Switching airline carriers at layovers
I will be switching airlines to reach the US. Will I have to pick up my checked-in luggage again and submit it at the new airline's counter (United) again?
I'm confused about the whole process of what I would do at my layover. This is my first time flying internationally alone, so I also wonder if airport staff will be able to guide me through every step of the way?
I booked tickets with United Airlines. I was able to book tickets for both flight carriers with them. I would go to BLR and travel with Air India to DEL, and then I would travel with United to ORD. The layover would be at DEL. My flight is in a few days
Best Answer
As long as both flights are on the same ticket, in this instance, this is what should happen:
- In BLR, when checking in, they should see both flights in your booking. They will usually reconfirm by asking “what is your final destination today?”.
- They will “check-through” your luggage to the final destination: you’ll see the labels they stick on your luggage will have both DEL (usually smaller print) and ORD (usually larger print).
- They will usually give you boarding passes for both flights
- You’ll go through security, to your gate, and board your aircraft.
- In DEL, you will not see your luggage, it will be transferred to the next flight.
- You’ll go through exit passport control and possibly another security check (don’t know the details in DEL)
- You’ll go to your gate and board your second flight
- In ORD, you’ll go through passport control (immigration), reclaim your bags, go through customs, and that’s it.
Make sure when you check-in that you are indeed checked through to your final destination.
If for some reason they can’t issue the boarding pass for the second flight in BLR, you’ll need to get it in DEL, usually from a “transfer desk”. The agents in BLR should be able to tell you exactly how and where.
In DEL, make sure you follow signs for “transfers” or “connecting flights”, not “exit” or “baggage claim”.
Depending on the airports and airlines there could be lots of staff around to assist you or none at all. But it is always quite well signposted.
Note that things could be quite different for other combinations of flights/airports (including in the way back).
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Can you change airlines during a layover?
Normally, when layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.Can you switch airlines on a connecting flight?
To change planes for a connecting flight, start by asking a flight attendant on your flight or reviewing the Departures board in the airport to find your departure gate number. Then, if your luggage hasn't been checked through to your final destination, pick it up from baggage claim and go back through security.Do you always switch planes on a layover?
Do you stay on the plane for a layover? In most cases, you'll have to switch to another plane, but sometimes (rarely) if the plane you are on is continuing to your next destination, you'll stay in your seat.Do I have to recheck my luggage with connecting flights?
If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.A Basic Guide to Layovers
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