Check bag all the way through with overnight layover?
Jun 21, 2012, 12:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3
Check bag all the way through with overnight layover?
Flying from PDX to DWF to MIA (14 hr layover so got motel) to UVF St. Lucia, in few days. Is it possible to check my heavy suitcase all the way through with the layover and me leaving the airport in Miami? All American Airlines. All booked at same time there just were no more direct flights.
I'm an infrequent traveler so finding the motel shuttle with my carryon and backpack will be a lot easier than if I also have to haul my 50 lb checked in suitcase.
The person I called at Airlines said have to claim the large suitcase and then re-check it. But they shuttled me to lots of different people so I'm hoping the info I got was incorrect? I searched the forum and seems some airlines have a 12 hr rule but others 24 hr rule? Advice please?
I'm an infrequent traveler so finding the motel shuttle with my carryon and backpack will be a lot easier than if I also have to haul my 50 lb checked in suitcase.
The person I called at Airlines said have to claim the large suitcase and then re-check it. But they shuttled me to lots of different people so I'm hoping the info I got was incorrect? I searched the forum and seems some airlines have a 12 hr rule but others 24 hr rule? Advice please?
Jun 21, 2012, 1:00 pm
#2
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,417
Welcome to FlyerTalk! 
Since you'll be governed by AA's baggage policy, we'll shift this over to the AAdvantage forum for further discussion. /JY1024, TravelBuzz and AA co-moderator
Since you'll be governed by AA's baggage policy, we'll shift this over to the AAdvantage forum for further discussion. /JY1024, TravelBuzz and AA co-moderator
Jun 21, 2012, 1:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
I've got a similar issue on an upcoming trip. PHL-SJU-GND with a 23 hour layover in SJU
It would be wonderful to check luggage straight thru rather than hauling to a hotel and having to re-check in the next day.
Any concerns about leaving checked luggage overnight at SJU if all on AA? I'd been advised not to leave checked luggage for extended period at other islands.
It would be wonderful to check luggage straight thru rather than hauling to a hotel and having to re-check in the next day.
Any concerns about leaving checked luggage overnight at SJU if all on AA? I'd been advised not to leave checked luggage for extended period at other islands.
Jun 21, 2012, 1:55 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP 3mm, Hertz Presidents Circle, Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 51
I have often flown LGA-MIA-SCL, and intentionally purchased a ticket with a 12hr layover. All the MIA-SCL flights are overnight, so I fly early AM out of LGA to spend the day at the beach on my way down.
The ticket is always purchased as one PNR, and every time I have checked my bag all the way through to SCL with no difficulties.
Now remember: this is a 12 hour layover but it occurs during the day. I'd love to hear about people who've had evening layovers.
-Ayton
The ticket is always purchased as one PNR, and every time I have checked my bag all the way through to SCL with no difficulties.
Now remember: this is a 12 hour layover but it occurs during the day. I'd love to hear about people who've had evening layovers.
-Ayton
Jun 21, 2012, 2:05 pm
#5
In memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: La Jolla, CA, USA
Posts: 765
If your ticket has all of the flights on one record, and your luggage is tagged all the way to St. Lucia, the bags will not be available for pickup in MIA.
In March 2010 we flew RDU-MIA-Virgin Gorda, overnighting in MIA. The agent at RDU said the bags would be checked through; my wife said she wanted the bags in MIA; we didn't pay much attention, assuming we could claim the bags in MIA (thought the agent ticketed the bags just to MIA). When we arrived in MIA it became clear the bags were not accessible, as they were checked all the way through. Not a pleasant experience as friends were meeting us at MIA (10:00 P.M.), and I spent an hour at baggage claim trying to sort things out.
In March 2010 we flew RDU-MIA-Virgin Gorda, overnighting in MIA. The agent at RDU said the bags would be checked through; my wife said she wanted the bags in MIA; we didn't pay much attention, assuming we could claim the bags in MIA (thought the agent ticketed the bags just to MIA). When we arrived in MIA it became clear the bags were not accessible, as they were checked all the way through. Not a pleasant experience as friends were meeting us at MIA (10:00 P.M.), and I spent an hour at baggage claim trying to sort things out.
