Heading to Europe for work

[mleone]

I will be heading to Eastern Europe work in January. We flying into London changing planes and heading out, not leaving airport. I will need to take my 15" macbook pro, my 5d w/24-105, 16-35 and 580ex II. Plus all the extra's to make it run.

When I went to Italy over the summer I was allowed 2 carry on bags. However England has some funny rules which I don't understand. Can some please let me know what they are and if you think my current shoulder bag will work, its a tenba lager messenger.

BTW working meaning as the IT guy for the company not the photographer. Camera is for my free time ;)

Any help would be appreciated!

Mike

[fishfoto]

Mike,

London Heathrow allows for 1 carry on + 1 personal item. The 1 bag limit has been lifted, however some airlines have their own rules on carry on baggage.

Are you flying one airline? Changing airlines? If you are changing airlines are you staying with one airline alliance?

Let meknow the airline/route info and I can get you some detailed info that may be useful to you.

You can also read my site for photogs who travel for some detailed info here: www.flyingwithfish.com

[mleone]

Oh well thats good news.

I'm told we are flying Air France to Heathrow and Montenegro airlines to Montenegro. So we have to change airlines, but dont know if they are partners. I dont have more detailed route info than that.

Thanks for your help and blog link.

Mike

[fishfoto]

Mike,

For starters, you not only need to change terminals, you need to change airports entirely.

Air France's JFK-LHR route departs JFK Terminal 3, and it is operated by Delta Airlines. You need to check in with Delta at Terminal 3, not Delta's Terminal 2 (Delta has 2 terminals at JFK, and Air France is also located separately at Terminal 1). Air France flights 3663 & 3664 both arrive at LHR's Terminal 4. Montenegro Airlines does not fly to London Heathrow (LHR), they fly to London Gatwick(LGW)

AF 3663 arrives at LHR at 9:15pm, while the more commonly flown AF 3664 arrives at 9:25am.

I you are flying Montenegro Airlines (YM) I believe their daily flight flight to Tivat (TIV) departs around 11:30am from LGW's South Terminal.

If you have a 14hr overnight connection you're fine. If you have a 2hr day-time connection I can tell you that you need to reschedule your flights. Deplaning, waiting in passport control, getting your bags and getting out of the terminal at 9:25am at LHR (or ven 9:15pm) takes at minimum 60min, often closer to 90min .

Transferring between LHR and LGW is easy with the National Express Bus system. The bus is scheduled for 75min enroute, however in my experience it takes closer to 2hrs with mid-day with traffic.

If you need help sorting this out drop me an e-mail at fish@flyingwithfish.com

......if you company does in-house booking, have them visit www.thetravelstrategist.com to help sort out future more effective travel strategies

[fishfoto]

Mike,

I forgot to mention that Tivat is only serviced by two airlines, which makes travel there challenging.

A more logical,comfortable and stress free way of flying to TIV is the follwing

Lufthansa (LH) Flight 411
Depart: New York/JFK 5:45pm
Arrive: Munich/MUC 7:55am + 1 day

(you can alternate this flight with LH 413 from EWR, but the connection time is very tight on that flight)

Lufthansa/CityLine (LH) Flight 3400
Depart: Munich/MUC 10:55am
Arrive: Belgrade/BEG 12:20pm

Jat Airways (JU) Flight 686
Depart: Belgrade/BEG 1;15pm
Arrive: Tivat/TIV 2:20pm


By flying this way you check your bags straight through from JFK to TIV.No claiming and rechecking your bags. Also no change of terminals while in transit.

The fare should also be lower as you avoid the extremely high taxes associated with traveling through the UK. You're already dealing with flying to an airport that has limited travel options, which raises the costs of travel, why make them higher and the travel more complex?

Just a suggestion

[mleone]

Fish this a wealth of knowledge. I'm going to have ask our event planner more now that I know what to ask.

Thanks!

[fishfoto]

Mike,

If you need any more info let me know. I'd be happy to help.

Aside from being a full-time photog for the past 1.5 decades or so......my knowledge base on travel has led me to create a small business helping corporations travel more effectively and with more cost saving measures.........so this info is just floating around in my head anyway :0)

Let me know if you have any questions, I hate seeing photogs lost in transit!

-Fish