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 postsApril 2003 ALB, DCA, EZE, GIG, JAX, JFK, LAX, LHR, MCO, MIA, NRT, PVD, SAN, SDF, SFO, ZRH
April 2003 BRU, DTW, FLL, LAX, LHR, MCI, MEM, MSY, PHX, SEA, SIN, SMF, TPA, YEG, YUL, YVR, YYC, YYZ
April 2003 DUS, FRA, LHR, MXP, PVG, SEL, SIN
May 2003 ANC, DPS, DXB, MCT, SFO, SIN
May 2003 CDG, FRA, LGW, LHR, ZRH
May 2003 Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Australia and Korea
June 2003 ANC, DTW, EWR, HNL, IAH
December 2003 ALB, BOS, CDG, JFK, LHR, MAD, NRT, PVD, SDF
 
 Misc cautionary tales in these countries posts
 e < Canada customs problems
 e < Middle East turnarounds

updated to post #565

Mileage Runs turnarounds / turnabouts / transits:- Experiences please

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Dec 16, 2003, 11:21 am

#76

FWAAA

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2001

Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold

Posts: 31,789

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by channa:
Don't the midcon redeyes leave at 0030 or 0100?

I have a similar issue out of SFO -- the redeyes that help with minimum stays (i.e., the ones that leave before midnight), are the longer ones to the East Coast, which often aren't the maximum mileage routins.</font>

D'oh!! You're right.

Then fly to ORD, which leave LAX (and SFO/SJC) prior to midnight. Most of the time I go LAX-DFW on the redeye it's because a convoluted mileage run has gone haywire (becuase I'm delayed somewhere else), and I've missed my redeye from LAX to places like BOS or MIA, which then gets me routed thru DFW.

Dec 16, 2003, 11:46 am

#77

OHPremEx

Join Date: Jul 2002

Posts: 60

As a Canadian planning to do a SIN MR on UA, I wonder what hassle can I expect from INS? I did that twice last year both out of Buffalo. On crossing the border by land, they question where I'm going, why I'm flying out of Buffalo instead of Toronto and want to see my e-ticket printout. On the return at SEA, I got stopped by a custom agent rather than immigration because I didn't have any checked bag. Although I got through ok, just wonder what kind of hassle can I expect.

Dec 17, 2003, 4:58 am

#78

Roble

Join Date: Apr 2002

Location: Central Illinois

Posts: 87

Just another quick question as I prepare for my first mileagerun......

Do the check-in agents (specifically UA) have the 'return' information on their screen when checking-in or do they just have the current departure information for that specific date?

Thanks

Dec 17, 2003, 8:19 am

#79

ermdjdsj

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: san jose, CA

Posts: 2,994

I did SJC-IAH-LGW with a two-hour turnaround last weekend. The British immigration/customs people were appropriately curious what I was doing coming into the UK while planning to leave in 2 hours, so I was just honest -- briefly explained the concept of a MR and its future benefits. They asked what my profession is, but didn't even search my hand luggage and let me go on.

Then checking back in for the return flight from LGW (had to exit security), the guy checking my passport asked how long I had been in the UK. I smiled and said "a half an hour." His eyes widened and then he said "Oh, you're on of THOSE, what do they call them?" "Mileage runners" I said. "We fly for the miles/elite status on our airlines." We then had a brief chat about the benefits, and he said "We had one of those chaps last weekend. Mileage runner, eh? Well that's a lot better than a drug runner!" With a big smile he let me go on, again, no hand search of the luggage.

I proceded to a luxurious shower at the CO President's club and snacks, and then on to my return flight.

As there is nothing illegal about MRs and quick turnarounds, it may make more sense to be up front about what you are doing than trying to contrive some goofy story like "I flew to London to have lunch".

Dec 23, 2003, 7:17 am

#80

JBLUA320

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: ORD

Programs: UA *G

Posts: 1,720

That's ridiculous, eh? I always cross from Vermont into Canada by means of automobile and has always been easy...other than when my dad and a friend drove off and the friend with my dad said "We got the bomb through" They then searched the car all over for hours.. Granted, I haven't been in Canada since pre-9/11. I went into Ukraine for 3 days..A stamp, and I was off at Boryspil.
-AG

Dec 23, 2003, 11:27 am

#81

jetsetter

Join Date: Oct 1999

Location: BOS

Programs: JetBlue Mosaic, WN A List Preferred, Hyatt Globalest, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Spire

