Chicago - Transferring from terminal 1/2 at ORD to Terminal 5 question

Hello! I have a question and am hoping that someone will be able to help. At the end of May I will be flying with my elderly Mother to Switzerland. We will be flying on UA from GRB to ORD and landing at terminal 1 or 2. Our connecting flight will be on Swiss Air and will be leaving from terminal 5. UA has told me that they do NOT have a interline agreement with Swiss Air which means we will have to reclaim our bags on arrival and then recheck them at terminal 5. What is the best way to do this? Once we reclaim our bags, how do we get to terminal 5?

Thank you,

Doug

Hello! I have a question and am hoping that someone will be able to help. At the end of May I will be flying with my elderly Mother to Switzerland. We will be flying on UA from GRB to ORD and landing at terminal 1 or 2. Our connecting flight will be on Swiss Air and will be leaving from terminal 5. UA has told me that they do NOT have a interline agreement with Swiss Air which means we will have to reclaim our bags on arrival and then recheck them at terminal 5. What is the best way to do this? Once we reclaim our bags, how do we get to terminal 5?

There is a tram between the terminals landside. It's pretty well signed, so just follow the signs that'll say terminals 2/3/5/long term parking. Detailed description below, but it's not that hard :)

You'll be claiming your bags in Terminal 1 (all UA bags go there regardless of whether the flight comes into 1 or 2). Once you have your bags, the easiest thing to do is go to the elevator in the middle of the baggage claim area. It's on the outside (ie the side towards the road) and right across from the baggage service office. Take the elevator up to the top floor, that'll put you on a walkway over the road going over to the tram. On the other side, go down the escalators or elevator to the station. T1 is the end of the line, so just get on the next tram that shows up. It'll stop at T2, T3, then T5. Get off, head up on the escalators or elevators and you'll be at departure/check-in level of T5.

United and Swiss are both members of the Star Alliance and, as such, typically transfer baggage from one airline's flight to the other's. I would just suggest that you ask at check-in to have your bags tagged all the way through to save needless headache.

Thank you both for you information! As a matter of fact, I did ask United customer service if they would transfer the luggage, and was told that they do not have interline agreements with each other, so we would be responsible for getting our own luggage to Swiss.

Thank you both for you information! As a matter of fact, I did ask United customer service if they would transfer the luggage, and was told that they do not have interline agreements with each other, so we would be responsible for getting our own luggage to Swiss.

Honestly, I'd call again. BCH is right, all *A carriers are supposed to have interline agreements. Don't take the word of a single CS agent who might not know what they're talking about.

Thank you both for you information! As a matter of fact, I did ask United customer service if they would transfer the luggage, and was told that they do not have interline agreements with each other, so we would be responsible for getting our own luggage to Swiss.

Is this one ticket or two tickets ? Did you buy it directly from either United or Swiss ? Maybe that would answer why the agent said they don't interline (although there could also have agent misinformed)

Is this one ticket or two tickets ? Did you buy it directly from either United or Swiss ? Maybe that would answer why the agent said they don't interline (although there could also have agent misinformed)

Hi! It is one ticket-bought through the United Website. Honestly, I was surprised when I was told by the agent that they DON'T have a interline agreement with Swiss Air!! I guess we'll find out for sure when I check in at the airport!!! ;)

Hi! It is one ticket-bought through the United Website. Honestly, I was surprised when I was told by the agent that they DON'T have a interline agreement with Swiss Air!! I guess we'll find out for sure when I check in at the airport!!! ;)

If it's one ticket bought through the UA web-site, I will be astonished if they are unable to check your bags through to ZRH.

I just checked on KVS, Swiss lists UA as an interline baggage partner and UA lists Swiss as one as well.

You may have to insist on getting your bags checked through at GRB but I don't think there is any technical reason why they could not do this.

UA has told me that they do NOT have a interline agreement with Swiss Air

I just checked on KVS, Swiss lists UA as an interline baggage partner and UA lists Swiss as one as well.

Indeed. Furthermore, an airline cannot possibly join an Alliance, unless they have Interline Agreements with all other members.

[KVS Availability Tool 6.9.8/Diamond - Reference: Interline Agreements [IET]: UA] (http://www.KVSTool.com/)
ELECTRONIC INTERLINE CARRIER AGREEMENTS-UA
INTERLINE CARRIER CODES
AA - AB - AC - AF - AH - AI - AM - AR - AS - AV
AX - AY - AZ - A3 - A9 - BA - BD - BE - BI - BR
BT - BW - CA - CI - CM - CO - CX - CZ - C5 - DJ
DL - EH - EI - EK - EL - EN - ET - EV - EY - FB
FI - FJ - FM - FV - FW - F9 - GF - G3 - G7 - HA
HU - HX - IB - IQ - JJ - JL - JP - JQ - KA - KC
KE - KF - KL - KM - KQ - KS - KU - KX - LA - LG
LH - LO - LP - LR - LW - LX - LY - MD - ME - MF
MH - MI - MK - MQ - MS - MU - MW - NH - NQ - NU
NZ - OA - OH - OK - OM - OO - OS - OU - OZ - PG
PK - PR - PS - PU - PX - PZ - QF - QR - QX - RJ
RO - SA - SK - SN - SQ - SU - SV - S5 - S7 - TA
TG - TK - TP - T0 - UL - UN - UO - UP - US - UX
VA - VK - VN - VS - VW - WF - WM - WP - WY - XE
XF - XJ - XL - YV - ZH - ZK - ZW - 2V - 3M - 4C
4M - 4Q - 7H - 9E - 9K - 9L - 9W

