PHL Transfer
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 12
PHL Transfer
Morning All,
First off just want to say Hi and how despite being a lurker in the background (before this thread) its always been a goldmine of information thats helped immeasurably so thanks!
Now I did have a little search but couldn't see anything so thought i best ask. I'm not weekly or even monthly regular flier but normally use BA to travel to YYZ one or two times a year from NCL and have never had any issue as its pretty straight forward after checking bags in. Next month however I'm travelling NCL > LHR > PHL > MCO > MIA > LHR > NCL and just wanted to ask what's the transfer like for the internal US flights.
Its all booked on one ticket and assuming there's plenty time (BA67 then BA6871) of 2 hours plus for transfer, however was wandering do the bags go straight through or do i need to pick them up PHL side and I've read mixed reports about transfers there being both decent and a horror at different times.
Any advice would be much appreciated and again, hello all
First off just want to say Hi and how despite being a lurker in the background (before this thread) its always been a goldmine of information thats helped immeasurably so thanks!
Now I did have a little search but couldn't see anything so thought i best ask. I'm not weekly or even monthly regular flier but normally use BA to travel to YYZ one or two times a year from NCL and have never had any issue as its pretty straight forward after checking bags in. Next month however I'm travelling NCL > LHR > PHL > MCO > MIA > LHR > NCL and just wanted to ask what's the transfer like for the internal US flights.
Its all booked on one ticket and assuming there's plenty time (BA67 then BA6871) of 2 hours plus for transfer, however was wandering do the bags go straight through or do i need to pick them up PHL side and I've read mixed reports about transfers there being both decent and a horror at different times.
Any advice would be much appreciated and again, hello all
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,095
It is very easy to transfer at PHL in fact it’s my preferred connection point, you will clear immigration pick up your bags and clear customs before handing your bags back in at the transfer counter just outside the exit from customs, NCL should label your bags through to MCO.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
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The only issue will be "Which Gate". PHL is a very wide airport, and it can take 10 minutes to get from one spine to another. The OP's 2 hours will, I'm sure, be fine.
(Never 'immigrated' there, though - have always arrived ex-DUB with pre-clearance.)
(Never 'immigrated' there, though - have always arrived ex-DUB with pre-clearance.)
#6
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
Welcome on board In_FrequentFlyer. Now that you've broken through from lurker to poster we hope to see more of you. I will cast another vote in favour of PHL. It's one I use a fair bit as there's a direct flight from my home airport.
#7
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
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Posts: 8,948
PHL is a great airport, but it will depend slightly on whether your connecting flight leaves from Concourse A, or Concourse B/C - which is a little walk away.
Regrettably, you probably won't know until the day before (check the AA app).
M
Regrettably, you probably won't know until the day before (check the AA app).
M
#9
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
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Posts: 8,477
In_FrequentFlyer, welcome to FT. Let’s move your thread over to our Mid-Atlantic destination forum where you should get great advice from the locals who use the airport most.
/mod
/mod
#10
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: BAEC Blue
Posts: 247
A West to C is only about 1,300 yards I discovered recently, and with mobile walkways for much of it. A to F is a different story, I believe!!
PHL Maps
PHL Maps
The free shuttle bus from A to F is another option: 5 mins journey time and the services are very frequent during the afternoons. It leaves from gate A7 or thereabouts.
This trip in May was my first time connecting in PHL and a missed connection due to a thunderstorm meant I had plenty of time to explore. It’s a big, modern airport - much more like ORD than JFK. I will use it again in preference to JFK.
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
PHL is easy and the baggage issue is the same as at pretty much all US airports. Bags are checked through from origin to final ticketed destination, but physically carried through Customs at the first point of entry and then dropped (because already tagged) post-Customs.
In the limited circumstances where through technology or intellect challenges, a bag can't be tagged to the final destination, in this case MCO, the same drop point can tag the bag for you. Just takes an extra 2 minutes because you have to wait.
In the limited circumstances where through technology or intellect challenges, a bag can't be tagged to the final destination, in this case MCO, the same drop point can tag the bag for you. Just takes an extra 2 minutes because you have to wait.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Peterborough, UK
Programs: BA Silver; IHG Spire; Avis P+; Global Entry
Posts: 1,505
A West to C is only about 1,300 yards I discovered recently, and with mobile walkways for much of it. A to F is a different story, I believe!!
PHL Maps
PHL Maps
Walked F to B back in May. If you have no mobility difficulties, and you’re a brisk walker, it’s probably 10-15 mins in total. Add another 5 minutes to get down to the BA lounge in A.
The free shuttle bus from A to F is another option: 5 mins journey time and the services are very frequent during the afternoons. It leaves from gate A7 or thereabouts.
This trip in May was my first time connecting in PHL and a missed connection due to a thunderstorm meant I had plenty of time to explore. It’s a big, modern airport - much more like ORD than JFK. I will use it again in preference to JFK.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,126
Just to make sure the OP is not thrown off course with this talk of Concourse F... I doubt a flight to or from Orlando has ever operated on F.