United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Checked Luggage on 2 *A carriers for 3 Continents

After talking to a few friends about their international flights this past weekend, my mind went blank and forgot all of my prior experiences with bag checking. So I have the following iten:

Continents

Day 1
UA 1258 BOS-IAD 14:19-16:11
OS 94 IAD-VIE 18:40-08:35 (+1)

Day 2
OS 25 VIE-BKK 23:20-15:05 (+1)

Does anyone know if I will be able to check my bags through to Bangkok in Boston with UA? All of the flights are under the same ticket and reservation.

With the 14 hour layover the wife and I plan on leaving the airport and getting a whirlwind tour of Vienna - wouldn't really want to wait for the bags if we don't have to...

Similarly we have a return of:

Day 1
LH 779 SIN-FRA 23:55-06:00 (+1)

Day 2
LH 422 FRA-BOS 12:05-14:05

My friends who just came back from trips said they had to get their bags when arriving in the US (before traveling onward). Now I know on this trip I won't have this problem but will I on other trips that I do not end on my first US point? Is this policy only a US thing?

After talking to a few friends about their international flights this past weekend, my mind went blank and forgot all of my prior experiences with bag checking. So I have the following iten:

Continents

Day 1
UA 1258 BOS-IAD 14:19-16:11
OS 94 IAD-VIE 18:40-08:35 (+1)

Day 2
OS 25 VIE-BKK 23:20-15:05 (+1)

Does anyone know if I will be able to check my bags through to Bangkok in Boston with UA? All of the flights are under the same ticket and reservation.

With the 14 hour layover the wife and I plan on leaving the airport and getting a whirlwind tour of Vienna - wouldn't really want to wait for the bags if we don't have to...

Similarly we have a return of:

Day 1
LH 779 SIN-FRA 23:55-06:00 (+1)

Day 2
LH 422 FRA-BOS 12:05-14:05

My friends who just came back from trips said they had to get their bags when arriving in the US (before traveling onward). Now I know on this trip I won't have this problem but will I on other trips that I do not end on my first US point? Is this policy only a US thing?

going they should check the bags all the way thru for you. Coming back you will have to adhere to LHs T&Cs as to how many and how much they can weigh

Correct Everyone must claim their bags and go thru customs at their 1st port of entry in the US and then they drop them off at the recheck counter if they are connecting onward. I would think the same would apply to any other Country I remember the recheck counter @ SYD. Not sure how it goes with the EU, I would think its Customs for all at the 1st Port as well, eg ORD-FRA-ZRH since FRA-ZRH is within the EU theres no customs when arriving @ZRH on that flight thusly there must be 1 @ FRA.But ORD-FRA-CAI the bags dont get claimed @ FRA since CAI isnt apart of the EU and you only see them once you get to CAI, so no customs till CAI

, I would think its Customs for all at the 1st Port as well, eg ORD-FRA-ZRH since FRA-ZRH is within the EU theres no customs when arriving @ZRH on that flight thusly there must be 1 @ FRA.But ORD-FRA-CAI the bags dont get claimed @ FRA since CAI isnt apart of the EU and you only see them once you get to CAI, so no customs till CAI

You don't need to go through customs at FRA (assuming the check bags all the way to your final destination). Within the EU, you go through customs at the final destination. Customs will ask you if you are originating from within or from outside the EU.

You don't need to go through customs at FRA (assuming the check bags all the way to your final destination). Within the EU, you go through customs at the final destination. Customs will ask you if you are originating from within or from outside the EU.

wasnt 100% sure since I usually only have my carry-on with me when Im flying TATL and not leaving the EU.

But if I was going ORD-FRA-MUC and dont see my bag till MUC then how does MUC know my bags didnt go thru Customs while everyone else was say simply flying FRA-MUC and didnt Inbound to FRA? They simply ask everyone as they pass on an Honor system? Then some airports have completely separate terms at times miles from each other for Dom and Intl, so if I dont have my bags checked @ FRA and my connection goes into a Dom term, = no Customs whatsoever?

wasnt 100% sure since I usually only have my carry-on with me when Im flying TATL and not leaving the EU.

But if I was going ORD-FRA-MUC and dont see my bag till MUC then how does MUC know my bags didnt go thru Customs while everyone else was say simply flying FRA-MUC and didnt Inbound to FRA? They simply ask everyone as they pass on an Honor system? Then some airports have completely separate terms at times miles from each other for Dom and Intl, so if I dont have my bags checked @ FRA and my connection goes into a Dom term, = no Customs whatsoever?

There is often a BLUE lane (for passengers arriving from EU contries) and a GREEN lane (for non-EU passengers). As opposed to the US, they don't screen everyone (i.e. have everyone fill out a blue form), but pick random passengers for search/questioning.
Also, they can see where your bag got tagged and could ask you for a copy of your ticket.
As for transfer to domestic terminals (which I've never done), I dont' know how/what happens.

going they should check the bags all the way thru for you. Coming back you will have to adhere to LHs T&Cs as to how many and how much they can weigh

I'm going to reverse this.

Going, they'll give you grief because the stop is too long. Rule of thumb is 12 hours to check a bag through. You have 14 hours.

Return is just fine, only 6 hours, it'll check right through.

I have a trip this winter that has a 12:05 stop. I'm in the same boat -- want to do a whirlwind stop but don't want to deal with bags.

I'm going to reverse this.

Going, they'll give you grief because the stop is too long. Rule of thumb is 12 hours to check a bag through. You have 14 hours.

Return is just fine, only 6 hours, it'll check right through.

I have a trip this winter that has a 12:05 stop. I'm in the same boat -- want to do a whirlwind stop but don't want to deal with bags.

Ive done eg JFK-IAD-FRA-XXX and the FRA was an early morn arrival and the last flight out departure (took the S to Manz for a day of walking around) and they held my bag. Numerous times I have connected on my return arriving into ZRH (or wherever) after the last US bound flight has left, no problem grabbed the tram to the Hotel and they held both of my bags for the 13 hrs bet flights

I found as long as the layover/stop is < 24 hrs they will hold the bag. The problem is if they dont pull them and load them on my flight.Which isnt bad as then they will bring them to my house, just make sure that you have whatever you may need for a day or 2 in your carry-on. It makes getting around my final destination a breeze, just me and my carry-on.

Once in VIE I asked the hotel to tell OS if they call to please drop off it at another hotel where I was staying the next night same Marriott Chain. OS did so,boy that was Great no schelping the bag for 2 days! and OS gave me 140 euro to boot and no cabs needed.

Have they now changed it to 12 hrs from < 24? I wont like that

So I am gathering that UA will only check my bags as far as VIE. We will then have to gather them as if VIE was our final destination? Any idea if we would have to have the bags held or if we could check them in right away?