United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Connection with 2 separate tickets?

Hi everyone

Has someone experiences with missed connection on two tickets?

I will fly in October IAD-MUC on United and onwards MUC-DUS on Lufthansa.
Both are seperate tickets. My planned connectiontime in MUC is 2hours.

What to do when the UA-flight is delayed for more then 2hours?
Will I get some compansation from UA for a new LH-ticket?

Thank's in advance

Strictly speaking there is no obligation with either carrier in this situation.

In the case of significant delay UA might provide a credit for a future UA flight -- but not a credit that could be used on LH.

Your best bet in case of a >2 hour delay is to hope LH (which is not know for bending rules) will let you take a later flight. For most airlines you would have a reasonable chance, I would rather not chance it with LH.

2 hours is very tight for am international connection on two tickets. I usually try and leave at least 4 hours to be safe. (More where immigration/security is unreliable such as IST or IAD as a non-resident.)

Technically, on seperate tickets, you're owed nothing..not a single bean. They might do something nice as a goodwill gesture but they aren't obliged to.

2 hours is a bit tight too in my opinion :/

2 hours is very tight for am international connection on two tickets. I usually try and leave at least 4 hours to be safe. (More where immigration/security is unreliable such as IST or IAD as a non-resident.)

Agree. There's a wonderful SEN lounge in MUC, allow at least 4 hours.

Bags also get lost - had similar 2 ticket routing, xxx-muc-Zagreb w/ 1st ticket on UA, 2nd on LH. Bags had been checked thru to final destination, but they didn't make it. Had even asked the dragon lady in SEN lounge, would she check please if our bag was in the system and made the transfer from UA to LH - she supposedly checked. Bags also get lost when all connections are on same pnr, but separate tickets may increase chances of lost bags.

With all the recent weather delays, and Shares or scheduling induced delays on UA flights, try using bad weather for a change fee waiver and get there earlier, if you can. LH is not likely to be inclined to do anything nice for you if you miss your LH flight.

A schedule change between now & Oct. may either help you or cost you.

Showing up in MUC late and dealing with these "Go By The Book" LH agents is something that I wouldn't look forward to.

Suggestion --- look up the translation for "Nein, Nein, Nein"!!!

Tons of threads here about LH & AF in this exact situation. Answer is that LH will almost certainly not acommodate you and that you will wind up having to purchase a new ticket at walk-up fares (which can be vastly more expensive than the ticket you hold).

Either suck up the change fees and book on one PNR or purchase the onward xMUC segment as fully refundable/changeable.

Your other problem on separate PNR's is that in IRROPS, UA will get you to MUC, not to your ultimate destination.

Tons of threads here about LH & AF in this exact situation. Answer is that LH will almost certainly not acommodate you and that you will wind up having to purchase a new ticket at walk-up fares (which can be vastly more expensive than the ticket you hold).

Either suck up the change fees and book on one PNR or purchase the onward xMUC segment as fully refundable/changeable.

Your other problem on separate PNR's is that in IRROPS, UA will get you to MUC, not to your ultimate destination.

You could also just leave everything the way it is and just take the train from MUC to DUS if you miss your connection. It's not that far. Check db.de for the price of the train ticket.

Can you check through your bags to the final destination if you're on 2 separate reservations and carriers?

@bucketlist, did you eventually get your bags back?

@zappa42m - if UA is late getting you to MUC, tough luck. They won't do anything for you for your completely unrelated reservation on a different carrier. If they're contracted to get you to MUC and they do that, end of story for them. You'll have to deal with LH for the MUC-DUS segment separately if you miss that connection. People miss flights all the time, even the super-punctual Germans (hooray for stereotypes!). I'd read up on LH missed flight policies.

Hi everyone

Has someone experiences with missed connection on two tickets?

I will fly in October IAD-MUC on United and onwards MUC-DUS on Lufthansa.
Both are seperate tickets. My planned connectiontime in MUC is 2hours.

What to do when the UA-flight is delayed for more then 2hours?
Will I get some compansation from UA for a new LH-ticket?

Thank's in advance

Danger I would suggest you do whatever you can to extend your connection time or rebook as one itinerary. If you miss your connection LH has no obligation to rebook you and, depending your their fare rules, cancel your ticket without refund. You could find yourself having to buy a walk up fare in MUC.

It is NEVER a good idea to try an construct your own itinerary by booking separate itinerarys with multiple carriers. The only way to ensure your connections work is to book a multi-carrier itinerary or leave a large margin (perhaps 24-36 hrs) between flights. Otherwise you risk what I describe above.

I know it's too latenow, but why did you not purchase as on itinerary?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/811242-does-lh-have-flat-tire-rule.html

Lufthansa's version of the Flat Tire Rule is "Do Not Get Flat Tires".

Danger I would suggest you do whatever you can to extend your connection time or rebook as one itinerary. If you miss your connection LH has no obligation to rebook you and, depending your their fare rules, cancel your ticket without refund. You could find yourself having to buy a walk up fare in MUC.

