USA flights confusion

[SunnyNights]

Hoping someone will be able to help as I’ve googled a lot and still not clear on how our flights operate for a USA holiday next year.

On our return journey, we are flying from Miami to JFK with American Airlines then stop over at JFK for four hours, then flight to UK with Finnair (operated by BA), do we have to go through immigration at JFK on the flight from Miami?

Also, assuming we will need to collect our luggage at JFK and check in again for flight to UK as different airlines?

We booked via Expedia, and Bizarrely, the Finnair app seems to hold all the flight details, even the flight out which is BA, whereas the BA app only shows the flight out with them so totally confused.

Can you tell I’m not a seasoned traveller!

Everyone needs to clear immigration, customs and re-check bags on an International-US-US flight.

Correct.

The US authorities want to screen everybody/everything at first point of entry into the country.

Looking for some advice re USA flights (again!).

Just had notification from Expedia that our return flight from the US to UK has been cancelled. Expedia do not have yet have alternative flights and asked that I call back in a few days when more flights are available.

Is this a common thing? Bit freaked out as we've booked our whole trip around the location and dates, what would happen if flights were cancelled when out there??

What dates are you looking at? Can you see flights available when you search?

Flights are usually available a year before travel.

It's definitely common for flights to be cancelled. It's not common on such a busy route for no others to be available.

I would be searching for direct BA flights from Miami to Heathrow for your original departure date.

When I have had flights cancelled well in advance, I have always been immediately reassigned to another flight within the same notification. I may not have particularly liked my new flight, but I have always had one right away.

Flights cancelled at the last minute are different.

Thank you all for this. Definitely seems a bit odd am currently on a call with Dial a flight to book with them and cancel the Expedia one!

Why would no flights be available, doesn't make sky sense!

That should have said 'any sense' not sky!

There is a severe labor shortage in the US. the pandemic forced many people out of the workforce so businesses were already struggling to maintain full staffs. With omicron, absence rates among the remaining staff are now high so it’s a double whammy. It’s not uncommon to go to a shop and find it randomly closed because there were not enough workers to open that day. Schools are closing because there are not enough teachers to maintain ratios.

The airline industry has been especially hard hit by both phases of this. Many workers were forced out or left. Infection rates are particularly high because of the nature of the work.

Very common that flights are cancelled. What is unusual, like others said, is that you haven’t been offered other flights yet. It happens more often when you’ve booked through a third party instead of direct, but they still have a duty to offer you alternative flights.

Have a look on google flights at what’s available on the specific alliance right now, for the same date and route - even if direct or different stopover.

Have these options ready on a piece of paper when you call them and say ‘I’ve seen there’s a flight at 6pm from X to Y, could I be moved to that please’. Repeat with other options, let them know you’ve done your research and know your rights.

You can push for a direct flight if there is one and you so wish - once your flight is cancelled they must rebook you (for free) on another one, and it doesn’t have to be the cheapest or most similar option, so keep this in mind!

The weird 'no available' flights malarkey has totally put me off so cancelled the Expedia ones (which I can do as the return was cancelled anyway) and booked with Dial a flight.

The new flights are £400 cheaper too!