Job Discussion Forums

[stefanreynolds]

There are some great deals on indirect flights to otkyo at the moment. has anyone had experience of this? what happens with the luggage?

[Apsara]

Yes, it is almost always cheaper to fly via another airport rather than non-stop. From Japan I have flown back to NZ via Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Fiji, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast airports over the years plus many many other indirect flights to other places and have only once ever had my luggage go astray in probably more than 50 indirect flights (Malaysian airlines forgot to transfer my luggage to the flight for Mumbai in Kuala Lumpur- I finally got it 5 days later).

Normally, unless you plan to make a stopover, the airline will check your baggage right through to your destination airport. It is part of the job of airport baggage handlers to take baggage off one flight and transfer it to the connecting flight- they have an excellent, computerised system in place for this which works 99.99% of the time, so don't worry about your luggage.

Now I am off to Hawaii for a while, hopefully my luggage will get there fine! Have a nice rainy season, those of you in Japan (except Glenski and flyer, I know there's no real rainy season in Hokkaido)

[seklarwia]

Depends on where you are flying via and who with but normally if you book an indirect flight as a single journey your luggage will be transfered to your connecting flight whilst you simply get off one plane and follow signs for transfers.

There are always a few exceptions such as when I was living in China, flying via Beijing was a pain because they made everyone collect all their luggage, go through customs and then re-check in all over again through the regular departure halls even if you had a connecting flight.

If you book your flights indepently of one another, they will be treated as seperate journeys even if they are all with the same carrier and you will have to collect you luggage, go through customs and re-check in each time which is nightmare waiting to happen.

You're flying from the UK right? Are you under 26? You should check out STA travel too. Sometimes they have amazing offers on direct flights. Sometimes the offers are only for young people under 26, but sometimes they are open to everyone. I flew direct last year from Heathrow to Narita for �329.20.

I've never had an issue with luggage being transferred. I have had issues with luggage never reaching my first flight (not often but always through Heathrow terminal 5 ). Make sure you carry a suit as hand luggage just in case since I've I always had my luggage turn up but sometimes a couple of days later.

And unless you don't mind your luggage disappearing indefinately, don't fly BA

And if you are flying via any wierd and wonderful countries, check any visa requirements. Many places can grant transit visas on arrival, if necessary. But some places require you to get a visa in advance. Again flying through Beijing normally required this because you couldn't simply transfer from one flight directly to the next departures lounge.