LHR-DXB Onward Connection on Different Airline
Jun 14, 2017, 7:03 pm
#1
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LHR-DXB Onward Connection on Different Airline
In a couple weeks I will be flying ORD-LHR-DXB on BA with a connection in DXB to a Kenya Airways flight. The connection time is a little over 3 hours. Is this too short or am I just being paranoid?
Any tips to make sure that I make this connection? I am booked in premium economy, which will hopefully help me get off the plane more quickly, but I fear the slowdown point will be baggage claim and immigration.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is there anything I can do to to ensure that I make the next flight? I am AA gold if that matters (though I was just reading that I don't get priority tags and they don't matter if I did
) Do I have to leave the transit area and clear customs and immigration? Or is there a way to check in for the Kenya Airways flight while staying airside?
My apologies if this is the wrong place for this question.
Thanks in advance for any advice that can be provided.
Any tips to make sure that I make this connection? I am booked in premium economy, which will hopefully help me get off the plane more quickly, but I fear the slowdown point will be baggage claim and immigration.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is there anything I can do to to ensure that I make the next flight? I am AA gold if that matters (though I was just reading that I don't get priority tags and they don't matter if I did
) Do I have to leave the transit area and clear customs and immigration? Or is there a way to check in for the Kenya Airways flight while staying airside?My apologies if this is the wrong place for this question.
Thanks in advance for any advice that can be provided.
Jun 14, 2017, 7:15 pm
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2010
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The question is whether BA and KQ have an interline baggage agreement. If so, you ought to be able to check your bags at ORD to your final destination on KQ.
If you misconnect, what is the next flight? Plan B is always the issue with a misconnect. The carrier causing the misconnect, presumably BA will be responsible for rebooking and will owe you a duty of care to include a hotel room if you are required to overnight.
If you misconnect, what is the next flight? Plan B is always the issue with a misconnect. The carrier causing the misconnect, presumably BA will be responsible for rebooking and will owe you a duty of care to include a hotel room if you are required to overnight.
Jun 14, 2017, 7:26 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,602
Is this all booked on a single ticketed itinerary?
If not, then the bags will not be checked through , nor will you have any protection if you miss the onward flight ; I would not undertake this with only 3 hours on separate bookings
If this is a through booking, then the luggage should be checked through and , even if anything does go wrong, you will be rebooked onwards
If not, then the bags will not be checked through , nor will you have any protection if you miss the onward flight ; I would not undertake this with only 3 hours on separate bookings
If this is a through booking, then the luggage should be checked through and , even if anything does go wrong, you will be rebooked onwards
Jun 14, 2017, 7:41 pm
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 26
The question is whether BA and KQ have an interline baggage agreement. If so, you ought to be able to check your bags at ORD to your final destination on KQ.
If you misconnect, what is the next flight? Plan B is always the issue with a misconnect. The carrier causing the misconnect, presumably BA will be responsible for rebooking and will owe you a duty of care to include a hotel room if you are required to overnight.
If you misconnect, what is the next flight? Plan B is always the issue with a misconnect. The carrier causing the misconnect, presumably BA will be responsible for rebooking and will owe you a duty of care to include a hotel room if you are required to overnight.
Also, for the duty of care, do I lose that with separate tickets? I am not very familiar with the EU rules (I assume that is where this comes from) that affect BA.
The plan B flights are somewhat up in the air right now considering that some of the options would be on Qatar (they no longer show up on Google Flights, and I don't know if I can rely on their current political situation being resolved). There are several options that would still get me to my destination the same day as the original plan would, but a good bit later, and the connections aren't as desirable.
Thanks for your response.
Jun 14, 2017, 7:43 pm
#6
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Is this all booked on a single ticketed itinerary?
If not, then the bags will not be checked through , nor will you have any protection if you miss the onward flight ; I would not undertake this with only 3 hours on separate bookings
If this is a through booking, then the luggage should be checked through and , even if anything does go wrong, you will be rebooked onwards
If not, then the bags will not be checked through , nor will you have any protection if you miss the onward flight ; I would not undertake this with only 3 hours on separate bookings
If this is a through booking, then the luggage should be checked through and , even if anything does go wrong, you will be rebooked onwards
What can I expect in Dubai as far as time for immigration, check in for the next flight, etc.?
