Originally Posted by
alp67
I never had issues with short-checking luggage when layover time is sufficient, e.g. >3-4 hours, depending on arrival airport and airline.
On my last CDG-US run I had this rather odd agent saying that he couldn't check all the way thru to CDG, even if I wanted to, because it would be 5 legs and that's not possible. (SAN-LAX-JFK-HEL-LHR-CDG)
I was forced to pick it up at LHR, what I wanted to do anyway. Layover at LHR was >8 hours, choosen for obvious purpose.
For HNL and other similar trips: coming back from summer to the winter cold I can't imagine any agent would refuse short-checking when telling them the need of some stuff out of your checked luggage. Some creativity will definitely help
Sounds like you had an agent who didn't have a great knowledge, it is possible to check bags for 5 legs but it may require a second tag.
In terms of short checking if the LHR connection is same day agents in the US are told not to short check precisely to stop people missing the last leg. There has been a lot of commentary about that on FT over the last few years. So I would not be confident of that if checking a bag in the US.