It is NEVER a good idea to try an construct your own itinerary by booking separate itinerarys with multiple carriers. The only way to ensure your connections work is to book a multi-carrier itinerary or leave a large margin (perhaps 24-36 hrs) between flights. Otherwise you risk what I describe above.

I know it's too latenow, but why did you not purchase as on itinerary?

First I would just go back to Munich, and so I booked the flight with a confirmed upgrade. (I know when I try to rebook it I will loose my upgrade).
But then I changed my mind about my destination.
So I'll cross my fingers.

Can you check through your bags to the final destination if you're on 2 separate reservations and carriers?

If the two airlines involved have an interline agreement and the first airline is willing to do so, then yes.

If the two airlines involved have an interline agreement and the first airline is willing to do so, then yes.
and the agents are properly trained on their system -- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1359386-interline-baggage-w-shares.html

If the two airlines involved have an interline agreement and the first airline is willing to do so, then yes.

Getting off topic, but I would think the second carrier would also have to be willing to accept the bag, no? Or is it just more of a foregone conclusion that they will?

On topic, the train idea is a good one. I might actually prefer a train ride through the German countryside (assuming it is as idyllic in reality as it is in my mind).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/811242-does-lh-have-flat-tire-rule.html

Lufthansa's version of the Flat Tire Rule is "Do Not Get Flat Tires".

I think that's why BMW has installed the hated run flat tires on almost all their vehicles. No excuses.

I ran into this problem a couple of years ago UA-SN connecting in Brussels. I had allowed four hours but UA used all of that (and then some). SN was unsympathetic, but allowed me to book a new ticket the next day for basically the cost of the change fee. It turned out OK (even got UA to put me up for the night) but I'm not making that mistake again.

Getting off topic, but I would think the second carrier would also have to be willing to accept the bag, no? Or is it just more of a foregone conclusion that they will?

That's what the interline agreement is for. They've already agreed to take bags.

You could also just leave everything the way it is and just take the train from MUC to DUS if you miss your connection. It's not that far. Check db.de for the price of the train ticket.

Unless your arrival in DUS is very time-sensitive, this is the best advice. It is a pleasant 5-hour journey by high-speed train.

Another potential solution would be to purchase a refundable one-way ticket for later that same day and just cancel the ticket if your current flights go according to plan. Airberlin offers a $300 refundable flight.

You could also just leave everything the way it is and just take the train from MUC to DUS if you miss your connection. It's not that far. Check db.de for the price of the train ticket.

That's what I was thinking - ie, Plan B being the train.

But what does it do to his 2nd ticket if he doesn't take the outbound - ie, will they cancel it? Or can he talk to LH & ask them to leave it intact/letting them know of train but that he plans the return.

Also, MUC isn't that large an airport so unless the OP really runs into a 2-hour delay he should be ok.

UA & LH interline so he should be ok on the luggage part if he's checking. Of course the problem w/ that is if he doesn't make the outbound on the 2nd ticket.

Cheers.

The OP can check his bag to DUS, but he needs to clear customs and immigration, get his luggage, and then proceed to the LH counter in MUC to check in for his MUC-DUS flight (AND RECHECK HIS BAG) which is on a separate itinerary and if he's late, guess what? Nein! Kaput! Nein!

The OP can check his bag to DUS, but he needs to clear customs and immigration, get his luggage, and then proceed to the LH counter in MUC to check in for his MUC-DUS flight (AND RECHECK HIS BAG) which is on a separate itinerary and if he's late, guess what? Nein! Kaput! Nein!

But what you're describing is him not actually interlining it to DUS, or am I missing something?

Cheers.

In June I had a 9 hour connection in LAS between UA flight from DEN to LAS, and HA flight to HNL. UA aircraft availablility is so bad that 4 DEN to LAS flights (all 737) where delayed that day and folks where scrambaling for flights. I stayed with my orginal flight that arrived 8 hours late. They brought in an aircraft from HOU. 1 hour to rush from Termanal 1 to 2 to catch the HA flight. 9 hour connection time was barely enough. I won't schedule same day different ticket connections anymore if any portion of the trip is on UA. UA management is running this airline very poorly after the merger. Well at least HA is now out of the D gates in LAS. Would not have to run so fast between carriers.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles-more-lufthansa-austrian-swiss-other-partners/811242-does-lh-have-flat-tire-rule.html

Lufthansa's version of the Flat Tire Rule is "Do Not Get Flat Tires".

That's because, over there, they're all driving shiny new Audi's on super-clean and totally flat autobahns. Under those conditions, nobody should be getting flat tires. :D

The OP can check his bag to DUS, but he needs to clear customs and immigration, get his luggage, and then proceed to the LH counter in MUC to check in for his MUC-DUS flight (AND RECHECK HIS BAG) which is on a separate itinerary and if he's late, guess what? Nein! Kaput! Nein!

If they check the bag through then it means one is already checked in also for the flight on the second ticket and there is no need to check it again....

I was wondering if status with LH does help in these situations? what about buying a ticket if forced, but with miles?

