flying to the UK: Layover in the US or in UK?

Hi all,

I am flying to Manchester from Los Angeles next month. I am debating if I should have my layover in the US or in the UK. If my layover is in the UK, do I need to go through the customs before taking my connecting flight? Having to pick up check-in baggage and go through the customs before reaching my destination will be pretty inconvenient.  Thanks.

Yes, you would clear customs before your connection.  US connection would be easier from that perspective.

Leave plenty of time between flights wherever you decide to layover. New security measures mean that it takes longer to clear security, and if you have to clear immigration too you could need a couple of hours in between flights.

Hi all,

I am flying to Manchester from Los Angeles next month. I am debating if I should have my layover in the US or in the UK. If my layover is in the UK, do I need to go through the customs before taking my connecting flight? Having to pick up check-in baggage and go through the customs before reaching my destination will be pretty inconvenient.  Thanks.

If you're flight is booked all the way through on the same airline (BA, Virgin, etc), your bag will probably be checked through to your final destination (but would need to check with the airline first to make sure).   You will still have to go through immigration, but through "connecting flights" -and depending on the airport- airline-terminal-, these can actually be shorter queues than the direct to UK ones.
On the way home in the US, you would definitley need to pick up your checked bag first and re-check it if you connect in the US, but your UK bag would be checked through again (if the same airline)

On the way home in the US, you would definitley need to pick up your checked bag first and re-check it if you connect in the US, but your UK bag would be checked through again (if the same airline)

That depends, in Philadelphia, even if it's the same airline, you have to pick up your baggage and re check it.
Also, consider things like duty free bought in departing airport - that needs to be placed in a checked bag for an onward flight.

That depends, in Philadelphia, even if it's the same airline, you have to pick up your baggage and re check it.
Also, consider things like duty free bought in departing airport - that needs to be placed in a checked bag for an onward flight.

Sorry, didn't meant ot confuse, that Yes, that's what I meant about connecting in the US on the way back.
I was referring to connecting in the UK on the way back about bags being checked all the way through.

So if the poster say went on US Airways: LA to Philly then to Manchester (Bags checked all the way through, Border Control  in Manchester) and then Manchester to Philly to LA -  Then it would be immigration in Philly, pick up the bag and re-check and then continue to LA on domestic flight

But if it were LA to LHR to Manchester on British Airways and then return Manchester to LHR to LA - it would be- bag checked all the way through to Manchester, but immigration at Heathrow.  Way home it would be -bag checked all the way through to LA, and US immigration in LA.

Bets are all off if its a different airline or having to change airports

We flew Delta    from BOS to LHR last time but as they are co-shared with Virgin we had our checked-in luggage transferred to Little Red to MAN.  No sweat.  You do have to do immigration and security checks at LHR though.  It wasn't too bad, except DH set off the security checks because he had his foil-wrapped meds in a pocket 

Hi guys,

Thanks for chiming in. After weighing all the layover options (and considering the prices!), I decided to take my connecting flight in the States, even though the particular ticket I bought was a bit more expensive than the other ones that had UK layovers.

Thank you again!!