < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia on SQ
 w < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia
 e < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia on SQ
 w < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia on SQ
 w > CGK Jakarta, Indonesia
 e < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia on JO/JL
 w > CGK Jakarta, Indonesia on TG
 w < CGK Jakarta, Indonesia
 e > CHC Christchurch, New Zealand international -> international on NZ
 w > CLT Charlotte, USA
 w < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka
 e < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka on SQ
 e < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka
 e < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka
 e < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka
 e < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka
 w < CMB Colombo, Sri Lanka on SQ
 e < CMN Casablanca, Morocco on LH
 w > CNS Cairns, Australia
 e < CNS Cairns, Australia international -> international
 e > CNS Cairns, Australia domestic -> domestic
 e < CNS Cairns, Australia international -> international
 e > CPH Copenhagen, Denmark
 w < CPH Copenhagen, Denmark
 e < CPH Copenhagen, Denmark on BA
 e > CPH Copenhagen, Denmark
 w > CRK Clark, Philippines on OZ
 
 D
 e < DAC Dhaka, Bangladesh on TG
 w > DCA Washington National, USA
 e < DEL Delhi, India
 e < DEL Delhi, India
 e > DEL Delhi, India
 e > DEL Delhi, India domestic -> international
 e < DEL Delhi, India
 w < DEL Delhi, India
 e > DEL Delhi, India international 9W -> AA
 w < DEL Delhi, India
 w > DFW Dallas Fort Worth, USA
 w > DFW Dallas Fort Worth, USA
 w < DME Moscow, Russa
 e < DOH Doha, Qatar on BA
 e < DUB Dublin, Ireland on AA
 e > DUB Dublin, Ireland
 e < DUS Dusseldorf, Germany
 w > DXB Dubai, UAE
 w < DXB Dubai, UAE
 e < DXB Dubai, UAE on BA
 e > DXB Dubai, UAE with children during Ramadan
 
 E
 e < EBL Erbil, Iraq / Kurdistan
 w < EWR Newark, USA
 e > EWR Newark, USA
 e > EZE Buenos Aires, Argentina
 e < EZE Buenos Aires, Argentina
 e > EZE Buenos Aires, Argentina
 
 F
 e < FAT Fresno, USA
 e > FCO Rome, Italy on BA LGW-FCO-LHR
 e < FCO Rome, Italy on BA
 w < FCO Rome, Italy
 w < FCO Rome, Italy
 w < FPO Freeport, Bahamas
 w < FRA Frankfurt, Germany on NW
 e > FRA Frankfurt, Germany
 w < FRA Frankfurt, Germany
 e < FRA Frankfurt, Germany
 e < FRA Frankfurt, Germany
 e < FRA Frankfurt, Germany on AA
 e > FRA Frankfurt, Germany nonschengen on LH
 e > FRA Frankfurt, Germany nonschengen on LH
 e > FRA Frankfurt, Germany nonschengen on LH
 e > FRA Frankfurt, Germany nonschengen on LH
 e > FRA Frankfurt, Germany nonschengen on LH
 w < FUK Fukuoka, Japan on SQ
 
 G
 e > GOT Gothenburg, Sweden
 e > GRU Sao Paulo, Brazil
 e > GRU Sao Paulo, Brazil Delta to Gol
 e > GRU Sao Paulo, Brazil BA to JJ (Tam)
 w < GUM Guam, Guam on NW
 e < GUM Guam, Guam on JL
 
 H
 e > HAN Hanoi, Vietnam
 w < HAN Hanoi, Vietnam
 e > HEL Helsinki, Finland
 e < HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
 e < HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
 e < HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
 e > HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR CX -> 5J
 e > HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR QF -> OZ
 e > HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR LX -> OZ
 e > HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR OZ -> QF
 w > HKG Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
 e < HKT, Phuket, Thailand
 w < HYD Hyderabad, India
 
 I
 e > IAD Washington Dulles, USA
 e < ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 e < ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 e < ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 e < ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 e > ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 e > ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 w < ICN Seoul Incheon, South Korea
 e < IKA Tehran, Iran
 e > IQQ Iqique, Chile
 e > IQQ Iqique, Chile int->dom
 w < IST Istanbul, Turkey
 e < IST Istanbul, Turkey
 w < IST Istanbul, Turkey on BA
 e > IST Istanbul, Turkey international -> international on TK
 e > IST Istanbul, Turkey international -> international on TK
 e < IUE Niue, Niue
 
