Hi,

I will be transfering at IAD from an AF flight from Paris to a DL flight to ATL, I am wondering if any of you guys have ever connected between 2 non United flights at IAD, coming from overseas.

Is it as easy as connecting between two UA flights, no difference whatsoever or will I need to exit the security zone after clearing customs and recheck my bags at the DL counter?

Thanks !!

CHIFlyer83, welcome to FlyerTalk! Please follow as the thread moves to the Travel->Washington, DC forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Not as easy as between 2 UA flights.

All Air France arriving passengers are transported to the Customs/Immigration facility (IAB) in the main terminal. You go through Immigration (Passport Control) first; pick up checked bags from the carousel (there are free baggage carts there); head towards the exit where you surrender your blue Customs form.

Immediately after Customs there is a baggage re-check counter on your right. I don't think you can use it though - check the signs. If you can't use that re-check counter you will have to go upstairs to check-in at the Delta counter, which is almost directly above the Customs exit.

When you exit the Customs area, you are next to baggage carousel 14. Delta counter is up above that. Take the escalator just after carousel 13 up to the ticket counter level (there's an elevator behind the escalator). Check-in with Delta. Then follow the signs "To All Gates" which will take you down to the TSA security mezzanine. Following TSA security, down another level and take the train to the B Concourse for your Delta gate.

I haven't transferred in this way at IAD, but have never run across restrictions at any other airport. I don't see why OP couldn't use the "recheck" counter (aka transit desk) after Customs, just as if they were transferring between two UA flights. If they want to be sure, they could contact Delta in advance to make sure they have reps there. AF and Delta certainly must have an interline agreement regarding transfer of bags. If they were transferring to Southwest, sure, no interline agreement, so no transfer of bags, but I don't see why AF-to-Delta should be problematic.

Do make sure that if you bought any liquids, cremes, etc. over 3 oz. in Duty Free, including on board the flight, and you have thos ein you carry-on bags, that you move those to your checked luggage before handing those off at the transfer desk or check-in counter, so they don't get confiscated when you go through TSA security on your way to your Delta flight.

Excellent point about being sure that liquids over 3oz be in checked bags, not carry-on.

About using the baggage re-check inside IAB... I'm pretty sure there is a sign there specifically directing Delta passengers to go upstairs to the Delta counter. I'll look at it again next Tuesday and post that information.

Thanks Annandaler and SoCal for your answers and details.

While I am used to connect at Delta hub airports, and used with the procedure of placing my check luggage on a conveyor belt after clearing customs, but it will be my first international transfer at IAD, which is mainly used as a connecting point by UA passengers.

So anyway there would most likely be a sign, telling me what to do...

In any case it seems pretty easy to get to the DL counters from the IAB.

I hope that's a long connection time ... in the worst case you could be looking at a 'good' 2 hours from engine shut-down to boarding the next flight.

Annandaler ... am I being unreasonable there?

I was inside Dulles IAB yesterday. As you approach the baggage re-check area just before you exit, there is a big sign instructing passengers connecting to Delta to take their bags upstairs to the Delta ticket counter. You cannot re-check bags there for an AF-to-DL connection. (Or anyotherairline-to-Delta connection.)

Thanks, so, no choice, will have to get upstairs to the DL counters then...

Interesting, I've never made the Int-domestic connection here, being my home, but why would an airline be singled out? Leads me to think it's some facility constraints?

Or maybe the recheck counter is entirely managed by UA... meaning all non Star Alliance connecting travelers cant use it...

The baggage re-check counter just before the IAB exit at Dulles can be used by any airline. Presumably because of the costs of staffing it and handling bags there airlines other than United choose not to use it.

So AF transfers to DL don't get to use it (AF brought 793 passengers through Dulles IAB yesterday). Similarly BA transfers to AA don't get to use it (BA brought 703 passengers through Dulles IAB yesterday).

Reviving a thread. I have a similar connection next month, but going to JFK instead of ATL. Connecting time is 2h35m but AF28 seems to be delayed every day. How long does it usually take to do a connection like this, without checked luggage?

You should be OK with that connecting time - so long as AF28 doesn't arrive much later than 1:30pm. Being without checked luggage doesn't help too much since the lines for Passport Control (aka Primary Inspection) usually take longer than the time needed to deliver checked bags to the carousel.

Right now AF is operating 777 on some days and 380 on other days. If the 380 is full, they are bringing over 500 passengers into IAB. If they arrive ontime or early, they are the only flight coming into IAB. If they arrive much after 1:30pm, other international flights are starting to come into IAB.

Best advice: (1) be one of the early folks getting off the plane, and (2) stay close to the doors on the Mobile Lounge that transports you to IAB so that you will be among the first ones off.

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'm flying on the A380, upper deck. I'll try to move as quick as possible so I can get a decent spot in the passport control queue. As far as the connecting flight, is the TSA checkpoint for connecting passengers only, or will I mix with the rest of the passengers?