Originally Posted by
EsherFlyer
Only potential fly in the ointment I see is that I thought you'd have to collect bags at 'port of entry' (LHR) irrespective of which carriers you're on as you move on to domestic travel. So if it was BA all the way the same the same thing would apply.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you mean here, but you don't have to collect your bags when flying to a UK domestic airport, connecting at LHR. Actually, you don't have to connect them when flying to an international airport, connecting at LHR, either - assuming, of course, your bags have been tagged all the way. You need to collect and re-check your bags when entering the US, though - perhaps you're thinking of this?
United was able to issue me with a BD boarding pass back on precisely one occasion, back in January 2009, and since then I've never been able to get my BD boarding passes from UA, for reasons unknown - not even at the airport. I've always had to check in online separately with BD.