 J
 w < JAX Jacksonville FL, USA
 w < JAX Jacksonville FL, USA
 e < JFK JFK New York, USA on CX
 w < JFK JFK New York, USA on UA
 w > JFK JFK New York, USA
 w > JFK JFK New York, USA
 e < JFK JFK New York, USA international -> international
 e > JNB Johannesburg, South Africa int->int
 e > JNB Johannesburg, South Africa international -> international
 
 K
 e < KIX Osaka Kansai, Japan on SQ
 e < KTM Kathmandu, Nepal
 e < KUL Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 e > KUL Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 e < KWI Kuwait City, Kuwait on BA
 
 L
 e > LAX Los Angeles, USA
 w > LAX Los Angeles, USA
 w > LAX Los Angeles, USA
 w < LAX Los Angeles, USA
 e > LAX Los Angeles, USA NZ -> LH
 w < LAX Los Angeles, USA on TG
 e < LDH Lord Howe Island, Australia
 w < LED St Petersburg, Russia on LH
 w < LGW London Gatwick, UK
 w < LGW London Gatwick, UK
 w < LGW London Gatwick, UK
 w < LGW London Gatwick, UK
 w < LGW London Gatwick, UK
 w < LGW London Gatwick, UK (September 2006)
 e < LGW London Gatwick, UK
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK on UA
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK (October 2006)
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK on AA
 w > LHR London Heathrow, UK
 e > LHR London Heathrow, UK international -> domestic
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK CO turnaround beware
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK
 w < LHR London Heathrow, UK
 e > LHR London Heathrow, UK T5->T3
 e > LHR London Heathrow, UK T3->T5
 e > LIM Lima, Peru
 e > LIM Lima, Peru AA->LA
 w > LIM Lima, Peru
 e < LIR Liberia, Costa Rica AA
 e > LIS Lisbon, Portugal
 e > LIS Lisbon, Portugal BA->TP
 w < LON London, UK
 e < LPB La Paz, Bolivia
 
 M
 e > MAA Chennai, India 9W -> LH
 w < MAA Chennai, India
 w < MAD Madrid, Spain
 w > MAD Madrid, Spain RJ->BA
 w < MAD Madrid, Spain
 e > MAD Madrid, Spain nonschengen IB -> BA
 e < MAN Manchester, UK on SQ
 e < MAN Manchester, UK on SQ
 e < MAN Manchester, UK
 e < MAN Manchester, UK
 e > MAN Manchester, UK international -> international
 e < MCO Orlando, USA
 e < MCT Muscat, Oman on BA
 e < MCT Muscat, Oman
 e < MCT Muscat, Oman on BA
 w < MEL Melbourne, Australia
 e < MEL Melbourne, Australia
 e > MEL Melbourne, Australia NZ -> SQ
 e > MEL Melbourne, Australia SQ -> NZ
 e > MEX Mexico City, Mexico
 e < MLA Malta, Malta
 w < MLA Malta, Malta
 e < MLE Male, Maldives
 w < MNL Manila, Philippines
 w < MNL Manila, Philippines
 e < MNL Manila, Philippines on SQ
 e < MNL Manila, Philippines on TG
 w < MNL Manila, Philippines on UA
 
 N
 e < NCE Nice, France
 e < NGO Nagoya, Japan
 w > NGO Nagoya, Japan - international to international
 e < NLK Norfolk Island, Norfolk Island
 w < NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan
 w < NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan
 w < NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan
 e < NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan
 e < NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan
 e > NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan
 e > NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan AA to other oneworld airlines
 e > NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan, international -> domestic
 e > NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan OZ -> NZ
 e > NRT Tokyo Narita, Japan international -> international on JL
 
 O
 w < OAK Oakland, USA
 e < OOL Coolangatta Gold Coast, Australia int->int
 w > ORD Chicago, USA
 w > ORD Chicago, USA
 e < OSL Oslo, Norway
 w > OSL Oslo, Norway on TG
 w < OTP Bucharest, Romania
 e < OTP Bucharest, Romania
 e > OTP Bucharest, Romaia TK -> LH
 
 P
 w > PEK Beijing, China
 w < PEN Penang, Malaysia
 w > PER Perth, Australia
 w > PER Perth, Australia
 e < PER Perth, Australia domestic
 w < PNH Phnom Penh, Cambodia
 e < POM Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea international
 e > POS Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
 e < PPT Papeete, Tahiti on NZ
 e > PRG Prague, Czech Republic
 w > PUJ Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
 w > PVG Shanghai, China
 e < PVG Shanghai, China on NZ
 e < PVG Shanghai, China
 
