PDX-SFO-LIM, collect bags at SFO or check to LIM?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: PDX
Posts: 7
PDX-SFO-LIM, collect bags at SFO or check to LIM?
I am traveling business class PDX-SFO-LIM, the PDX-SFO leg with Alaska Air. Alaska says they can check my bags all the way to LIM, but my tour company in strongly suggests I pick up my bags in SFO and recheck them with LAN. I have a 4.5 hour layover in SFO so I would have plenty of time to pick up my bags, check in with LAN and go through security again (assuming AS flight isn't extremely delayed).
Which scenario would make it least-likely to lose my bags: re-check bags at SFO or check once with Alaska? I don't know if the 4.5 layover makes one better than the other.
If I decide to not re-check in at SFO is there a LAN customer service desk within SFO international terminal where I can get my passport scanned, get a pass to the BA lounge and do whatever else I may need to do with LAN to get settled with them?
PS: first time poster, long time lurker
Which scenario would make it least-likely to lose my bags: re-check bags at SFO or check once with Alaska? I don't know if the 4.5 layover makes one better than the other.
If I decide to not re-check in at SFO is there a LAN customer service desk within SFO international terminal where I can get my passport scanned, get a pass to the BA lounge and do whatever else I may need to do with LAN to get settled with them?
PS: first time poster, long time lurker
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,426
I am traveling business class PDX-SFO-LIM, the PDX-SFO leg with Alaska Air. Alaska says they can check my bags all the way to LIM, but my tour company in strongly suggests I pick up my bags in SFO and recheck them with LAN. I have a 4.5 hour layover in SFO so I would have plenty of time to pick up my bags, check in with LAN and go through security again (assuming AS flight isn't extremely delayed).
Which scenario would make it least-likely to lose my bags: re-check bags at SFO or check once with Alaska? I don't know if the 4.5 layover makes one better than the other.
If I decide to not re-check in at SFO is there a LAN customer service desk within SFO international terminal where I can get my passport scanned, get a pass to the BA lounge and do whatever else I may need to do with LAN to get settled with them?
PS: first time poster, long time lurker
Which scenario would make it least-likely to lose my bags: re-check bags at SFO or check once with Alaska? I don't know if the 4.5 layover makes one better than the other.
If I decide to not re-check in at SFO is there a LAN customer service desk within SFO international terminal where I can get my passport scanned, get a pass to the BA lounge and do whatever else I may need to do with LAN to get settled with them?
PS: first time poster, long time lurker
As you will still need to check in with LA @ SFO, even if AS gives you some sort of BP @PDX, you might as well short-check the bags if it looks like you'll be on or near on time. If it turns out to be a tight connection, your bags are much more likely to make it if checked all the way through. You will need to change terminals and go through security no matter what.
LA is now using the CX lounge.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 886
I second EB1K's recommendation to check your bags through to LIM. I've never had a problem with AS getting the bags to LAN at SFO and then to LIM (of course getting the bags from LIM to EZE is another issue.) You need to show LAN your passport at SFO and it's about a 10-15 minute walk from the AS gates in Terminal 1 to the LAN counter in the International terminal (at least they're usually in the first row on the G side!) and the probably won't be there much before 4 hours before the flight. LAN is now using the CX lounge and it doesn't open for business until 4:30pm and it will still be about 15-20 minutes for all of the food to be out. You'll probably have time to check out the museum by the G side gates before you head through security or while you wait for LAN to start checking people in. Checking your bags through means you don't have to drag them through SFO and the LIM ground people don't understand about priority bags anyway.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: PDX
Posts: 7