I always manage to carry enough for any trip without checking a bag.

For the first time in decades I am traveling with someone who will have checked bags. So I have no experience on how a checked bag will impact my ability to make international connections.

Stuff like: Will I have to collect my luggage at the carousel and go back through security after my first international leg? Adding that to necessary passport control etc.?

Here is my tentative itinerary.

I have to travel from Chicago to Stockholm. I would like to get credit for AA miles and spend, so I am looking at AA with a connection instead of SAS direct.

Guidance would be much appreciated.

Outbound departure from O�Hare Sunday, May 10, 2020

Return from ARN Sunday, May 17, 2020

==============================

Option 1, Connection at LHR time: 2h 55m

AA 46 ORD - LHR

7:25 PM Departs ORD

9:05 AM Arrives LHR



AA 6583 (Operated by British Airways)

12:00 noon departs LHR

3:35 PM Arrives ARN

Will I have to collect baggage and recheck at LHR departing LHR for ARN? Adding that to immigration and passport control is 2:55 sounds enough time?

===========================================


Option 2, gives me 4h 25m at LHR

AA 86 ORD � LHR

5:05 PM Departs ORD

6:50 AM Arrives LHR



AA 6529 LHR � ARN (Operated by BA)

11:15 AM Departs LHR

2:50 PM Arrives ARN

================================

For my return there is only one flight with a connection time under 5 hours, which follows.

Will I have to collect baggage and recheck at LHR departing LHR for ORD, plus immigration and passport control? Is 2:45 enough time?

Connection time: 2h 45m

AA 6525 Operated by British Airways

7:45 AM Departs ARN

9:30 AM Arrives LHR


AA 87 Sunday, May 17, 2020

12:15 Depart LHR Arrive ORD PM

3:00 PM Arrive ORD


Thanks for your helpl

PS Traveling separately from the checked-baggage passenger is not an option.

 

In this instance the other individual's bags won';t impact travel. The bags will be checked at ORD to ARN and at ARN to ORD. They won't be collected and then checked again at LHR in either direction.

 

A Google search for "LHR international connections" yielded this helpful site:

https://www.heathrow.com/connecting-flights

 

You will only have to clear UK immigration, collect and then recheck bags and then reclear security if you book these as two separate flights i.e. ORD-LHR and then LHR-ARN as neither AA and BA won't through check on separate bookings

Otherwise the bags will be checked through and you can use the LHR connections process (see the connections planner on the LHR website for the process)

 

Thanks, guv1976 and Often1, and UKtravelbear just what I needed!