 R
 e > RAR Rarotonga, Cook Islands
 w > RDU Raleigh-Durham, USA
 w > RDU Raleigh-Durham, USA
 e > RUH Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tricky
 w < RUH Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
 
 S
 w < SAN San Diego, USA
 w < SAN San Diego, USA
 w > SBP San Luis Obispo, USA
 e > SCL Santiago, Chile
 e > SCL Santiago, Chile int->int
 e > SCL Santiago, Chile int->int
 e > SCL Santiago, Chile dom->int
 w < SEA Seattle, USA
 w < SFO San Francisco, USA
 w < SFO San Francisco, USA
 w > SFO San Francisco, USA
 w < SFO San Francisco, USA on SQ
 e < SGN Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on SQ
 w < SGN Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
 w < SIN Singapore, Singapore
 e > SIN Singapore, Singapore
 w < SIN Singapore, Singapore
 w < SIN Singapore, Singapore
 w < SIN Singapore, Singapore
 e > SIN Singapore, Singapore SQ -> UA
 w < SIN Singapore, Singapore
 e > SIN Singapore, Singapore SQ -> LH
 w < SIN Singapore, Singapore on UA
 w < SJU San Juan, Puerto Rico
 e < SJU San Juan, Puerto Rico
 w < SJU San Juan, Puerto Rico
 w < SJU San Juan, Puerto Rico
 e < SKG Thessaloniki, Greece
 w < SMF Sacramento, USA
 e < SOF Sophia, Bulgaria
 e < STN London Stansted, United Kingdom on AA
 e < STN London Stansted, United Kingdom
 e < STN London Stansted, United Kingdom
 e < STR Stuttgart, Germany
 w > STL St Louis, USA
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia int->dom
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia dom->int
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia international -> international on QF
 e < SYD Sydney, Australia on NZ
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia NZ -> TG
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia TG -> NZ
 e > SYD Sydney, Australia NZ -> NZ
 
 T
 e < TBU Nuku'alofa, Tonga
 w < TGU Tegucigalpa, Honduras on UA
 e < THR Tehran, Iran
 e > TIP Tripoli, Libya
 e < TLV Tel Aviv, Israel
 e > TLV Tel Aviv, Israel
 w < TPE Taipei, Taiwan
 e > TPE Taipei, Taiwan CX->UA
 w < TPE Taipei, Taiwan on MH
 e < TUN Tunis, Tunisia
 e < TUN Tunis, Tunisia
 
 U
 e < UIO Quito, Ecuador
 w < USM Koh Samui, Thailand
 
 V
 e < VCE Venice, Italy on BA
 w < VCT Victoria, USA on CO
 e < VIE Vienna, Austria
 w > VNS Varanasi, India
 
 W
 e < WAW Warsaw, Poland
 e < WDH Windhoek, Namibia
 
 Y
 w < YEG Edmonton, Canada
 e > YHZ Halifax, Canada
 w > YUL Montreal, Canada
 e > YUL Montreal, Canada
 w > YVR Vancouver, Canada
 w < YVR Vancouver, Canada
 w < YVR Vancouver, Canada
 w < YVR Vancouver, Canada
 e > YVR Vancouver, Canada
 w < YVR Vancouver, Canada
 w > YVR Vancouver, Canada
 w < YYC Calgary, Canada
 w > YYC Calgary, Canada
 w < YYC Calgary, Canada
 w < YYZ Toronto, Canada
 e > YYZ Toronto, Canada
 w < YYZ, Toronto, Canada
 w > YYZ Toronto, Canada
 w < YYZ Toronto, Canada
 w < YYZ Toronto, Canada
 
