I’ve received conflicting information from multiple reps at AA and BA regarding whether checked bags will be through-checked to final destination on the following 3-legged itinerary:
Leg #1: ORD-LHR (AA)
Leg #2: LHR-FCO (BA)
Leg #3: FCO-DBV (AZ)
AA Rep #1: “AA has a baggage agreement with both BA and AZ, so when you check your bag at ORD with AA, we’ll tag bags all the way through to your final destination at DBV.”
BA Rep: “BA does not have a baggage agreement with AZ; AZ is not a OW partner; you’ll need to collect your checked bags at FCO and re-check with AZ.”
AA Rep #2: Repeated same information as AA Rep #1, but then checked with the “AA OW Group” and (after several minutes on hold) came back and said “I’m really glad I called them! At ORD we [AA] will tag your bag through to your final destination (DBV), BUT because BA has no baggage agreement with AZ, you will actually have to claim your bags at FCO and then re-check with AZ. BA won’t transfer then to AZ.”

Wife and I have a very tight connection at FCO – probably not enough time to claim bags, re-check, clear security and to departure gate. What should we do? If BA Rep and AA Rep #2 are right that BA will NOT transfer bags to AZ due to no BA-AZ baggage agreement, two options spring to mind:

Option #1: (a) Check bags with AA at ORD. (b) Retrieve bags at FCO (run). (c) Re-check bags with AZ (run). (d) Clear security (run). (e) Get to gate (run). (f) Miss flight.

Option #2: Since we are flying J Class ORD-LHR on AA, (a) Carry-on all our bags (we will be within AA limits). (b) “Slip” into BA Economy cabin with carry-on that exceeds BA limits (i.e., somehow [?] avoid BA’s much stricter baggage limit in economy cabin). (c) Avoid claiming and re-checking bags at FCO. (d) AZ could still gate-check carry-on, but that’s the final leg so not an issue.

Are there better options to minimize surprises (like missed connections at FCO?)

Is there any chance that AA Rep #1 is right – that bags we check with AA at origin (ORD) will be checked through to final destination (i.e., no need to claim them at FCO and re-check with AZ)? Or, are BA Rep and AA Rep #2 correct that, because BA has no interline baggage agreement with AZ, bags checked at ORD or (gate-checked at LHR) will only make it as far as FCO and then will need to be claimed and re-checked with AZ at FCO?

Though I think it is irrelevant, we have paper tickets purchased from and issued by AA, and I think they are all the same “ticket number” (despite the strange fact that we actually have 3 PNR’s – AA that shows all flights, BA that only shows BA flight, and AZ that only shows AZ flights.)

Experienced traveler’s please advise. Thank you for your kind attention.