@ Frequentflyer99 ... happens at IAD as well, except for the last 2 occasions where we so quick through Immigration we had to wait for the bags to surface!

@ Royce ... your perspective is one I've gathered from a lot of people here on FT. Other views clearly exist.

My 'issue' is that we already have a notional 3-sector flight, plus a couple of long ground transfers. Looking at other gateways [ORD, DFW, BOS et al]to the US just adds yet another sector to what is already looking like a complete PITA.

@ mikey2124 ... Yes, fly to KIN, taxi to Timpson Pen, fly to MBJ, drive for 2 hours. Schedules? Who knows!! From what I read yesterday, it's not exactly what you need after JER-UK and then an 11-hour TATL