 Z
 e > ZRH Zurich, Switzerland
 
 Misc no problems at these airports posts 
 Misc cautionary tales in these countries posts
 e < Canada customs problems
 e < Middle East turnarounds
 
 
updated to post #565
Print Wikipost

Mileage Runs turnarounds / turnabouts / transits:- Experiences please

Old Jun 29, 2003, 4:16 pm
  #46  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: KEWR / SPG Plat, HH Diamond, DL Plat, ZE 5*, AA Plat, UA Nobody
Posts: 884
This was in beginning of 2002 during DL's 2x status miles for YBM fares. I booked an AA ORD-NRT-ORD dep 1/11 rtn on 2/3 for like $450 or so. Got some good onus miles on that flight. Anyway, I had then booked NRT-ATL-ORD-ATL-NRT dep NRT on 1/13, 1/20, 1/27 and returning on 1/19, 1/26, and 2/2. All the DL fares were M so I basically got PLT for $600 x 3 plus the $450 I spent on AA. One of the rtn to NRT the flight was overweight and I took a bump for $700 cash and they gave me the miles for this return. They also let me skip the outbound NRT-ATL-ORD of my next ticket, gave me miles for it as well. They put me on a plane back to ORD in F. Anyway, on my last DL arrival into NRT on 2/2...I got in at like 2pm or so. Since AA was in the other terminal and I thought I had plenty of time for my 6pm ORD departure...I decided to go through regular immigration - not the transit desk. The lady there looked at me like I was nuts. Totally crackers! When asked why I was doing this, all I could think of was to say for FUN. She looked at me strangely but finally let me through. I got to spend a good couple of hours out in the fresh air walkinbg around which was worht it....but I was sure I was soon going to be taken away and strip searched.

In the end I flew 3 roundtrips to NRT in 4 weeks, made PLT with DL, got a total of 135000 miles with DL and 30000 or so with AA. All for about $2000.
DLSIZE is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2003, 7:24 am
  #47  
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 5 Mil, UA Global Services, BA Gold, DL Diamond, SPG Plat75, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,231
I was given a rough treatement at Perth in Australia on mileage run. I was on a AONE4 RTW so all travel was in F and that did help a little. I simply said I thought I'd spend 2 days visiting Australia and flying over it to get a "feel" for the place while also collecting miles. The fact that it was First Class ticket made them suspicious as to why I would care about miles (they don't understand RTWs :-) ). In the end they accepted it but only after a thorough check of all bags (no checkin, simply a small carryon). I did get asked if I know any terrorists or drug users!

I also got questioned at DBX while in transit (the routing was sub-optimal and the agents raised questions). I have family in Canada, so I always get away with MRs to Canada (just stopping for a few hours to see family members). US customs does do a cursory check if the itinerary is a very long complicated MR.

Friends with Indian or other developing country passports did have problems here and there (DXB, LHR, SYD, etc.). HKG, SIN, BKK, MEX and ZRH were most friendly to the Indian passport holders on MRs. My advice is to avoid checking out but try connecting flts that allow you to be entirely in the transit areas (as in NRT, SIN, HKG, etc.)
enjoystravel is offline  
Old Jun 30, 2003, 12:27 pm
  #48  
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
I just had an interesting experience in CDG earlier this month on a CLL-DFW-BNA-DFW-CDG-XDB-CDG-DFW-CLL butt-numb-a-thon run. When checking in with AA security for the flight back to CDG, the agent noticed that I had arrived at CDG that morning and was leaving already.. so asked all sorts of questions about what I did, where I had been, if I knew anyone in Lille (where I had been for all of 30 minutes), etc. Wanted to see boarding passes, business card (don't usually carry them), train tickets etc. Then he led me through immigration, security, where they did a pretty thorough bag search and body pat down. This was odd for CDG; in my experience usually I'm just waved through, at least half the time my passport isn't stamped on entry/exit either.
hauteboy is offline  
Old Aug 16, 2003, 6:21 pm
  #49  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
bump
Mwenenzi is offline  
Old Aug 18, 2003, 8:50 am
  #50  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 685
My only MR has been to SIN, as many others have done. I did my first in February of this year, and I'm doing my next in about a month. I did not clear customs/immigration, I got a room at the transit hotel, although I only spent about 2 hours in the room. It was daytime for me, so I spent some time screwing around on the internet from my laptop, plugged in to one of the free internet ports.
Two people gave me raised eyebrows and one gave me actual trouble. The first person was the check-in agent in SEA, she was surprised and commended me on my flying stamina. The second was the check-in agent in SIN. It seems like most people checking in at 5:00 or whatever time the transit desk opens are people who missed their connection. He was not ready for someone who actually meant to do that. Also, he seemed most concerned that I had no baggage, and had to fill out some kind of baggage fee waiver. He also was worried that I didn't speak English well and that my bags were going to get stuck in SIN purgatory because he was marking me as having zero bags.
The only person who gave me a real hassle was customs in SEA when I returned. I didn't have bags, so I was the first one out, and that was enough to make me picked for further scrutiny. The agent who looked at my documents was fairly incredulous, but was polite. He did a full search of my bag (boring), but as always in SEA, my badge and business card from a well-respected employer in the area whose employees are known for doing weird thing was my get-out-of-customs-free card.
usoftie is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2003, 5:39 pm
  #51  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
IST Turnaround http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/001794.html

