Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA policy on connecting bags requiring recheck (updated wording Aug 2017 -- removed 13-hour rule, another update Fall 2018 restored 12-hour rule)
In practice. some have been able to avoid having to claim and re-check bags when on a long connection -- but if the agent insists, the agent is correctly implementing UA's written / published policy. See post https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31816944-post390.html for how an agent may be able to help you: They can retrieve a hand-written UA baggage tags that had "Reroute" and "VIP" printed on them (not handwritten) and add your information.
UA social media team (Twitter) wrote on August 16 (2017), "Any connection below 13 hours is always checked through to the final destination" in the context of being regardless of being an overnight connection or not.
related thread: UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)
UA will not Short Check bags (but some loopholes)
Archive thread: Overnight, long layover/connection check through baggage question {Archive}
For a trip that includes one or more connection, we’ll check bags to the final destination on your ticket.You'll need to go to baggage claim and re-check your bags if:
- You chose to have a layover
- You make a connection that involves an overnight stay
- Your connecting flight departs more than 12 hours after you arrive at the airport
- You’re connecting to an itinerary booked on a separate ticket that doesn't include a Star Alliance™ partner airline
- You’re traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country
Default time is 12 hours. A small number of individual stations are enabled to allow bags to be checked thru for connections greater than 12 hours. Maybe we can build a list based on people's experiences for certain connection points.
I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.
I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.
UA social media team (Twitter) wrote on August 16 (2017), "Any connection below 13 hours is always checked through to the final destination" in the context of being regardless of being an overnight connection or not.
related thread: UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)
UA will not Short Check bags (but some loopholes)
Archive thread: Overnight, long layover/connection check through baggage question {Archive}
Overnight, long layover/connection check through baggage question (consolidated)
#16
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,125
I have a EWR-SFO-SYD flight coming up, but with a 13 hour daytime (not overnight) layover at SFO. I know I will probably have to pick the bags up when I land in SFO, but wondering if I take the bags over to the GS lobby, will they let me check the bags in early (12 hours before the SFO-SYD flight).
Also the GS lobby is in Terminal 3 but my UA SFO-SYD flight will be in the international terminal (G gates), wondering if that will be an issue or do I need to check them in at the international terminal where I assume there is no GS lobby.
Also the GS lobby is in Terminal 3 but my UA SFO-SYD flight will be in the international terminal (G gates), wondering if that will be an issue or do I need to check them in at the international terminal where I assume there is no GS lobby.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,521
Re-checking at U.S. entry point and adding a segment
I have an award ticket on ET booked XXX-ADD-ORD-YYY, with five hours in Chicago. I added an excursionist award YYY-ZZZ on United. Unfortunately the layover in YYY is too short to retrieve and re-check the bag there.
I assume that I will be able to retrieve my bag in ORD, take it to the United counter and have it retagged to YYY-ZZZ. True?
I assume that I will be able to retrieve my bag in ORD, take it to the United counter and have it retagged to YYY-ZZZ. True?
#18
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Yes, if ORD-YYY and YYY-ZZZ are both on United and it sounds like you have enough time, so you should be good.
Try at the T5 UA re-check desk that is right after customs (after the first set of doors, before the second set of doors where you exit to the public).
If they won't do it there (or the line is too long) you can schlep to T1 for your domestic flight and try at the normal check-in counter.
This is the thread you are looking for btw: Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
Try at the T5 UA re-check desk that is right after customs (after the first set of doors, before the second set of doors where you exit to the public).
If they won't do it there (or the line is too long) you can schlep to T1 for your domestic flight and try at the normal check-in counter.
This is the thread you are looking for btw: Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
#19
I have an award ticket on ET booked XXX-ADD-ORD-YYY, with five hours in Chicago. I added an excursionist award YYY-ZZZ on United. Unfortunately the layover in YYY is too short to retrieve and re-check the bag there.
I assume that I will be able to retrieve my bag in ORD, take it to the United counter and have it retagged to YYY-ZZZ. True?
I assume that I will be able to retrieve my bag in ORD, take it to the United counter and have it retagged to YYY-ZZZ. True?
#20
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 97
First overnight connection...well not for me. Sister in law are on ORD->EWR->SJO. Arrival into EWR is 0030 and departure is 0800. Will they need to go pick up bags and re-check and go through security again? Is security even open at 0100?
#21
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: EWR
Programs: UA GS, MR TE, HH Diamond, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, National EE, Avis PC
Posts: 135
Would try at EWR check-in for an exception to checkthru to SYD. Better chance than rechecking at SFO as that is normally only allowed 4 hours in advance.
