Luggage Transfer Question
 

My apologies if this has been discussed before...

I'm flying JFK-LHR-Madrid-JNB. I have a six-hour layover in London and was thinking of leaving the secure area.

Does anyone know if I have to pick up my checked luggage in London and recheck it? Or do I not have to pick it up at all? I keep calling AA and get a different answer each time. I'm flying AA JFK-LHR, then Iberia the rest of the way.

Your baggage will be automatically transferred from AA to BA at LHR, as well as in MAD. However, I'd confirm it when you check-in at JFK.

Just a question: why didn't you take the JFK-MAD-JNB flight? Wouldn't it be easier? ;)

The OP is flying LHR-MAD-JNB with IB.

OP can take JFK-LHR-JNB or JFK-MAD-JNB (if try to avoid losing luggage in LHR) instead of JFK-LHR-MAD-JNB. There is one fewer and probably unnecessary stop.