Hi everyone

Has someone experiences with missed connection on two tickets?

I will fly in October IAD-MUC on United and onwards MUC-DUS on Lufthansa.
Both are seperate tickets. My planned connectiontime in MUC is 2hours.

What to do when the UA-flight is delayed for more then 2hours?
Will I get some compansation from UA for a new LH-ticket?

Thank's in advance

Happened to me a few years ago. UA SFO-LHR. 2 hr transit to LH FRA-Berlin. UA aircraft had a mechanical and we sat in the aircraft for nearly 2 hrs. My bags were checked all the way through to Berlin. F/A came on PA and advised all connections will be re-booked so I assumed all was ok. Got to LHR and went to LH counter and was told I missed my flight and to go to the UA desk to see if they could do anything about re-booking me. Of course UA told me their obligation was only to get me to LHR (which was correct) so I was SOL. Went back to LH counter and ended up having to pay $400 for a new ticket. Never again after did I plan a trip with anything less then 3 hrs connection time if I were to be on 2 tickets. There is always a risk irregardless of how many hours in between you give (flight cancellations etc..)

If they check the bag through then it means one is already checked in also for the flight on the second ticket and there is no need to check it again....

I was wondering if status with LH does help in these situations? what about buying a ticket if forced, but with miles?

Not necessarily true. Checking a bag through is just an agreement between partner airlines or airlines that have made an agreement for such services (interlining). All it ensures is your bag being transferred to the corresponding flight(s) till your destination. Depending on the airline, some may allow check in all the way through and BP issued by first carrier but every flight I have done like this required me to check in with the connecting airline at the airport on arrival. This is def the case with UA connecting to SQ or LH (again this is for 2 separate tickets).

Not necessarily true. Checking a bag through is just an agreement between partner airlines or airlines that have made an agreement for such services (interlining). All it ensures is your bag being transferred to the corresponding flight(s) till your destination. Depending on the airline, some may allow check in all the way through and BP issued by first carrier but every flight I have done like this required me to check in with the connecting airline at the airport on arrival. This is def the case with UA connecting to SQ or LH (again this is for 2 separate tickets).


I will be connecting in MUC coming from LHR where I connect from UA to LH.
I guess in LHR I could be checked in already for my flight from MUC just in case that UA will not check me in from my origin.

For future reference, what if:

Ticket 1: UA metal sold on LH ticket
Ticket 2: LH metal

If first flight is delayed, will LH accommodate?

How about if flyer is LH Senator, or *G?

Thanks for the great response.
I now have bought a second ticket on LH from MUC to DUS 3 hours later of the first flight, for just 58Euros.
So I'll have 2 or 5 hours at MUC.
The cheap tickets cannot be canceled, but under EU-law if you cancel you get back the taxes and fees. And on the 58Euro-ticket the taxes and fees are 50Euro.

I will be connecting in MUC coming from LHR where I connect from UA to LH.
I guess in LHR I could be checked in already for my flight from MUC just in case that UA will not check me in from my origin.

I am thinking of a potential situation: what if my flight from IAH to MUC connecting in LHR is oversold?(I mean hear the IAH-LHR). Can UA book me on other LH flights?
the most important question: can UA move my LH departure on my second ticket from MUC to a later flight? Can they touch that ticket?

Any help from experts regarding this LH ticket?

I am thinking of a potential situation: what if my flight from IAH to MUC connecting in LHR is oversold?(I mean hear the IAH-LHR). Can UA book me on other LH flights? If it is a single ticket, easily. If not, don't bet on it.
the most important question: can UA move my LH departure on my second ticket from MUC to a later flight? Can they touch that ticket?
If it is a second, separate ticket then do not expect UA to touch the LH reservation.

This is one area where oneworld is, by far, in the lead. Their policy says that separate reservations on OW carriers which otherwise meet the MCT will be treated as a single ticket and accommodated as such.

Thanks for the great response.
I now have bought a second ticket on LH from MUC to DUS 3 hours later of the first flight, for just 58Euros.
So I'll have 2 or 5 hours at MUC.
The cheap tickets cannot be canceled, but under EU-law if you cancel you get back the taxes and fees. And on the 58Euro-ticket the taxes and fees are 50Euro.

While this reduces your risk, it doesn't really solve your problem. It is very, very easy for 5 hours to not be enough on an international connection. What if UA cancels your flight entirely?

Additionally, if you don't make the 2-hour connection, EVEN IF the 5-hour connection DOES get you to DUS, if you're also flying back DUS-MUC (or DUS somewhere else on the same ticket) that's going to cancel out when you don't make your first flight, so you'll also need a way to get back to MUC from DUS.

If it is a single ticket, easily. If not, don't bet on it.

If it is a second, separate ticket then do not expect UA to touch the LH reservation.

This is one area where oneworld is, by far, in the lead. Their policy says that separate reservations on OW carriers which otherwise meet the MCT will be treated as a single ticket and accommodated as such.

Thank you sbm12.I was thinking that they cannot touch a separate reservation when ticketet by another airline.