Posts: 3,966

"I've never done mileage runs. My question is - what happens if you miss a connection along the way? Or if you're going to (for example) LHR & coming back
on the next flight, and your outbound gets delayed causing you to miss? What do the airlines do?"
There are times when this can be an advantage. For example, I was recently on a flight that got divertted. This meant I got an extra segment because I had to fly from the diversion city to where I was going. Also I got a hotel and meal voucher, and got hotel status credit for the airline paid room. It is up to the airlines discretion as to whether to put up the passenger in a hotel due to weather. The official policy is no. The best thing is to try to talk to an agent or supervisor away from other customers so that nobody else knows what you are getting. It is easy for them to say give 5 out of 300 people hotel vouchers, but they don't want the other 295 people to know that. So try to do it quietly. Even volunteer to them that you won't tell anybody. Actually read this bit of advice in some travel article a long time ago.

I have gotten suspicious and quisicle looks from people doing mileage runs. Also once in YUL got sent to the special area but was quicly released. Also comments like "haven't I seen you before," etc.

I think in general the agent can see your return flight although perhaps they don't always look at it.

Dec 31, 2003, 6:38 pm

#82

luckypierre

Join Date: Apr 2000

Location: san antonio, texas

Programs: 3.2MM AA, 1.4MM UA,StwdLftPlt

Posts: 1,586

edmonton has been one of my more difficult experiences regarding customs with a
complete search of luggage and about twenty minutes of offbeat questioning
judging from my experience in toronto on several occasions and edmonton, doing a mileage run to canada represents a destination that may have more surprises than you might expect for travelers expecting a quick turnaround
they seem particularly concerned about whether you are a businessman masquerading as a tourist (which seems rather absurd if you are leaving within a short period)

Jan 10, 2004, 4:32 pm

#83

Mwenenzi

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: MEL CHC

Posts: 20,993

Link toCairo turnaround

[This message has been edited by Mwenenzi (edited Jan 10, 2004).]

Jan 11, 2004, 3:26 pm

#84

Karen2

Join Date: Feb 1999

Location: Sacramento area, CA USA

Programs: UA Gold Million Miler, HH Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 2,858

Just had a UA mileage run gone bad. How bad remains to be seen. We flew from SJC to ORD en route to Milwaukee. Arrived 245 PM, next flight 345 PM. Board posted late departure 515 PM. This is now dicey for the 615 PM same day return out of MKE. This is an "equipment problem," according to the gate agent. I really want my 500 flown miles BUT, after seeing the gate taken up by another plane, waiting an hour for gas (!), it is clear we will not go out in time for the return. So I ask when is the last flight. It is 615 PM (mine) and cancelled! Now, we either fly to MKE and see what UA intends to do with us about a hotel and fly out in the snow the next day, or get a half price (pretty generous, actually) refund and go home on our ORD-SJC flight at 735 PM. Husband and I had great debate but I was concerned about more delays due to snow (not likely to have a free hotel then) and, as I am a CA girl, do not like flying in snow. Ordinarily, my idea of a great winter run is SFO-SIN! So, after discussing the issue with MP who promised to credit us with the unflown miles since we were stuck, we flew home. That is today. Tomorrow after the flights post, we will see what MP will do. Meanwhile, I have enough refund $$ to fly to LAX for the day if we have to. No real way to see if this was a good decision last night. This run plus a run to NYC was my 10K for January. Had to work around husband's double jury duty (superior court and US Dist) this month. The gate agents were acting all strange about our itinerary so we told them we were carrying documents to MKE! However, a word to the wise about MKE runs - apparently a lot of them get cancelled because people decide at the last min to take the bus for 62 miles and there are not enough passengers.

Jan 19, 2004, 7:22 am

#85

PokerHammy

Join Date: May 2002

Location: West Coast

Programs: AA, WN, Hyatt, Club Carlson, HHonors, MRewards, CET, M Life

Posts: 1,959

Anyone had experience of doing MRs every week to London six times in a row? How does the UK customs treat you, and what about the US customs? Did you make purchases?

I'm looking at the Customs website and it states that only one $800 dutyfree declaration may be declared every 30 days. This is NOT good for me as I intended to connect to other European countries and will certainly buy souvenirs...