Lots has been written on these boards about the IST turnaround to maximise Miles but I can't find any threads giving peoples experiences of doing the same day turnaround. I am planning either a same day or overnight turnaround sometime in the next few weeks. Is it possible to stay airside and avoid customs and immigration and having to get a Visa? If not, how much is the Visa for UK Passpost holders and what currency does it have to be paid in?
If I do an overnight are there any reasonable hotels nearby or is it worth heading in to Central Istanbul?
------------------
Gaza's oneworld & Star Alliance Round the World Information Pages - www.rtw-info.co.uk

Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jan 5, 2008 at 1:19 am Reason: fixed font due to software changes
Mwenenzi is offline  
Old Sep 20, 2003, 5:49 pm
  #52  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,923
DXB turnarounf
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum83/HTML/001793.html
Originally posted by alect:
I am soon doing a LHR-DXB-LHR stright through turnaround. Can I check in for both outbound and inbound sectors at LHR? If not do I need to clear customs in DXB or can I just check in at the lounge (I will have no checked bags). Are there any other issues/problems I need to be forewarned about?
post
Originally posted by mikalee:
When using the self service check in at LHR recently, one of the options was that you could checkin a return flight if it was within 12 or 24 hours.
Probably best to ask this on the BA board.
post
Originally posted by BoSoxinBkk:You can check in at LHR for the return segment. Transiting to the departure area is simple at DXB. You will need to show your onward boarding pass, but they will not ask you which flight you've come in on.

Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jan 5, 2008 at 1:21 am Reason: fixed font due to software change
Mwenenzi is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 2:53 pm
  #53  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AA Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 2,850
With the recent fare sale to Europe by many airlines, I'm curious to see what people's expoeriences are with doing a quick turnaround at LHR. This thread is overrun by Canada experiences, and only has 1 or 2 LHR recounts. I'm booked on two MRs in January/February on AA with no night stays.

Experiences?
MeLike2Travel is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 3:21 pm
  #54  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP (2.2MM), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 185
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MeLike2Travel:
With the recent fare sale to Europe by many airlines, I'm curious to see what people's expoeriences are with doing a quick turnaround at LHR. This thread is overrun by Canada experiences, and only has 1 or 2 LHR recounts. I'm booked on two MRs in January/February on AA with no night stays.

Experiences?
</font>
When are you going? I'm doing the same, but 1 time staying 1 night and the other 2 nights.
I'm scheduled for
1/15 AA16 SFO-JFK
1/15 AA116 JFK-LHR
1/18 AA101 LHR-JFK
1/18 AA45 JFK-SFO

and

2/20 AA860 SFO-ORD
2/20 AA98 ORD-LHR
2/22 AA67 LHR-ORD
2/22 AA1825 ORD-SFO
JonnieB is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 3:48 pm
  #55  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Platinum
Posts: 835
I'll echo the comments of the other Australians regarding Canada. I was on a RTW ticket with a rather 'silly' routing; SYD-AKL-PPT-LAX-YYZ was the first hit (all in one go) and I had no end of problems when I got to YYZ.

After presenting to the passport counters the lady asked the usual questions and then squiggled on my landing card. On the basis of the squiggle I was pulled aside before entering the baggage claim area. I was sent down a corridor where there were little interviewing rooms. At this stage I had been on the go for 30 odd hours (thankfully the NZ upgrade AKL-LAX was the only thing keeping me awake at this point in time).

The lady that was interviewing me was less than friendly ... upon telling her that I was only staying 2 nights in Canada, had prepaid the accom in full and had plenty of money for the stay; she snapped "I'll be the judge of how much money you have". She then went through my passport with a fine tooth comb, using verious UV lights and other tools to check its authenticity and the stamps in it. She then wanted to see my ticket which is where the next problem started. She wanted to know why I hadnt flown directly from SYD-LAX on UA, and had instead chosen a circular routing on NZ.

