Flights UK to Miami

[bilty]

We are shortly to go on our first Caribbean Cruise, we have booked our flights with the cruise company, RCL. Our flight goes from Manchester to Atlanta and then Miami.

Does anyone know if we have to get our luggage in Atlanta or does it go straight through to Miami. If it goes straight through is there any advantage in getting it in Atlanta and then checking in again for Miami, Im just worried in case the cases dont end up in the right place at the right time.

[World Traveller 2008]

We are shortly to go on our first Caribbean Cruise, we have booked our flights with the cruise company, RCL. Our flight goes from Manchester to Atlanta and then Miami.

Does anyone know if we have to get our luggage in Atlanta or does it go straight through to Miami. If it goes straight through is there any advantage in getting it in Atlanta and then checking in again for Miami, Im just worried in case the cases dont end up in the right place at the right time.

Although your luggage will be ticketed all the way through from Manchester to Miami, once you've been through immigration at Atlanta, you will collect your luggage, take it through customs then it goes back on a belt for onward journey to Miami. We travelled last year Manchester to Miami via Chicago. It was very straightforward and we only had to take our luggage a few yards through customs and the belt was very close by so no problem really. I don't know what Atlanta airport is like but certainly Chicago was really easy. Have a wonderful cruise. :D

[drewlin]

We flew Manchester to Orlando via Atlanta last November and had no problems whatsoever. As previously posted you will collect your luggage at Atlanta and go through immigration and customs. You will then pass your luggage onto separate conveyor belts for the onward journey. It is all signposted and very clear. Atlanta airport is huge and there are 5 terminals but don't panic as there is an underground train that connects them all so you can get from one to the furthest one in about 5 minutes. We got to our terminal for our onward flight to Orlando in plenty of time but found getting to the terminal was just the start as there were 26 gates and you guessed it ours was the furthest away from the train stop and it was right next to the gate for the Miami flight! It was our first flight with Delta and really enjoyed it - the service was great.

[Wingtips56]

You always have to go through US Customs at your first point of entry into the United States, going through passport control and claiming your baggage, even if you are booked on a through flight (same plane)continuing to another point in the US. But as noted, bags can be tagged through so you can just put them on a transfer belt on exiting customs, rather than having to check them in again with the next flight/airline. If they weren't tagged through, then you do have to recheck with the airline. (International connections over a US point may vary by airport, and whether they have an "in-bond" transfer lounge set-up, so you have to ask. You may or may not have to go through passport control but you may or may not need to claim your bags as well.)

 

On the way back, you'll go through US Customs at the port when getting off the ship. Then just check-in at Miami and not touch your bags again until Manchester, of course double checking before leaving the counter that your bags are indeed checked all the way through.

[bilty]

Thank you for all your help. I like to know what is going to happen and where my luggage is.

[heatherb1958]

We have travelled from Manchester, UK through Atlanta many times to Miami & Fort Lauderdale and back again.

Please remember if you purchase any liquids over and above the permitted sizes at the UK airport or on the plane you will have to put them in your hold cases when you claim them at Atlanta or they will be confiscated as you have to go through security again. If you have plenty of layover time this will not be a problem but the bag claim/recheck area will be very busy and you may not want to be opening your suitcases to pack liquids in there

[sidari]

We also flew with Delta from Manchester to Fort Lauderdale via Atlanta last October believe me it was far better than going via Heathrow where we have had problems on 2 previous occasions returning to the UK,hence the reason we asked to go via Atlanta.

 

The process at Atlanta was very smooth with no problems in receiving and handing the cases back in for the onward journey.

 

We did however have a problem with our cases on return to Manchester! Delta or the luggage handlers had damaged both cases beyond further use ... :eek: to their credit Delta filled in the damage report forms at the airport and paid for New cases within a few weeks ... :)

Would we fly with Delta again ? Yes.