travel question

[Ranger]

OK this is nothing to to do with cycling, but everything to do with me and the wife having no idea about airports etc.

We have booked a holiday which means flying from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur and from there on to Bali with the same airline and only a 2 hour gap.

My question is, does anyone have an answer about what generally happens with luggage? Do I have to collect it in Kuala Lumpur and rebook it in on the flight to Bali or does the airline take care of this?

This may seem like a simple question, but the wife and me only flew for the first time 5 years ago (and never since) and so this inter-continental stuff is a bit of a mystery to us

 

[Will1962]

If it was booked as a single ticket to Bali, then the airline will transfer it for you. If you have two tickets (one to KL and one from KL to Bali), then you may have to collect your luggage and check it in again. Best thing is to ask when you check-in at Heathrow.

There are two terminals at KL, the main terminal and a satellite terminal. I'd advise checking which terminal you arrive at, and which one you depart from, in case your flight from London is late and you have to leg it to the next flight.

Will

 

[Ranger]

Thanks Will, it was effectively booked as a package with the same airline all the way so I do not have to worry!

This flying business is all so complicated (I'm only 36)

 

[gbb]

Not wishing to spook you Ranger, but there is a small additional risk of your luggage getting lost when you're transferring flights like that. I ended up without luggage for 2 weeks in Uruguay when it got lost between Heathrow / Madrid / Montevideo. (it finally arrived in my last 2 days )
Its a small risk, but if i were to do it again i'd make sure i tried to carry some essentials in my hand luggage. (underpants and socks would be a good start )
That said, thousands of suitcases make it without incident..perhaps i was unlucky.

 

[rich p]

The US may be a bit different but when we went through Dallas en route to Mexico last autumn we had to go through immigration, collect bags and check in again for the ongoing leg. It was a race against time and, guess what, my wife's luggage arrived in Mex 2 days late.
The Yanks also took our fingerprints, pictures etc even tho' we never even left the airport or entered US soil as such. I'm sure it'll be easier in KL

 

[Will1962]

Your unlikely to have any such problems in KL. They have aspirations to be a major international hub, and have all the infrastructure to deal effectively with passengers in transit, but the airport is really quite quiet for it's size (it's not that far from Singapore, which is the main international hub in the region).

You don't have to go through immigration in order to make your connection. If you had the time, you could even pop in to the city (you don't need a visa to enter the country). The only thing you will have to do is complete a departure form, and hand it in with your boarding card at the gate at KL (remember to take a pen).

Will