I explained that I didn't really want to fly on UA after what had happened and at any rate the service on NZ was superb. She then wanted to know why I had booked the non stop NZ flight - to which my answer was that I had an upgrade credit with NZ and the most it was good for was AKL-PPT, and consequently as I wouldnt get a chance to use it before it expired, thats the routing I took. She openly told me that she didn't believe a word of this and now wanted to see my money.

I was in the process of getting the cash and travellers cheques out of my money belt (one of those ones with elastic that goes under your jumper). She then snapped that she wanted to see the entire contents of the belt and then snapped if I had any other things hidden away on my person I should tell her now. (I mean how unusual is it for someone to have their cash strapped to their person along with the other important travel documents).

Anyway - she counted the money (of which there was more than plenty for a two night stay) ... she then looked at the onward ticket (YYZ-YUL-YHZ-YYT-LHR for two days later) and asked a couple of questions about that... then came her discovery of my British Passport. This passport is several years old and doesn't have a single stamp in it ... this caused her no end of angst... she asked "where did you get this from" to which my answer was "the British High Commission in Canberra" ... she took this as a personal insult and told me not to get smart with her as she had the power to deport me (I knew it was only 6 or so hours till the next flight to LHR and boy was I tempted to tell her that I would get on that)... at any rate eventually after going through all her questions again she put a stamp in my passport and then asked "how long are you staying again?" to which I replied two days ... so she wrote a visa validity underneath the stamp of 6 months!

My bag was being watched by the customs official who had just two bags to clear before going home for the night (mine and that of the bloke who was still being grilled about his passport)... I handed him my card and he said "have a nice stay" and that was that!

Looks like Canadian customs are to be avoided if at all possible...
luftaom is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 4:18 pm
  #56  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AA Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 2,850
Looks like I'm going to miss you. I'm doing 5 different trips between January and March. I'm actually doing a run 2/20-2/22, as you are, but am on different flights:

2/20 SFO-ORD AA46
2/20 ORD-LHR AA46
2/22 LHR-ORD AA87
2/22 ORD-SFO AA1835

My other runs are:
1/31-2/1
2/6-2/8
3/6-3/7
3/12-3/14

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JonnieB:
When are you going? I'm doing the same, but 1 time staying 1 night and the other 2 nights.
I'm scheduled for
1/15 AA16 SFO-JFK
1/15 AA116 JFK-LHR
1/18 AA101 LHR-JFK
1/18 AA45 JFK-SFO

and

2/20 AA860 SFO-ORD
2/20 AA98 ORD-LHR
2/22 AA67 LHR-ORD
2/22 AA1825 ORD-SFO
</font>
MeLike2Travel is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 4:35 pm
  #57  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP (2.2MM), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 185
X

[This message has been edited by JonnieB (edited 11-10-2003).]
JonnieB is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 6:39 pm
  #58  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Denver, Colorado
Programs: DL Diamond, AA EXP (2.2MM), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 185
It looks like you are going to be spending the night, yes? If so if you want to grab a beer or something, let me know.


[quote]<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JonnieB:
[b]
Originally posted by MeLike2Travel:
Looks like I'm going to miss you. I'm doing 5 different trips between January and March. I'm actually doing a run 2/20-2/22, as you are, but am on different flights:

2/20 SFO-ORD AA46
2/20 ORD-LHR AA46
2/22 LHR-ORD AA87
2/22 ORD-SFO AA1835

My other runs are:
1/31-2/1
2/6-2/8
3/6-3/7
3/12-3/14

</font>
JonnieB is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 8:26 pm
  #59  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: new york, ny, usa
Posts: 13,536
love this thread. any other thoughts on Paris (CDG)?
fly co to see the yanks is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2003, 8:44 pm
  #60  
Moderator, Hilton Honors
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by enjoystravel:
I was given a rough treatement at Perth in Australia on mileage run. I was on a AONE4 RTW so all travel was in F and that did help a little. I simply said I thought I'd spend 2 days visiting Australia and flying over it to get a "feel" for the place while also collecting miles. The fact that it was First Class ticket made them suspicious as to why I would care about miles (they don't understand RTWs :-) ). In the end they accepted it but only after a thorough check of all bags (no checkin, simply a small carryon). I did get asked if I know any terrorists or drug users!
</font>
I've had similar at PER where they couldnt understand a long weekend trip from NZ. The fact it was in C and had been to AMS a couple of weeks prior didnt help

Must say they were very pleasant about it all though.
Kiwi Flyer is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.