Jun 21, 2012, 2:15 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: St. Croix
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1k, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 521
I've never been allowed to check baggage all the way through with such a long layover over night, always the same story about not having anywhere to put the bags when the flight is on a different calender day or something like that. There is a hotel at SJU though to make life easier for you Segments.
Jun 21, 2012, 2:19 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 202
Should work fine. This is what I did (FCO-LHR-BOS) with luggage checked thru to BOS and an overnight in London:
BA flight FCO-LHR 18:45-20:25
Left airport for overnight,
Next Day: AA 109 LHR-BOS 12:25-15:10
The luggage tag had both the flight numbers and the DATES of the flights.
BA flight FCO-LHR 18:45-20:25
Left airport for overnight,
Next Day: AA 109 LHR-BOS 12:25-15:10
The luggage tag had both the flight numbers and the DATES of the flights.
Jun 21, 2012, 2:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Tulsa, OK
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,264
Never a problem for me even in MIA. Did a TUL->DFW->MIA -> BGI trip a few years back and checked all the way thru with an overnight layover in MIA
Jun 21, 2012, 3:42 pm
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Austin TX
Programs: AA PLT, ICH Plat
Posts: 1,965
My understanding is there is a "Same Day" rule and a 12 Hour" rule.
If you connection is same day of outbound flite then they will check straight through.
If your connection is next day, then layover must be less than 12 hours for them to check straight through.
If you connection is same day of outbound flite then they will check straight through.
If your connection is next day, then layover must be less than 12 hours for them to check straight through.
Jun 21, 2012, 3:56 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
Bummer... it is one PNR, but difficult routing as AA has only once daily flight to GND. From PHL there is only one flight that even permits a non-overnight routing, and it was sold out. Perhaps they will still check it all the way thru since the layover is not really my choice but due to limited flight schedule.
Jun 21, 2012, 5:54 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3
Thank you so very much for all the advice and stories. The flight leaves Oregon Tue AM, Tue night in Miami, and then Wed AM leave Miami for St. Lucia. So, I think at PDX we will ask that it be checked all the way through, and depending on what they say go from there? I usually pack lighter, but am staying for a summer job so need several different types of clothing. And, if I have to wrestle the heavy suitcase to the motel at least I know it isn't sitting unattended somewhere. Thanks again.
Jun 21, 2012, 7:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,646
Should work fine. This is what I did (FCO-LHR-BOS) with luggage checked thru to BOS and an overnight in London:
BA flight FCO-LHR 18:45-20:25
Left airport for overnight,
Next Day: AA 109 LHR-BOS 12:25-15:10
The luggage tag had both the flight numbers and the DATES of the flights.
BA flight FCO-LHR 18:45-20:25
Left airport for overnight,
Next Day: AA 109 LHR-BOS 12:25-15:10
The luggage tag had both the flight numbers and the DATES of the flights.
Similar Experience.
Just last week, my mother flew IB3577 VIE-MAD, arrival at 3:30PM, and then AA95 MAD-JFK, next day at 10:25AM.
This was a ~19 hours layover.
She checked her bags in VIE all the way through to JFK. No need to pick up in MAD. Bags arrived safely at JFK.
Jun 22, 2012, 6:54 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Bonvoy Tit, Hilton Dia etc etc
Posts: 2,354
Done this at LHR with BA/AA, BMI/VS and LH/UA (once or twice even when flights were not on the same PNR), never any issues with it, but I do believe it depends on whether the airport has secure holding facilities.
Jun 22, 2012, 10:17 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
Posts: 2,879
This has been my experience also. Lots of times struggling with multiple bags at ORD or DFW for the overnight layover to an international destination. Glad the red eye from SEA is back and it avoids both the hotel and bag issue.
Jun 22, 2012, 1:59 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Los Angeles, xTWA Elite 1 and AA PLT, now AA EXP 3MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 283
The other week flying on tuesday LAX-JFK arriving at midnight then the following evening at 7pm flying JFK-MAD, even though I called the EXP desk to see if I could check my luggage through and they said yes, at LAX they told me it couldn't be done with such a long stopover. But as they say YMMV.