The corresponding
AA thread was closed before I could respond to
this post, so replying to it here. (Continuing the AA-related discussion while respecting the decision to keep it here in the BA forum.)
Originally Posted by
mvoight
I have never had an issue with baggage when connecting at RDU, and the OP is flying from LHR, so he will be picking up his luggage and doing the hand off after going through Customs, so I don't see where the confusion would be,
Good to hear that baggage connections at RDU work. Does AA have a baggage recheck desk right after customs? I suspect not (due to very few connecting pax) and so going to the main check-in is needed for I-to-D? Not a problem but a wrinkle for those used to hubs.
I was thinking more of OP's return (D-to-I) where one would have to trust that AA will read the tag and transfer the bag rather than deliver it to RDU baggage claim by sheer habit. I've read that when connecting at a random non-hub (typically D-to-D of course, sometimes a way to get award availability between hubs), where an airline's baggage handling isn't set up for connections, there's a good chance the bag just goes with the flow and ends up circling Podunk baggage claim. I guess with an LHR flight, RDU isn't exactly Podunk.