Jan 25, 2004, 7:44 pm

#86

Mwenenzi

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Original Poster

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: MEL CHC

Posts: 20,993

Columba, Sri Lanka

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MiamiPrep:
I did turn-around on CX 703 10 days ago. Went pretty smoothly. And I talked to CX crew member. They had been overnighting in BKK, but now are staying in CMB.
Just a hint. You take bus from plane to immigration. Do NOT clear immigration. Upon entry from bus to terminal turn RIGHT before customs and go up the stairs. At top of stairs you immediately turn RIGHT, walk 10 paces, and get your boarding pass at Air Sri Lanka desk. And, I bought gifts (tea, beautiful masks) in duty-free area. Maybe get foot massage if guy is available.</font>

Jan 25, 2004, 8:10 pm

#87

timid_trnchcoat

Join Date: Mar 2003

Location: PVD

Programs: AA PLT

Posts: 1,292

Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)

I had an interesting experience at RDU. The day before the flight looked pretty open and I was looking to score an open row or at least an open set next to me. But when I arrived at RDU, the gate area was a zoo...apparently a direct result of the BOS/JFK cancellations and subsequent rebookings. As I and most everyone else was seated and settled in, an AA employee approached me, addressed me by name and asked me to come with him. Once I got to the jetway, a police officer was there and he asked me "So why don't you tell me why you're really going to London?" Unwaiveringly, told him I was on an MR even after which he recited my complete itinerary to me. Fortunately, this was a brief encounter no more than five minutes summed up with him saying "Do you know how suspicious what you're doing is?" I seriously expected problems but bidded me a nice trip onward. This was part of a MCO-DFW-ORD-RDU-LGW-DFW-AUS-DFW-MCO run.

Jan 26, 2004, 8:13 am

#88

worldtraveler19

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: DFW

Programs: Former AA EXP; 2M Lifetime PLT member-

Posts: 405

I also went through Calgary Airport in August... they questioned why I was flying for 2 days... I told them I had a netsaaver from AA. I had to go thru secondary inspection, but once I proved to them I was there strictly on tourist purpose, they were OK...I had to show my maps, itinerary, hotel reservations, etc...

I was very surprised, I've never been questioned when doing MR's to Europe.... even when returning to the US... ocassionally they make comment on some of the passport stamps, but that's about it.

having said that, if you travel by yourself to any canadian port of entry, for a short stay... be prepared for heavy questioning.

Jan 26, 2004, 2:11 pm

#89

Live4Miles

Join Date: Dec 2001

Location: Iowa...Delta Charter Diamond, now Gold

Posts: 2,066

Anyone have experience with turn arounds at AMS...I have a 4 hour turn time and have no prior experience there... I have 2 trips there in the next 4 weeks (one is klm over and back, the other is NWA over and back)

Do you have to clear customs and then come back after getting tickets or can you stay plane side and get tickets at gate???

I'm used to turns at SIN...there you don't have to clear customs...its real easy, but the security officers that you have to get past to get to ticket counter always looked confused when they see I have only been there for 4 hours.

thanks for any info on AMS.

Jan 27, 2004, 9:40 pm

#90

skofarrell

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2001

Programs: DL GM, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat

Posts: 12,171

I have to admit that I've really enjoyed the Canadian immigration horror stories.

I was a US ex-pat that lived in Toronto for just over 2 years (2000-2002). My wife and I were on a work visas and received no end of grief from the YYZ based Canadian inspectors just about every time we returned from a trip to the US or overseas. When traveling alone or as a family, I was always grilled but never searched. When my wife traveled alone, she was inspected 70% of the time. They were always looking for tax revenue on he, trying to determine if she bought clothes while in the US (closely examined the labels, etc). At the time we were there, the Canadian dollar was in the toilet, so since we were paid in USD, Canada was a slightly better bargain for us on most things.

My one Canadian based MR experience was pretty positive. I came back from SIN on a 6 hour turn around, out of Canada for just over 36 hours. The inspector asked why I was gone such a short time on such a long trip, and I told her I did it for the UA points. She asked "how many?" I told her about the fare, mileage and bonuses, and elite status, and she basically called be “nuts”. I smiled, and she waived me through. I think on that occasion, my US citizenship and work visa eliminated anything nefarious.

The YYZ agents are second only to the nasty agents working the bridge & tunnel in Detroit. We drove home to IND on Christmas, and I had shipped all of our presents ahead of time to my mother in law's house (purchased from Amazon and etoys). We loaded up the van and schlepped it back to TO. At the bridge, the agent asked our status, and how much we were bringing back. I replied "about $2000 CDN" worth of stuff; she looked like she was ready to jump for joy at the prospect of nailing us for the duty and taxes. When she found out we had 5 in the family and had been gone form Canada for 10 days her face fell as she realized we were well under the limit. She dejectedly waived us through.