Has anyone dealt with delayed luggage?

[Gobkin]

I looked at my itinerary today and realized that the layover on the way to SF is only 50 minutes long. I have a suspicion that our luggage will not be transferred on the next flight in time. I have dealt with delayed or lost luggage in the past and it usually takes the carrier 1-3 days to find it and bring it to you. Well... the thing is that u will be on the playa by then. Has anyone dealt with such situations in the past? How was it resolved? Any advice is very much appreciated.

Thank you.

[Bless]

Travel tip: before you board the connecting flight, give them your baggage number at the gate to see whether your luggage made it on to your flight.

[andy]

I understand your concerns but 50 minutes is almost always enough time for a bag transfer, plus today airlines usually pad their schedules to avoid having to report delayed flights to the FAA, so most flights get in 20 minutes before scheduled arrival. Also, since you are coming from Toronto (why not fly Air Canada non-stop?) there are plenty of flights and worst case you will have to wait a day - but most likely you will happily get your bag. In Dubai I RAN through the airport from my 90-minute delayed flight to catch my connection - everyone was already on board - and my bags made it.

[Gobkin]

Well I had a choice to book nonstop for 1000 or fly from buffalo with one stop for free. Im just planing for the worst case scenario. Would it be to crazy to ask them to deliver it to the playa? (That actually would b sic!)

[chuckularone]

Where will you be going through customs? At the airport you change planes in or at your destination?

[VultureChow]

Well I had a choice to book nonstop for 1000 or fly from buffalo with one stop for free. Im just planing for the worst case scenario.

So customs when you cross at Niagara, and then regular security at Buffalo.

As said above, your luggage will probably get to your connection before you do.

Depending on the time of day and the weather, 50 minutes can be tight for a connection. Last year, I flew from Newark in the late afternoon and had to overnight in Denver after I missed my connection.

Buffalo is a low traffic airport though,so departures don't really have a chance to back up. Later in the day delays get worse as your plane can get backed up in it's schedule elsewhere in the country.

Would it be to crazy to ask them to deliver it to the playa? (That actually would b sic!)

Yes. Yes it would. It's not going to happen.

[lucky420]

Would it be to crazy to ask them to deliver it to the playa? (That actually would b sic!)

just a complete waste of time

[Gobkin]

@chuckularone - crossing border in niagara. Connection at Washington Dulles.
@rest hey I am a dreamer! Dont hate me for that

[chuckularone]

Oh, so not flying across the border? That makes my follow-up question unnecessary.

[Captain]

I flew from NYC->SF->RENO. Getting on the plane in NYC they said they would have to check my carry on because they ran out of space.

I said to the guy 10 times, it's really important this gets to RENO, NEVADA, and that I was going to an event there and it was really really important to me.

So he wrote Fresno, California, and had it sent there.

I got really really mad at Delta in Reno, eventually it came in and I was happy, but even if it hadn't I was told Delta and the other airlines run a van of luggage out to the playa once a day during the event to deliver lost luggage.

[Gobkin]

So I am not crazy afterall? Did u manage to get you luggage the same day?

[gyre]

I'm still waiting for some of mine.
Most of it arrived.
Had nothing to do with a layover though.

[delle]

Always keep the essentials in your "purse". By purse, of course, I mean the smaller of the two carry ons. They often tell you they need your carry on to be placed under the plane, but never your "purse" (which, of course is likely to be a small day pack, right?).

I always keep my goggles, headlight, dust scarf in there, along with some choice spare clothes and my meds.

Given you're not travelling with your food and water, you're still likely to survive even if the rest goes missing.

[andy]

FYI regarding customs, flying from Canada to the US is unusual because the U.S. maintains pre-clearance facilities at all major Canadian airports, so you do all of your customs and immigration at the airport in Toronto and then arrive as a domestic flight into the US. (BTW this is not done for security but to save money, otherwise they would need customs facilities at many smaller airports near the Canadian border, it's cheaper to do it at the few Canadian airports. Per the U.S./Canada agreement both parties have the right to do it, but only the U.S. chooses to)

[andy]

[quote="Gobkin"]Well I had a choice to book nonstop for 1000 or fly from buffalo with one stop for free. Im just planing for the worst case scenario. Would it be to crazy to ask them to deliver it to the playa? (That actually would b sic!)[/quote]

In fairness I did the same thing last April. Flew to Toronto N/S from SFO but the return flight was $150 cheaper from Buffalo. Sounds like nothing but there were 7 of us so it was worth a $100 rental car and 2 hours to save over $1,000 - plus I got to show the kids Niagara Falls.

I'm sure you know this but watch your timing crossing into the U.S. at Niagara Falls. The line can be anything from 1 minute long to OMG. I know there are at least 2 bridges in the area if not 3 that you can use.