Originally Posted by
wrp96
You can ask but official policy is not to check through on separate tickets, even AA to AA.
Originally Posted by
JJeffrey
We're all saying the same thing here but I hesitate to even say that one could ask or that's it's unlikely, for someone not familiar with AA policies this could mean there's a "chance".
OP: AA will flat out not check bags through across separate tickets, this policy is now almost 10 years old. 0% chance as USFlyerUS said above. Make sure to allow enough time at ORD to claim your bags and check-in with BA again.
Honestly, I’d take the Van Galder bus from downtown Madison to ORD instead of flying in this situation. If you fly, you’ll have to arrive in Chicago, leave security, claim your bag, and check in with BA before their baggage cutoff time, then clear security for your departure. The bus on time percentage is much higher than flying, and given airport overhead on the Madison end (especially if you’re not coming from the east side of town where the airport is) the door to door time difference isn’t that great.
If you can get it booked on one reservation or fly without a checked bag, you don’t have to leave security in ORD, if you can check in for BA online your only deadline is to be to the boarding gate before the door closes, and the advantages of flying out of the lovely Madison airport become much more significant.