my "case":

*Friday, late afternoon: flying UA (Express) Aspen-Denver
*Saturday, midday-morning: UA Denver - IAD - Brusselles (intern. first class, this is the 2nd flight DEN-IAD of that day from Den to IAD, and the only on to Brusselles).
*Sunday-morning: Brusselles - Zurich with Swissair (second flight to Zurich after our UA arrival in Brusseles).


At Check-in in Aspen we try to check our luggage (4 pieces incl. skis) through to Zurich (and manage our one night stay at Denver with handluggage only).

First denial of UA at check-in: Sorry, we can't accept overnight storage at Denver for security-reason.

My argument: UA considers this a through flight (because the stop at DEN is less then 24 hours), please ask your supervisor or inquire with UA by the phone.

The supervisor: "after my knowledge it is now - but I will inquire with UA".

The supervisor (after her phonecall, with me listening): Sorry, we could, for security reason, only accept if your on-going-flight to Washington (Dulles) would be the very next flight after your arrival, which isn't the case, as on Saturday morning there is already a first flight leaving DEN to IAD at 8AM.

My (laughing, friendly) arguments, that if she looks at the next flight-segment (after IAD) to Brussels, that that would indeed be the very next possible flight there (as there is only one flight per day) was in vein.

One of her colleagues then took me a side and told me his solution to my problem: "Sir, just don't get your luggage in DEN, then show up a little early next morning at the "lost and found", and wave your bagagge receipts high in the air, pretending not being able to speak any english" (he must have read one of my guerilla-tips earlier here on the buzz-site ...).