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Customs
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Posted by: searcher

Hello,

My overseas travel is limited.

When i've flown out of the country before my flights were direct, non-stop.

If, on my way to Russia, I change planes in London, England do I have to go through customs in England too?

Also, do I have to retrieve my luggage then check-in for my next flight or (as in domestic flights in the U.S.) is my luggage sent to my flight heading to Russia.

The last thing I want (or need!) is my luggage to get lost!

Posted by: searcher

Any information, anyone?

Posted by: ulughbek

Usually, you will not have to clear customs in the layover airport. This was true for me in the past in Paris, Frankfurt, and Istanbul. But procedures change all the time, so I would check with the airport you plan to fly through.

Posted by: Skooter

Searcher
When you check in for your flight in the US, they will probably ask you if you want your baggage checked in for the final destination.
In which case when you arrive in Gatwick, you just go to the transfer desk and they will issue you a boarding pass for your ongoing flight.
If you have a layover at Gatwick, I would suggest packing the essentials in you hand baggage, so that your main baggage can be left with the handling airline.
Gatwick is a good and really easy airport to transit.

Posted by: Castlestormer

I just went through that process three weeks ago. I had to retreive my baggage because I arrived at Gatwick from Dallas, but departed Heathrow to Moscow. If you have a connecting flight the same day from the same airport, there are no customs problems. But if there is an airport transfer or an overnight involved, customs awaits my friend. And here's the hardest thing to believe: there were bigger customs hassels in London than in Moscow. I blow through customs in Moscow. London is a real pain right now because they are on heightened security alert.

I did find it strange also that the planes going to and from Moscow at Heathrow were not pulled up to the terminal. They park on the tarmac and bussed the passengers out to the plane. That is on British Airways.

If you have specific questions that you don't want to post here, feel free to email me.

Have fun!