G_Wolf

Hi all,

I have some upcoming international travel planned, and was hoping to get an idea of what to expect at each leg.

My trip is going to be RDU to BOS, and then BOS to LHR, with a 55 minute layover in BOS. On the way back, it's LHR to BOS, and then BOS to RDU, with a 1:45 layover in BOS.

So, I'm guessing I'll have to go through TSA screening initially at RDU, but then if I checked a bag will I need to retrieve it in BOS and re-check it for the international leg of the flight? Also, will I have to go through any kind of screening in BOS again, or not until I land at LHR (where I go through UK immigration)?

On the way back, do I go through CBP in BOS? I'm worried 1:45 may not be enough time, especially if I need to pick up and re-check luggage.

Any guidance/insight/tips are appreciated. I haven't flown internationally since 2007 (except for Toronto), so I'm not really sure if anything's changed recently.

Thanks!

PS - I'm a US citizen.

SFOSpiff

Assuming you're on the same airline and same booking, your bag should be checked all the way through to LHR. (even if you weren't on the same airline, or even the same booking, that should be possible too). Your experience at BOS should be much like connecting to another domestic flight, though you'll probably have to show ID (your passport) at the gate when you board. The exception to this would be if you have to change terminals at BOS (I haven't been there in a while) and there is no airside (post-security) connection, then you'll have to be rescreened, but this won't affect your checked bag.

Coming home, you will have to clear CBP at BOS, claim your bag, and re-check it. You'll have to clear security again, the same way you would have to if you had shown up at BOS from the outside.

Again, if you're on a single itinerary, then if you miss your connection in BOS (say, the flight from LHR is late and/or there's a horrendous line at CBP), the airline should help you get on the next flight home.

When you check in at CLT, and when you check in at LHR, you should be checked in for your connecting flights as well, and given both boarding passes, so you shouldn't have to do anything at BOS either time.

RobertS975

G_Wolf, there are 2 carriers flying to BOS from CLT with nonstops, US Airways and JetBlue. Neither of them fly to LHR with their own aircraft. So if you are on a nonstop flight to BOS, you will need to change terminals to catch your flight to LHR and repeat a security check. Your checked luggage may be checked through to London, but 55 minutes is probably cutting an interline connection pretty close. Same goes for you, a close call with a change in terminals and another security check.

If you are on DL with connecting service to BOS, and continuing on DL to LHR, then you will not need to change terminals. And if your flight is on time, you should be fine.

Your post does not have enough info... is this all one ticket? What carriers?

JennyElf

On the way through BOS, unless you're flying Delta/KLM the whole way or flying WN to BOS you will have to transfer to Terminal E to catch the BOS-LHR leg which will require exiting security and passing through it again in terminal E. No need to do anything with luggage.

Returning through Boston, you will need to go through Customs when you land, exit the terminal (Terminal E) then reclear security to start the domestic leg to CLT. You will likely also need to change terminals unless you are flying WN to CLT. If your bag is checked through to CLT, you should be able to just drop it off after passing through Customs and it'll go on to CLT.

RobertS975

I believe that AA has three flights a day from BOS to LHR which all depart from Terminal B.

G_Wolf

Okay, I'm an idiot. I meant to type RDU, not CLT.

I've been looking at CLT flights recently for something else, and so it was on my mind.

Sorry! Original post has been edited.

RobertS975

Are you on DL for all the flights? Because if not, you could certainly miss your outbound 55 minute connection!

G_Wolf

Yes, all segments are on DL. And it's all one ticket. Well, 2 actually, since there's two of us flying (my spouse and I). We have identical tickets (except for the names, etc).

Sorry if I wasn't clearer in my initial post.

So it sounds like what I'll encounter is:

• Departing from RDU, normal TSA interaction, as if any other domestic flight. Check our luggage all the way through?
• Arriving in BOS, probably at Terminal A. Not sure if we'll have to exit security to get to Terminal E or not? But we won't have to go through any Customs (US or UK) in BOS, just possibly another TSA screening at Terminal E.
• Arriving in LHR, we'll have to clear UK Customs.