Up to 12 hours is allowed but the OP stated 13 hours. Perhaps will allow 13 hours for GS but it would be an exception
Up to 12 hours is allowed but the OP stated 13 hours. Perhaps will allow 13 hours for GS but it would be an exception
Here is a possible way to avoid the recheck, but having the EWR agent help you out: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31816944-post390.html
#22
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,521
Yes, if ORD-YYY and YYY-ZZZ are both on United and it sounds like you have enough time, so you should be good.
Try at the T5 UA re-check desk that is right after customs (after the first set of doors, before the second set of doors where you exit to the public).
If they won't do it there (or the line is too long) you can schlep to T1 for your domestic flight and try at the normal check-in counter.
This is the thread you are looking for btw: Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
Try at the T5 UA re-check desk that is right after customs (after the first set of doors, before the second set of doors where you exit to the public).
If they won't do it there (or the line is too long) you can schlep to T1 for your domestic flight and try at the normal check-in counter.
This is the thread you are looking for btw: Checking baggage through on separate UA operated reservations...
#23
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Checked Baggage NOT to Final Destination?
I am flying CLE-ORD-SFO-FAT. The connection at SFO is 15 hours overnight. Therefore, I booked a room at the airport hotel and I'd like to have my baggage with me. Will I get pushback at CLE if I ask to have my baggage checked through only to SFO, not all the way to FAT? I'll recheck my baggage at SFO for my flight to FAT.
#24
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,365
I am flying CLE-ORD-SFO-FAT. The connection at SFO is 15 hours overnight. Therefore, I booked a room at the airport hotel and I'd like to have my baggage with me. Will I get pushback at CLE if I ask to have my baggage checked through only to SFO, not all the way to FAT? I'll recheck my baggage at SFO for my flight to FAT.
>12hr or overnight connection means you have to pick bag at SFO
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 27, 2022 at 12:51 pm Reason: clean up after move; thanks for the link
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,381
With a 15-hour overnight the default should be to short-check to SFO.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 27, 2022 at 12:52 pm Reason: clean up after move; thanks for the link
#26
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,746
As others have mention, UA's policy is connections of over 12 hours (and overnight) requires the bags to be picked up and later recehcked (no earlier than 4 hours before the next departure)
Fo true short checking, see UA will not Short Check bags (but some loopholes)
Fo true short checking, see UA will not Short Check bags (but some loopholes)
#27
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: UA/CO
Posts: 54
Just a data point here: I had a long (17 hour) overnight layover at ORD on my way to ZRH. Even though my bags were only checked to ORD, when they were offloaded from my DEN-ORD flight, the scanner flagged them as a transfer to ZRH on Swiss. Only one of them made it to baggage claim in ORD. The other simply disappeared. After dealing with one rude and unhelpful baggage agent who just kept saying "this is now Swiss' problem", his colleague came over and said "I know where it is." It was in the "International transfers" area - without a tag that said where it was to go. The unhelpful agent told me that Swiss would be able to find it, but the helpful agent said that he thought it would have just sat there. If your bags don't show up, it may be worthwhile to ask the agent to look in the "international transfers" section.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Claim bags and then re-check at GUM for next-day flight to Saipan?
In late June I will have a 10-hour, overnight layover in GUM on my way to Saipan. I'm trying to decide whether I should get a hotel for the night, and knowing what will happen with my luggage will help me make this decision.
I'll arrive from NRT at 9:55 PM and fly out to Saipan at 8:00 AM the next morning. I am already aware that I will have to claim my bags in GUM for customs processing, BUT, I would really like to know whether I will be able to re-check them to SPN right away (i.e. check in for my next flight and hang out airside all night), or whether I will have to hang on to them until the check-in counter opens at around 5:00 AM. If it's the former, I will just bide my time at the airport--although I do wish the United Club were open--but if I have to babysit my bags all night, I would rather just go to a hotel. What are your thoughts?
I'll arrive from NRT at 9:55 PM and fly out to Saipan at 8:00 AM the next morning. I am already aware that I will have to claim my bags in GUM for customs processing, BUT, I would really like to know whether I will be able to re-check them to SPN right away (i.e. check in for my next flight and hang out airside all night), or whether I will have to hang on to them until the check-in counter opens at around 5:00 AM. If it's the former, I will just bide my time at the airport--although I do wish the United Club were open--but if I have to babysit my bags all night, I would rather just go to a hotel. What are your thoughts?
#29
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,746
... I'll arrive from NRT at 9:55 PM and fly out to Saipan at 8:00 AM the next morning. I am already aware that I will have to claim my bags in GUM for customs processing, BUT, I would really like to know whether I will be able to re-check them to SPN right away (i.e. check in for my next flight and hang out airside all night), or whether I will have to hang on to them until the check-in counter opens at around 5:00 AM. ...
UCs (when open) are not open overnight
#30
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Yes, of course. Poorly worded on my part. Thank you for the information.