First time Self-Flying - UK to US
 

Hey guys. Apologies if this is in the wrong place, but I have a few newbie questions. On monday I will be travelling to the US from BHX (Birmingham, UK). Now ive been to various places abroad before, but ive never A) Been on my own B) Been to the USA. Im really looking forward to it, and its a bonus because I really want to start becoming more independent...and the only thing im a little nervous about is the arrival.

I'll be fine checking in and boarding from the UK (although I hear there is self-checking now since I was last at the airport, but its pretty easy to figure out anyway) and ill be fine with the actual flying. I will be landing at PHL airport and connecting to PVD (Rhode Island). Ive given myself a 4 hour transfer time as it is my first time, so hopefully it'll be more than enough *touch wood*.

Im just looking for some newbie tips really. I have all my documents ready, but im a little unsure where I go and what I do as soon as I come off the plane into Philadelphia. Will I have to wait for my luggage and drop it off somewhere? How does immigration work? Will I have to go through customs again? Will I be able to walk from Term A to Term B at PHL and if so, how long will it take approx? I will be flying with US Airways.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

First off, you say you have your documents. Do you have an ESTA as well?

Next step - at BHX, be prepared for a few extra questions compared to intra-Europe flights, including details of your first night's accommodation (this is required for APIS information).

Have a copy of your flight itinerary with you, as you may be required to show this at immigration. You'll complete a green visa waiver form and a blue/white customs form on board the aircraft.

On arrival, there's immigration first, and this can involve quite a queue. Do heed the warnings about keeping your mobile phone switched off. Next, you'll collect your luggage, even if it's been tagged all the way through to PVD. Unlike the UK, you have to physically carry your luggage through customs at your first point of arrival.

Customs is a slightly more formal affair than in the UK - you hand in your form, may be asked some questions, and directed to leave or to have x-rays or searches done.

I don't know PHL well, but usually you'll see some transfer luggage desks after customs, and before the public area. You can drop your bags off here. If they're already tagged to PVD, it's usually just a case of dropping it on to a belt; if not, you may need to queue up and see somebody. Then you exit to the public area - there seems to be special route for transferring flights at PHL, so follow the signs for this.

It looks like A and B are connected, so you should just be able to go straight to security at terminal B (you'll have been issued a boarding pass in Brum) as if you were departing from there.

Excellent post stut. OP -- check and re-check departure gates. They change frequently.

Thanks for the response!

Yeah, ive done my ESTA. I have everything ready and had my mums boyfriend to help me who has been to the states several times in the last two years (he just got back from Florida last week, too).

Its just the connecting flight which has me a little nervy. Even if I get stuck, im sure there are people around who will be able to guide me. I guess its a benefit that I will be going to an English-speaking destination. You've really cleared some things up though so thanks a lot. Do you know much about BHX? As I briefly mentioned, apparently its all computer check-in now. If I check in and print off my boarding pass online on the Sunday, will I just need to drop my suitcase off, or will I have to enter stuff in at the computer terminal?

Cheers for the tip also, Palal. I'll be keeping a regular eye on the screens anyway :P

The other thing I'd do is even though you've given yourself a 4 hour transfer time (which sounds plenty!), check what time the next connecting flight after the one you've been booked on is, and what time it arrives. Then if anything does go wrong, and you need to be rebooked, you can let anyone you are meeting know (or know yourself!).

And of course, this being a board for frequent fliers - have you signed up for the appropriate mileage programme to make sure you get miles?

Ah, nice idea Jenbel.

Whats this milage programme?

"Oh Grasshopper, you have so much to learn"

Every, well almost every, airline has some sort of frequent flyer programme where you earn miles or points based on how much you fly.

Miles/points can eventually be used for free trips, upgrades or other goodies. Miles/points can also generally be earned with partner credit cards or by using programme partners like car rental partners, hotels and the like.

Status miles, aka BIS miles or butt-in-seat miles, can result in airline status which can lead to free or reduced price lounge access, upgrades, increased baggage allowance, priority check-in, priority boarding, priority baggage delivery and other similar benefits.

What airline are you flying?

mpc1

Ah, so in other words, Airmiles.

Im flying with US Airways. Any info would be greatly appreciated, as I am planning on flying with them in the future (unless I have a really bad experience first time round) ;)

I doubt you'll have any difficulty navigating the airport. If, for any reason, you find you miss a counter or corridor or anything like that, then remember that the worst that can happen is that you just end up going through as if you'd started your journey there. Not the end of the world. The only quirk you're likely to find is that 'check-in' areas are often referred to as 'ticketing'.

As for BHX, I haven't been since it went all self-service, but generally how it works is that you'll have a bank of kiosks and a bank of bag drop desks. All the people at the bag drop desks need is a boarding pass, so if you've printed one off at home, you can go straight there. There may be an extra document check counter you have to go through first, as it's a US-bound flight - if this is the case, it'll be obvious.

A couple of other little pointers for PHL, which may help smooth things along... Security procedures are pretty much the same as in the UK (the whole liquids bag thing, taking shoes and belts off, etc) but also... You'll be asked to show ID at the entrance to the security queue, and not just your boarding pass, so it's good to have this handy. Secondly, you'll be expected to carry your boarding pass through the metal detector. Apart from that, you'll find it's really just like boarding a flight in the UK.