Don,t know which idiot at United told you that (and there are plenty of those over there lately) but just about all the major airlines in the world have interline agreements. The airlines don,t have to belong to the same alliances either. You could have a ticket that reads United to Deltato Swisair to Luftanhsa to American to Air India and you bag would be transferred between these airlines.

Don,t know which idiot at United told you that (and there are plenty of those over there lately) but just about all the major airlines in the world have interline agreements. The airlines don,t have to belong to the same alliances either. You could have a ticket that reads United to Deltato Swisair to Luftanhsa to American to Air India and you bag would be transferred between these airlines.(bolding/underline mine)

"but just about" isn't 100%,

I recall a trip ORD-LHR-NCE (flying UA ORD-LHR-ORD legs & BA LHR-NCE-LHR legs). Our bags were able to be checked all the way through to Nice on our outbound. However, on the return BA would not interline our bags through, we had to pick up bags, clear customs, the check bags with UA at ticket counter. A major PITA, it was amazing we made our connection.

Hi! It is one ticket-bought through the United Website. Honestly, I was surprised when I was told by the agent that they DON'T have a interline agreement with Swiss Air!! I guess we'll find out for sure when I check in at the airport!!! ;)

Complete nonsense from the agent who told you that! I've checked a bag UA>LX several times and each time it showed up in ZRH at the same time I did ;). As others have noted, you shouldn't have any trouble at check-in and no need to collect your luggage at ORD.

Hi,
Is this interline UA -> LX also possible on 2 different PNR's?

I have one YVR -> ORD on a UA flight in First (upgraded CR-1) arriving with red-eye at 5:00 am and a ORD-ZRH flight on the evening the same day I arrive ORD in LX F class.

Do you think I could have them send the bag all the way at YVR, I mean all the way to my final destination ZRH/CPH?

Is it possible for UA to check me in at the counter on my LX flight (OLCI has opened by then)?

(I would really like to get a boarding pass since boarding pass on a *A F would allow me entry to Uniteds First class lounge @ ORD and it would be nice to rest a bit and maybe use a shower if they have any @ ORD)

Sorry for hijacking the thread but I feel the questions relates to the interline part at least.

Hi,
Is this interline UA -> LX also possible on 2 different PNR's?

I have one YVR -> ORD on a UA flight in First (upgraded CR-1) arriving with red-eye at 5:00 am and a ORD-ZRH flight on the evening the same day I arrive ORD in LX F class.

Do you think I could have them send the bag all the way at YVR, I mean all the way to my final destination ZRH/CPH?

Is it possible for UA to check me in at the counter on my LX flight (OLCI has opened by then)?

(I would really like to get a boarding pass since boarding pass on a *A F would allow me entry to Uniteds First class lounge @ ORD and it would be nice to rest a bit and maybe use a shower if they have any @ ORD)

Sorry for hijacking the thread but I feel the questions relates to the interline part at least.

I doubt UA will be able to check you in since your LX flight is on a separate PNR (with no UA segments, presumably). However, if OLCI is already open, why don't you find a computer with a printer at YVR and just print LX F boarding pass yourself? Maple Leaf Lounge at YVR probably has one, and if not, you can walk over to the Fairmont.

AFAIK, the only UA lounge at ORD with a shower is the Arrivals Lounge; I don't know if you will be able to access it.

legalalien: Thanks for your information.
I've never been to YVR so that's why I have no knowledge of how/where to be able to print out the boarding pass.

Would be smooth if I could claim them to use the "interline" and check my bag all the way.

legalalien: Thanks for your information.
I've never been to YVR so that's why I have no knowledge of how/where to be able to print out the boarding pass.

Would be smooth if I could claim them to use the "interline" and check my bag all the way.

If you can't get them to print a boarding pass to your final destination, you can walk over to Fairmont YVR - it's just off transborder terminal, 5 min walk tops, and use their business center. Or, if you're Star Alliance, you can use Maple Leaf Lounge; it is very likely to have printers available for use. Or, if you are a Priority Pass member, you can use Plaza Lounge.

Finally, if everything else fails and you end up in O'Hare with no lounge access, you can walk over to Hilton O'Hare, get a Health Club day pass, and shower there.

Enjoy your trip!