Then, on the way back:

• Departing in LHR, it sounds like we just get on the plane.
• Arriving in BOS, we will have to clear CBP at BOS, claim our bag, and re-check it. We'll have to exit the terminal (Terminal E), then clear TSA security again, the same way you would have to if you had shown up at BOS from the outside. How will I know if my bag is checked all the way through? In other words, at one point is that determined?
• Arriving in RDU, no different than any other domestic flight. Pick up my checked bag and leave the airport.

Does that sound right? I'm worried 1:45 may not be enough for both CBP and TSA screening.

JennyElf

The LHR flight on Delta departs from Terminal A, so no need to reclear security in BOS on the way out. you'll be fine. Your luggage should be checked all the way through from RDU to LHR, so it's mostly like a standard domestic flight.

On the way back, in LHR, see where your luggage is tagged to. It should read BOS and below that RDU. You can also ask at check in in LHR. But yes, you will arrive in BOS at Terminal E, claim your luggage, go through CBP, drop off luggage with a handler, exit Terminal E, proceed to Terminal A, clear security, and go to RDU like any other domestic flight.

1:45 is cutting it close. Depending on the time of day, retrieving luggage and CBP can take up to an hour. The transfer to Terminal A is about 5-10 minutes depending on either your walking speed (there is a walkway between Terminal E and A) or timing of the bus (every 10 minutes or so, take #11 or #55, do not take #33 or #22). Security at Terminal A isn't that bad most of the time, so it's doable, you'll just be nervous the whole time.

http://www.massport.com/logan-airpor...Terminals.aspx

JennyElf

Right, forgot about those!

RobertS975

As Jenny points out, there is no need to concern yourself about Terminal E on the outbound flight. Your RDU-BOS flight will arrive at the main part of terminal A and your LHR DL flight will leave from the satellite portion of terminal A. But no need to go through security again in BOS. Just make your way deliberately as your LHR flight will be just about ready to board by the time you get to the gate in the satellite terminal.

Coming home, your DL plane will pull up to terminal E for Customs and Immigration. You will claim your checked luggage, carry it through Customs and follow signs for connecting luggage drop area before you exit the area. Thereafter, you will need to make your way to terminal A for your connecting flight. The fastest way to do this is to follow the bridge to central parking and follow the signs to Terminal A. It is about a 10 minute walk with moving walkways for much of the distance. You will then need to clear the security check at A. It is a busy time of day for security because of 2 flights to AMS and your LHR flight as well as the rest of the DL flights to the various hubs.

G_Wolf

Thank you so much! The LHR-BOS flight is scheduled to land a little after 1PM on a Sunday, with the BOS-RDU flight departing a little before 3PM.

So on the way back I arrive at Terminal E, and then the central walkway you guys are alluding to is the light blue/grey line that crosses over the Central Parking West Garage in this map?
http://www.massport.com/logan-airpor...tive-maps.html
Which part of Terminal A is Departures and which is Arrivals? I can't really tell from the map. It looks like Departures is the part farthest to the bottom of the map, but I'm not entirely sure.

JennyElf

Yes.

I believe both parts. Checkin is nearest the walkway, but Arrivals and Departures are separated by a floor with Departures on the higher floor IIRC. The really far off part of Terminal A is the satellite terminal. Follow the signs to Terminal A and then to your gate and you should be fine.

RobertS975

The two parts of Term A are the main terminal and the satellite. Both have gates, but almost all of the time, your RDU flight will depart from the RJ gates in the main terminal. Sometimes, RJs use the satellite, so just figure out which gate you need and follow the signs to the gate once you have cleared security at Term A.

And if your timing is critical, see if you can get a DL gate area employee to escort you right up to the ID checker. You should already have your RDU BP from checkin in London.

G_Wolf

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who chimed in and gave us great advice in this thread.

We flew out a little over a week ago, and our experience was exactly what I expected it to be based on what you guys told me here. Our RDU-BOS flight came in to Gate A10, and our BOS-LHR flight departed from A19, so it was definitely an easy transfer.

On the way back yesterday, our LHR-BOS flight (which was practically empty) came in to Terminal E. Getting through CBP was a breeze; we dropped off our checked bag, and took the set of moving walkways from Terminal E to Terminal A. The only hassle was the usual TSA lines and and stuff to get into Terminal A.

Thank you again, RobertS975, JennyElf, and SFOSpiff! ^^^