Checking in online with checked baggage is entirely normal and commonplace, and there will certainly be no assumption about you not having checked baggage.

Some airlines still have separate bag drop desks for passengers who have checked in online (though this is not as common as it once was), so you may have a shorter wait.


The main advantage to checking in online is that you get to pick your seat - quite an important point if you're flying with an airline that does not let you pick seats at the time of booking (as is the case on many short-haul routes here in Europe).

Another thing is that if your two airlines have a baggage interlining agreement then your first airline will be able to tag your bag to your final destination. You will have to collect it on arrival in the USA and take it through customs and drop it off again, but last time I did this it was just a case of dropping it on a belt, no need to go a desk. If you're checked in, and your bag is tagged to your final destination, then you can just go straight to the gate once you have taken your bag through customs and dropped it off.