SPN Lifer

The first thing to be aware of is that, while Guam and the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) (main islands: Saipan, SPN; Tinian, TIQ; and Rota, ROP) are both under U.S. immigration, with CBP officials at the points of entry, they both control their own customs.

I took the same flights you are on when I moved back to Saipan in April 2021. Unfortunately, the Covid situation was stricter then, so we did not have the option to leave the airport.

Back then, connecting NRT-GUM-SPN we did not pick up our bags. They were checked all the way through to our final destination.

We did clear U.S. immigration with CBP, but then instead of clearing Guam customs, those of us in transit were directed back airside.

I have a high physical tolerance of minimal creature comforts (former Eagle Scout), my wife had brought two roll-up camping mattress pads, and the airport was quite empty, so we got some sleep fairly easily, as we had flown from the U.S. mainland and were tired.

Last month, flying SPN-GUM-MNL, with an 8-hour (daytime) layover, the same procedure applied. No pickup of bags on Guam. We also stayed in the airport, because of Philippine Covid requirements.

What I recommend is that you check your bags as normal, paying attention to the routing on the bag tags. If they conclude NRT-GUM-SPN, it seems pretty safe they will be sent all the way to your final destination.

If you do decide to leave for nearby "Hotel Row" on Tumon Bay, make sure you have what you need in your carry-on bag. At Guam Customs, you will not need to declare anything you are not bringing into the Territory of Guam, because it is being sent to the CNMI.

For people in transit, it would be pointless to have everyone lugging around checked-in luggage airside.

Wherever you do it, I hope you get some good sleep. And welcome to Saipan, my home for over two decades.

🌴 🎶 🍺 💚 🤠 🇲🇵 🇺🇲 🙏

WineCountryUA

That followed UA policy, as not an overnight and less then 12 hours, the UA policy is to check-thru bags

As far as NRT-GUM-SPN with overnight in GUM, there may be a override of the general policy due to local conditions (or number of transit passengers?), but agree best to verify with check-in agent.

pigzilla

My update, as promised. I was not allowed to check my bags in all the way at EWR (in GS lobby) and had to pick up the bags in SFO due to the 12 hour rule. Took bags to SFO GS lobby about 12 hours before the departure that night and initially they said it was too early to check the bags in but then I asked if they could make an exception. They were able to get it done and took our 3 suitcases, so I didn't have to lug those around for the entire day.

RNE

Bravo. Never hurts to ask.

Global321

Experts -

I have a UA flight, IAD to FRA, landing at 7am, just over 13 hour layover (daytime), then continuing to Asia in the evening on *A partner, same day as arrival. One ticket.

I want my bag in Frankfurt mostly because having it sit in the airport doesn't seem like a good idea.
It seems like the UA rule should be to automatically only check the bag to FRA and "force" me to pick it up there. However, seems like at least one person above had a bag pushed through.

Has anyone had an agent try and force it through to the final destination?

Thanks!

WineCountryUA

Published policy is overnight or longer then 12 hours, and you have to pick up your bags. Agents might be willing to check-thru (thinking they are doing you a favor) but mentioning you want a shortcheck at FRA should be no problem,

threeoh

Personally I wouldn't worry about this - FRA luggage handling seems pretty reliable. I usually don't check bags but might in this case just to be free of the bag for the long connection.

If you're worried about it, maybe try the automated bag check station first? If the computer prints FRA tags automatically (which it should per the rule), then you don't have to worry about a "helpful" agent through-checking it to Asia for you.

Global321

Quick update - Computer wanted to check it through. Agent tried and tried but could not get it to stop in FRA. Finally had to call support and 30 minutes later got it to only go to FRA.

All good in the end.

WineCountryUA

Thanks for the update -- odd the difference in written policy and actuality. UA has varied the rule over the years for the daytime threshold, appears the computer has its own rules.

What was the actual time difference from scheduled arrival to scheduled departure?

747FC

I don’t think it is odd, except if one thinks that UA agents won’t try helping a customer. As I’ve shown upthread and in the Wiki, some agents will find ways to help.

Global321

13 hours 10 minutes. United to Thai.

I think the odd part is the policy says you cannot check the bag all the way, but the computer was forcing it. (The agent I was dealing with was very helpful, even though he did not know how to short check it. PBI, so doubt this comes up much.)

RNE

Is the policy to help thwart hidden city ticketing?

WineCountryUA

No, this policy is the opposite of that. The short-checking policy may be there due to HCT.

threeoh

The policy of not (generally) permitting shortchecking is (probably) to thwart HCT.

I'm not sure why United (generally) forces you to claim bags with a 12h-24h connection. It seems to me the total number of bags that would be low so the storage burden would be minimal, the time is bounded (24h maximum permitted connection on most itins), and not having to deal with bags on connections is one of the main advantages of checking bags imo.

HkCaGu

Theft. Liability.