Long Haul Question:

[jb2_86_uk]

My sister is about to fly from the UK to Australia,

She booked it as 'one' flight with Korean Air, but is stopping in Seoul to swap planes.

As this was booked as one flight, (rather than 2) she was wondering whether she would have to claim her luggage and check in again at Seoul

I told her since it is only booked as one flight, I would expect Korean Air would sort out getting the baggage onto the next aircraft... but i wasnt sure.

Does anyone know what the deal is in this kind of situation? She is only in Korea for a couple of hours

JB

[expat]

Whenever I have flown a distance that required an aircraft change, my baggage has always been cleared through to the destination and I never clapped eyes on it in between. Saying that you have to take into account any security measures that may or may not be in place.

Matt

[C]

Indeed. You shouldn't need to collect it as you don't actually have to check in as such again.

[Craig.]

I dont know how it works going east.
But any time I have been to the US and had to change planes in the US, I have had to collect and re-check it before the onward flight. Usually curbside or post customs inspection. But again that could just be a US thing.

[Hagar]

I dont know how it works going east.
But any time I have been to the US and had to change planes in the US, I have had to collect and re-check it before the onward flight. Usually curbside or post customs inspection. But again that could just be a US thing.

Surely not if it's with the same airline?

Unless they recently changed it of course.

[Triple_7]

Every country will be different.  On my way to Taiwan back in July I checked my bag in at FWA and didnt see it again till I cleared customs in Taipei.  That was with an airline change at LAX.  Now on my way home last Friday & Saturday I got to LAX and had to claim my bag before going through the second set of customs even though it was checked all the way to FWA, then after I cleared there was a TSA drop off before I switched terminals.  So only handled the bag a whole 10 minutes or so...no problem.

If she is switching airlines in Seoul then theres a chance of having to pick it up, but should be able to check it all the way to Australia without a problem even if 2 airlines are involved.  But if switching airlines she might have to recheck to get a boarding pass, just make sure she keeps the luggage claim ticket to show its being transfered.  

But like I say...every country is different...Took a whole 5 minutes to clear customs in Taipei but took over an hour to re-enter the US :-/

[jb2_86_uk]

Nah both flights are with Korean Air. I have told her that she probably wont have to do anything but make sure SHE is on the right plane, if not I told her she will be informed of anything, and if they didnt, she could ask someone, London - Sydnet via Seoul is quite a popular route.

Thanks for your comments guys!
(you are all now responsible if her bags go missing, not me  ;D)

JB

[Overspeed]

Whenever I have flown a distance that required an aircraft change, my baggage has always been cleared through to the destination and I never clapped eyes on it in between. Saying that you have to take into account any security measures that may or may not be in place.

Matt

yup.. the airplane dudes move the luggage for you. On the luggage tag, there should be a transfer sticker, which will direct it to the right location, in your case australia

[Craig.]

Surely not if it's with the same airline?

Unless they recently changed it of course.

doesn't matter,
You have to clear it through customs at your port of arrival, this has been the case every flight I have had to the US. It will then be re-checked pretty much straight after you've cleared customs. You dont re-queue at a check-in desk as such but jsut hand it to a counter clerk who will put it back in the system.

[Hagar]

You have to clear it through customs at your port of arrival, this has been the case every flight I have had to the US. It will then be re-checked pretty much straight after you've cleared customs. You dont re-queue at a check-in desk as such but jsut hand it to a counter clerk who will put it back in the system.

Not in my experience Craig. I've flown to Florida several times breaking my journey at either Newark or JFK. Went through immigration at NYC but the baggage was transferred automatically. Didn't see it till we arrived at Orlando. Wouldn't have had time to claim it anyway.

As I said, they might have changed the system since I last visited the US about 10 years ago.

[Craig.]

quite likely.
I'm just going by my experiences thats all. As you say though its possible they've changed it. Especially with all these new security rules.