Jun 14, 2017, 8:11 pm
#7
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,602
With separate tickets, there is no duty of care at all
Once BA delivers you to Dubai, its contract is complete ; you now have a new contract with Kenya Airways
If the BA flight is delayed and you turn up too late to check in for the Kenya Airways flight, then you will be liable for whatever the no show penalty is for the flight - which could be as much as having to buy a new ticket on the spot
Dubai is , in my experience, a reasonably efficient airport and would expect that you would be at check in for Kenya Airways within an hour of getting off of the BA flight
This does leave some buffer for delays, but not a great deal and I wouldn't do this with a 3 hour connection unless the penalty for missing the Kenya Airways flight is small. If you have a flexible ticket that can just rebook on the next flight, then no reason not to, but if there could be large costs, I would recommend not doing it
If QR fly to the destination, I would suggest that a through booking of LHR-DOH-xxx would be a much better choice; to best of my knowledge there is no issue with QR and and most of Africa
Once BA delivers you to Dubai, its contract is complete ; you now have a new contract with Kenya Airways
If the BA flight is delayed and you turn up too late to check in for the Kenya Airways flight, then you will be liable for whatever the no show penalty is for the flight - which could be as much as having to buy a new ticket on the spot
Dubai is , in my experience, a reasonably efficient airport and would expect that you would be at check in for Kenya Airways within an hour of getting off of the BA flight
This does leave some buffer for delays, but not a great deal and I wouldn't do this with a 3 hour connection unless the penalty for missing the Kenya Airways flight is small. If you have a flexible ticket that can just rebook on the next flight, then no reason not to, but if there could be large costs, I would recommend not doing it
If QR fly to the destination, I would suggest that a through booking of LHR-DOH-xxx would be a much better choice; to best of my knowledge there is no issue with QR and and most of Africa
Jun 14, 2017, 8:41 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 26
With separate tickets, there is no duty of care at all
Once BA delivers you to Dubai, its contract is complete ; you now have a new contract with Kenya Airways
If the BA flight is delayed and you turn up too late to check in for the Kenya Airways flight, then you will be liable for whatever the no show penalty is for the flight - which could be as much as having to buy a new ticket on the spot
Dubai is , in my experience, a reasonably efficient airport and would expect that you would be at check in for Kenya Airways within an hour of getting off of the BA flight
This does leave some buffer for delays, but not a great deal and I wouldn't do this with a 3 hour connection unless the penalty for missing the Kenya Airways flight is small. If you have a flexible ticket that can just rebook on the next flight, then no reason not to, but if there could be large costs, I would recommend not doing it
If QR fly to the destination, I would suggest that a through booking of LHR-DOH-xxx would be a much better choice; to best of my knowledge there is no issue with QR and and most of Africa
Once BA delivers you to Dubai, its contract is complete ; you now have a new contract with Kenya Airways
If the BA flight is delayed and you turn up too late to check in for the Kenya Airways flight, then you will be liable for whatever the no show penalty is for the flight - which could be as much as having to buy a new ticket on the spot
Dubai is , in my experience, a reasonably efficient airport and would expect that you would be at check in for Kenya Airways within an hour of getting off of the BA flight
This does leave some buffer for delays, but not a great deal and I wouldn't do this with a 3 hour connection unless the penalty for missing the Kenya Airways flight is small. If you have a flexible ticket that can just rebook on the next flight, then no reason not to, but if there could be large costs, I would recommend not doing it
If QR fly to the destination, I would suggest that a through booking of LHR-DOH-xxx would be a much better choice; to best of my knowledge there is no issue with QR and and most of Africa
Jun 14, 2017, 8:44 pm
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,602
If this is the outbound flight, then the fare difference is to the fare available for sale that day with no advance purchase restrictions, so could be quite a high fare difference
Looking at KQ's fares, it does seem that it doesn't have advance purchase restrictions, but the change fee on lowest fares is $100 plus will likely incur the $150 no show fee giving a total change fee of USD250
The fare difference could be anything from zero to GBP500 depending on how busy the flights are
Last edited by Dave Noble; Jun 14, 2017 at 8:50 pm
Jun 14, 2017, 9:09 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Programs: BA LTG, UA Gold, EK Silver, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott LT Titanium, IHG Plat
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If everything is on time you will probably be ok.
However, BA is sometimes late, the immigration queues can be long (both in and out) and baggage can be delayed.
