Eight hour overnight layover – will I have to collect my bags?

[Annetteewan]

Hoping someone here can help. We’re flying JFK to LAX on AA and land at 12.53am. Our connecting flight (booked on the same ticket) isn’t until 9am so I’m wondering what will happen with our luggage. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to collect them and they’d be checked through to the morning flight. The plan was to sit it out until the Admirals Lounge opens at 4.30am, but if we have to collect our bags and go landside, we’ll be stuck there until check-in opens the next morning. Is eight hours short enough for them to keep our bags? I’m loathe to spend over £100 on an airport hotel when we’ll only be there for a few hours. Do any of you regular travellers have any tips or advice?

[NorthernLass]

Where is the layover? As long as the bags are checked through, you normally wouldn’t have to collect them until you reach your final destination, but it’s not clear what your exact itinerary is.

[Annetteewan]

Sorry about that, I wasn’t clear. It’s JFK to SJD (with the layover in LAX). Land in LAX at about 1am and take off for SJD at 9am.

[NorthernLass]

If it’s all on one booking it shouldn’t be an issue.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

The AA limit for a trip like yours is a layover over 12 hours means bags won’t be through checked.

So you’ll be fine

[Annetteewan]

Superb – thanks