Another thing... US airlines are really keen on status and boarding procedures. Whereas in the UK it's common to have a free-for-all at boarding time, or maybe boarding by row number on particularly busy or large flights, you'll find it's a very formalised process (with a lot of people hanging around the gate area waiting for their turn!) First, there's first class, then platinum cards, then gold cards... I lose count. Your boarding pass will probably have a zone written on it, and you'll be called in turn to board. The reason for the 'gate lice' is that US airlines tend to be rather less strict about cabin baggage allowances, so overhead locker space can end up being at a premium.

As for the mileage programme, well, US Airways is a member of Star Alliance, meaning you can collect miles (and other benefits if you fly frequently enough) on any other airline in this alliance. Generally, as you're UK-based, I'd recommend joining bmi Diamond Club - it's a particularly generous scheme, too - but, as the future of the airline's in question at the moment, I'm not so sure. I'm a little out of touch with frequent flying at the moment, so I'll let others comment!

Josh1989

US Airways is part of the Star Alliance, often shown here as *A, so you can collect with US Airways, British Midlands (BD), United (UA), Lufthansa (LH), SAS (SK), AIr Canada (AC) or any of the *A member airlines. You can collect miles on any of the *A partners, but you won't be able move miles from one programe to another.

You should probably take one of two approaches: (one) collect on the airline you'll likely fly the most on, as that will likely give you the most usable programme benefits, like upgrades. or (two) collect with a partner that will allow you to reach *A gold (*G) or *A silver (*S) status the quickest/easiest or retain it for the longest. There's no one right answer for everyone, it depends on what's important to you and what your travel pattern is.

mpc1

Thanks a lot guys.

Good job you told me, Stut. I probably would have tried to board at the very beginning and ended up looking rude if you hadnt told me! I appreciate the little tips I should expect at PHL; it just helps things run smoothly as you said.

So how do I go about claiming these miles, MPC1/anyone? Sorry if it sounds like an idiotic question, but I really have no clue! :o

Step 1 Decide on which programme to join, Each of them has their own page here on FT and there's a Star Alliance page too. Search FAQ's and search past threads on comparisons between programmes.

Step 2 Go to that airlines website and find their Frequent Flyer Programme tab, there will be a "Join Here" page somewhere.

Step 3 Sign up and get your new FF number. Card will be in the post in due course, but you only need the number.

Step 4 Input the number into your e-ticket booking or enter it when you check in.

Step 5 Enter the FF number everytime you book a ticket

Step 6 Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat ...

Step 7 Wait for your mileage balance to grow and then plan your rewards

mpc1

Most important is state of mind. Things can go wrong when flying, just accept that say to yourself "may this be the hardest thing in life" and move on, don't make a big deal (also don't rant out on the near min wage airline workers).

e.g. you arrive in PHL, and due to weather there are no flights leaving anywere, also because of that there are no hotel rooms around. Sleep on airport bench, no big deal, next day you will be at your destination,

good luck.

Cheers Mpc1.


Oh yes, im not the aggressive/complaining type - I know that most things are out of their control, especially the weather. All im hoping is that they're helpful incase I get stuck anywhere and ill be extremely happy :)

PHL is well laid out, easy to navigate, the terminals run A-E and you simply walk along the hallway or down the outside or the shuttle bus A-B is about 3 mins walk
.
as you get off the plane, go with the flow and you will end up in the immigration hall, go to the Right hand end for visitors and wait, only walk foward of the line when then beckon you. Immigration officers do not have much sense of humour but I have had more good than bad experiences at PHL.
Hand in the green I94W and blue and white customs form (this one is returned after checking) answer the questions, have your fingerprints and photo taken and get your passport stamped.

After the immigration kiosks there are doorways in the wall which lead through to baggage reclaim, either watch where others go or read the boards on the top of the belts. The baggage trolleys are not free you have to pay $2 or 3 for them in the machine

when you have your bags, look for the exit through customs on the far wall and line up again, hand in just the blue and white form here, you may get questions but its only the usual customs stuff.

Turn right on the carpeted hall after customs and follow the lane to the exit but take the right hand lane to flight connections, then go through the check in again for the next flight,
if you need daylight, air, smoke etc
keep going on the Left hand lane, following the signs for ground transportation, down in the lift and along a dark coridor the exit is on the left to the street.

from flight connections you will end up in the TSA security area, just do what they say, or rather what they shout, they like to check your documents and passport a couple of times, shoes off, the floor is a bit sticky.
if they decide to do a secondary search, keep smiling, they do love their jobs bless em

once inside the departures area, its a long hallway, with all the usual shops and cafes terminals are very well signed and just walk until you find what you need, the terminals are linear and if A-B is a breeze.

if you stop in a bar for a pepsi, dont grimace at the first mouthful, all fountain sodas taste of chlorine first mouthful to the British palate

A-E connection with 2 different airlines takes us about 90 mins including the walk outside for a smoke so you have bags of time. US airways domestic are like a bus, if you miss one there will be another, of all the airports to be stuck in for a peroid of time PHL is one of the better ones

Long sorry, hope it helps