If I were you I would at least do the following:
1) If possible take hand baggage (I almost never check a bag)
2) If not possible, sit as far forward as possible on the plane to get to the front of the (BA) immigration queue
3) If BA gives out immigration for fast track for J passengers - see if you can get one if the plane is late (explain to the CSM)
4) Buy some insurance - single trip is cheap as is an annual policy if you travel a lot
However, BA is sometimes late, the immigration queues can be long (both in and out) and baggage can be delayed.
If I were you I would at least do the following:
1) If possible take hand baggage (I almost never check a bag)
2) If not possible, sit as far forward as possible on the plane to get to the front of the (BA) immigration queue
3) If BA gives out immigration for fast track for J passengers - see if you can get one if the plane is late (explain to the CSM)
4) Buy some insurance - single trip is cheap as is an annual policy if you travel a lot
Jun 14, 2017, 9:10 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 26
You would have to pay the change fee and fare difference
If this is the outbound flight, then the fare difference is to the fare available for sale that day with no advance purchase restrictions, so could be quite a high fare difference
Looking at KQ's fares, it does seem that it doesn't have advance purchase restrictions, but the change fee on lowest fares is $100 plus will likely incur the $150 no show fee giving a total change fee of USD250
The fare difference could be anything from zero to GBP500 depending on how busy the flights are
If this is the outbound flight, then the fare difference is to the fare available for sale that day with no advance purchase restrictions, so could be quite a high fare difference
Looking at KQ's fares, it does seem that it doesn't have advance purchase restrictions, but the change fee on lowest fares is $100 plus will likely incur the $150 no show fee giving a total change fee of USD250
The fare difference could be anything from zero to GBP500 depending on how busy the flights are
Thanks, again, for your input. I will make sure that I have notes regarding all potential alternative flights for every step of my route.
Jun 14, 2017, 9:48 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 26
If everything is on time you will probably be ok.
However, BA is sometimes late, the immigration queues can be long (both in and out) and baggage can be delayed.
If I were you I would at least do the following:
1) If possible take hand baggage (I almost never check a bag)
2) If not possible, sit as far forward as possible on the plane to get to the front of the (BA) immigration queue
3) If BA gives out immigration for fast track for J passengers - see if you can get one if the plane is late (explain to the CSM)
4) Buy some insurance - single trip is cheap as is an annual policy if you travel a lot
However, BA is sometimes late, the immigration queues can be long (both in and out) and baggage can be delayed.
If I were you I would at least do the following:
1) If possible take hand baggage (I almost never check a bag)
2) If not possible, sit as far forward as possible on the plane to get to the front of the (BA) immigration queue
3) If BA gives out immigration for fast track for J passengers - see if you can get one if the plane is late (explain to the CSM)
4) Buy some insurance - single trip is cheap as is an annual policy if you travel a lot
2) Sitting in World Traveler Plus, which I believe is pretty close to the door. Maybe I will get an offer at check in for a J upgrade. Tight timeline would be a good excuse to upgrade.
3) Great tip. Thanks.
4) I have trip interruption insurance through my credit card, but it only covers interruptions due to weather or strike. Do you have any recommendations on who to go through for the insurance (USA)?
Thanks for the response!
Last edited by OutOfORD; Jun 14, 2017 at 10:09 pm
Jun 14, 2017, 11:00 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,575
http://www.marhabaservices.com/engli...ces/meet-greet
might be worth considering this - for 300AED - $80 - they'll sort the baggage and expedite you through the processes
from my experience 3hrs would be OK if your flight is on time, but it'll be a bit stressful as the immigration queues from the BA flight are variable
might be worth considering this - for 300AED - $80 - they'll sort the baggage and expedite you through the processes
from my experience 3hrs would be OK if your flight is on time, but it'll be a bit stressful as the immigration queues from the BA flight are variable
Jun 14, 2017, 11:36 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
I think 3 hours should be fine. You'd have to be pretty unlucky to need more than that. I've seen long queues at immigration many times, but I don't recall ever waiting more than about an hour, even when the arrivals hall was packed.
I'd be surprised if you can find reasonable travel insurance that would cover these circumstances. Most policies I've seen are pretty conservative on non-connections.
I'd be surprised if you can find reasonable travel insurance that would cover these circumstances. Most policies I've seen are pretty conservative on non-connections.