Urgent-Reconfirm your International Airline tickets

[jfbbarry]

Be forwarned. After arriving in Heathrow you go out of customs then go back through customs- very confusing and can take ~ 1 hour

[FlyerTalker]

Just a note to you all: There is a specific meaning in the airline industry for the terms "reconfirmation" and "reconfirm". They are holdovers from the past, but still hold true for some airlines.

 

In the somewhat distant past, you would have to contact your airline at least a few days before your departure (and return flight) to "reconfirm" that you were actually going to be taking your trip. If you didn't, your seats were subject to cancellation. Nowdays, most "western" airlines do NOT require you to "reconfirm" before your travel.

 

If the concept in this thread is that you double-check your reservations to make sure that flights are still operating as originally booked - that's a wise policy. But be careful with the term "reconfirm/reconfirmation". Many airlines state that reconfirmation is not necessary. For example, from NW:

We recommend checking the flight and gate status before departure in case of any schedule changes. It is not necessary to re-confirm your reservation.

From KLM:

It is not necessary to reconfirm your flight. When flying with KLM or one of its partners, you do not need to reconfirm your flight.

These are using the technical meaning of the word; however the NW statement neatly sums up what you should be doing.

 

However, a different policy comes from China Southern:

RECONFIRMATION: China Southern Airlines recommends that travelers contact the airline to reconfirm their flight. Passengers are required to reconfirm their continuing or return flight(s) no late than noon - two days prior to the scheduled departure of the continuing or return flights - if passengers stay at the continuing or return points for more than 72 hours. Failure to reconfirm flights will result in the cancellation of any onward or return reservations.

 

So, be accurate in the terms you use, and ALWAYS know the specific rules for each airline you will be flying. And by flying, I mean what are both the ticketing carrier (the flight number) and operating carrier (whose airplane is being used).

[Globaliser]

Be forwarned. After arriving in Heathrow you go out of customs then go back through customs- very confusing and can take ~ 1 hour

I don't think that this is right.

 

Unless you're doing a connection which for some reason requires you to collect your bags at Heathrow and check them in again, which will almost certainly be because you've booked separate tickets and your first airline will not through-check them to your final destination, it should be unnecessary to clear customs at Heathrow.

 

This includes connections where you are changing from international to domestic - if your bags are through-checked, they will go straight through to your final destination and you do not need to collect them at Heathrow.

 

All international arriving passengers are security screened before their next onward flight. But this takes place within the airside flight connections channels, and doesn't involve clearing customs or going landside at all.