Help with Long Layover + Checked Baggage + Immigration
 

Hey everyone, a friend of mine is travelling from Hyderabad, India to Kansas City, MO via London and Chicago; all on one ticket (British Airways) with baggage checked through to the final destination. Up until Chicago it seems smooth sailing, but he has a 11 hour layover in O'Hare. This isn't a problem in itself because he of course has a visa to enter the US and will pass through immigration in O'Hare itself.

From experience, when I entered the US (also through O'Hare), even though my bags was checked through to my final stop, I had to retrieve them to pass through customs, but since my onward flight was just under 2 hours away, I was able to immediately hand it right back and move on quickly. So my question is, will my friend be able to do the same (despite the 11 hour layover)? Or will he be stuck toting his bags around while waiting in the airport? The reason I ask is because I've read in several places that checked baggage will have to be reclaimed for layovers longer than 8 hours.

Thanks in advance. :)

That's a good question, and welcome to FlyerTalk! I think you can hand your bags back straight away at a desk after customs, but it's been a long time since I've transited ORD so I'll hope someone else can post a more authoritative answer.

Your friend may also need a visa to transit the UK depending on his nationality and on what visa he has for the US.

I have just checked TIMATIC which simply says "a visa":

- so it looks like transit through the UK should be no problem.

Welcome to Flyertalk OldeScallywag

As long as checked bags are tagged through to final destination then no problem redepositing immediately after customs at ORD. If not then will need to check them in at ORD, which may not be possible until a few hours prior to departure.

Many thanks guys, yes the baggage is checked through; but I was wondering what would happen after customs. So hopefully there is a place to hand over the bags immediately.

Also he won't need anything but his US visa to transit airside through Heathrow, this too I know from experience. :)

Help with Long Layover + Checked Baggage + Immigration
 

Both British Airways and American will check through bags on layovers of at least 12 hours so unless they won't tag the bags through at your original destination it will be fine but even if they don't American should let you get the bags retagged on arrival at ORD and not make you wait to check in