Intermediate point? Flight?

paul2020uk · 12 Jul 17, 01:14 AM

Looking at last min to Orlando, as usual, found some flights that claim to be direct but stop at an intermediate point. Flights from Glasgow to MCO but stops at Philidelphia. Has anyone ever taken a flight like this and can help me out and explain it.

Cheers

Guest · 12 Jul 17, 01:48 AM

you're going to have to change flights. You always have to do customs the first time you touch down in the US.

Peko · 12 Jul 17, 02:31 PM

You have encountered some confusing airline industry terminology here. In the airline world, a "direct" flight does not always mean "non-stop".

A direct flight is technically a flight on a single flight number, but it can have stops (and even aircraft change) en-route. So, all non-stop flights are direct, but not all "direct" flights are non-stop. Not at all confusing

I'm guessing the flight in question is AA769, which they sell as a direct flight GLA-MCO, with a stop at PHL. The US carriers quite often use the same flight number for flights with one or more stops, it can be very confusing.

As mentioned above, you will have to get off at PHL, clear immigration, collect your bags, pass through customs and re-check your bags onto the PHL-MCO sector. Your bags should have been tagged through to MCO from GLA, and "rechecking" is usually just putting them on a belt immediately after customs (before exiting into the arrivals hall), but I'm not familiar with the layout at PHL so I can't be precise on that point. You will have to reclear security at PHL and may or may not reboard the same aircraft.

Madfish · 12 Jul 17, 02:58 PM

And remember if it is BA/AA then the same flight number only generates one set of Tier Points.

trampslikeus · 12 Jul 17, 03:43 PM

I recall mid 90s when planes would regularly stop at Bangor, Maine, for refuelling and you would go through immigration there before returning to your seat, for onward flight to MCO.
I guess the clue would be in the flight duration, a non stop direct GLA- MCO outbound is scheduled at around 9 1/2 hours and inbound 8 1/2 hours.
A significant variation will indicate a stop.

Peko · 12 Jul 17, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Madfish

And remember if it is BA/AA then the same flight number only generates one set of Tier Points.

There are ways round this, but they are not infallible and it's probably a bit too Flyertalk for this forum..

Originally Posted by trampslikeus

I guess the clue would be in the flight duration, a non stop direct GLA- MCO outbound is scheduled at around 9 1/2 hours and inbound 8 1/2 hours.
A significant variation will indicate a stop.

Indeed, in this case the "direct" flight from GLA-MCO is scheduled as 12h20m.

Warkman58 · 12 Jul 17, 05:23 PM

It's commonly known ad an indirect flight.
Last year we went Dublin to Philadelphia to Orlando, much better, as you go through Customs at Dublin so no queuing at Philadelphia.
However our flight from Philadelphia was on the plane that came from Glasgow. It stops at PHL, then becomes the PHL to MCO.

Just one word of warning however, check which plane type is doing the GLA to PHL part.
When we went it was a 757, and was ok in business for a short flight, no modern lie flat beds, only bigger more space standard seats. But the big issue was no individual IFE, only center small screens and that included business. Like going back to the eighties!
Good news is no queuing at MCO, as you clear Customs at PHL

Madfish · 12 Jul 17, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Peko

There are ways round this, but they are not infallible and it's probably a bit too Flyertalk for this forum..

.

Maybe if you want to have a long connection or travel the next day with the same flight number. Problem is those who think they will get two sets of TPs might easily fall into the trap without realising. But you are right... perhaps the wrong forum for too much detailed discussion on this point.

12 Jul 17, 01:48 AM	#2
	12 Jul 17, 01:48 AM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	you're going to have to change flights. You always have to do customs the first time you touch down in the US.

12 Jul 17, 02:31 PM	#3
	12 Jul 17, 02:31 PM Peko Imagineer
Peko Imagineer Join Date: Sep 16	You have encountered some confusing airline industry terminology here. In the airline world, a "direct" flight does not always mean "non-stop". A direct flight is technically a flight on a single flight number, but it can have stops (and even aircraft change) en-route. So, all non-stop flights are direct, but not all "direct" flights are non-stop. Not at all confusing I'm guessing the flight in question is AA769, which they sell as a direct flight GLA-MCO, with a stop at PHL. The US carriers quite often use the same flight number for flights with one or more stops, it can be very confusing. As mentioned above, you will have to get off at PHL, clear immigration, collect your bags, pass through customs and re-check your bags onto the PHL-MCO sector. Your bags should have been tagged through to MCO from GLA, and "rechecking" is usually just putting them on a belt immediately after customs (before exiting into the arrivals hall), but I'm not familiar with the layout at PHL so I can't be precise on that point. You will have to reclear security at PHL and may or may not reboard the same aircraft. Edited at 02:35 PM.

12 Jul 17, 03:43 PM	#5
	12 Jul 17, 03:43 PM trampslikeus Apprentice Imagineer
trampslikeus Apprentice Imagineer Join Date: Jun 11	I recall mid 90s when planes would regularly stop at Bangor, Maine, for refuelling and you would go through immigration there before returning to your seat, for onward flight to MCO. I guess the clue would be in the flight duration, a non stop direct GLA- MCO outbound is scheduled at around 9 1/2 hours and inbound 8 1/2 hours. A significant variation will indicate a stop.