Originally Posted by
YoungSoloTraveler
FYI datapoint for those curious to know. LHR couldn't check through and I had to get the luggage, go through customs, agent told me to check it in normally. So trudged onto the bus and manually checked in the bag.
Well, outside of transmitting to int’l at IAH, you always have to collect bags entering US.
Sounds like you got inexperienced agent at LHR. Checking bags across two UA itineraries apparently requires an agent to “trick” UA’s bag check system. It’s apparently more straight-forward to check from UA to another airline.
Bag drops outside of customs are normally just that - they allow passengers to drop bags already tagged to next destination. Since yours wasn’t, you were directed to normal check in. I would have been a bit more persistent at LHR.