checking bags with Jet/AA at MAA to ORD
 

Hi,

My wife and kids will be returning from MAA to ORD. The ticket I am looking at is American with a Jet airways connecting flight from MAA to Delhi and then AA till ORD.

A few questions

1) Is it possible to check the bags all the way to ORD from MAA?

2) How easy is to transfer to International airport from the domestic airport at Delhi? My wife is travelling with young kids and I just wanted to make sure the transfer will be hassle free and safe. If a sirport shuttle is the best option, then will they accept large bags (in case they have to recheck the bags in Delhi)


Thanks

American has a codeshare with Jet on Jet's MAA-BRU flight so you can fly MAA-BRU on Jet and BRU-ORD on American in a single ticket. The luggage will be checked in through to ORD. This would be more convenient than MAA-DEL-ORD routing as the flights are spaced out nicely and avoid transit in Delhi.

if connecting thru DEL i think they will have to check luggage in again at DEL.

You basically claim your bags and then recheck them - there should be a desk for most international airlines at the DEL domestic terminal. Then take the inter terminal bus.

In Dec 2009, the 9W booth at international terminal wouldn't take my luggage for the continuing domestic flight. They said "new security rules". I had to take them on the bus to the domestic terminal and check them there.

I don't know if the reverse is different.

To the OP: if your family does have to carry the luggage, of course the bus takes luggage of any reasonable size (if the airline will accept it, it is not an unreasonable size). There is much less hassle nowadays because of the shuttle. There's even someone on the bus who helps with the luggage and does not appear to be hustling for tips. Takes a little time though, what with the queueing and showing boarding passes and so forth.

Now you can time-travel thru DEL too? wow! ;)

With GMR running the shuttle now, it's a lot more frequent and comfortable than before. But the problem that remains is that after a picturesque journey dodging runways and driving by IAF choppers, you'll get dumped landside which means you'll have to haul your luggage and wrestle the scrum.

You have to collect Luggage at Delhi
 

Last December (2008) I flew MAA-DEL-ORD in F class. the Jet/AA agents in MAA were very sweet: Sir Don't worry Your luggage will go Direct to USA. relax in our lounge etc etc
ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL RUBBISH
You land at Delhi airport Everybody is rushing to the carousal. I ask a pretty but very very busy Jet ground staff. Sir You have to collect the luggage and rebook at the International Terminal. I and my wife lug our mandatory 4 suit cases in two rickety trolleys and reach the shuttle, our bags slipping off in the rough path to the shuttle. Usual hustle and bustle and our luggage gets swallowed kind courtesy no tip seeking strong man who doubles as conductor. No seats left in the bus and we sway, jump and fall to reach the International terminal. The bus which serves all airlines stops at land side and you baggage gets dumped in the far away kerb. No trolleys in sight. Finally found two near nowhere and we ourselves load our 4 bags on the trolley, navigate across two steep platforms/kerbs and find the most inefficient premier AA check in desk which again is a mess. Nothing is sign posted and all and sundry jostle you at the First class check in entrance. After 90 minutes of sheer torture you get past immigration and lo and behold Delhi's lounges are one floor up with no elevators.
My advise DO NOT take the MAA-DEL-ORD connection to h**l. Take BA from MAA-LHR-ORD as the luggage is truly direct, Terminal 5 has now shed its teething tantrums and lo and behold the handling agents (Cambatta I presume) are out of the world in MAA. They pick your luggae from your car, guide you through security and check you in. MAA has fast track immigration and is an absolute heaven compared to the Delhi h**l hole. Nice choice of 3 lounges.

Well Good prediction. Jet staff at Delhi are experts in avoiding responsibility with all sorts of excuses. Call for the supervisor, all passengers join hands and force them to do what they are paid for. AA customer relations confirm that Jet is paid handling charges to collect luggage and transport between the terminals.

Since you're traveling 9W all the way except for the last segment, can you get your routing changed to MAA-BRU-xxx? Also refer to someone else's point about MAA 9W staff's helpfulness. My experience shows that these guys are usually right, but the ones in Delhi are completely clueless about procedures (I know more than them about their own airline !!!).