AS refused to check my bags through despite policy on website
May 24, 2019, 1:15 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
AS' systems tend to not like connections in non-standard connection cities. Got a call in ABQ once about picking up my cooler when I was on a connection there... It was tagged thru, but made it to the baggage claim. They were able to redirect it back though TSA and to the aircraft in time thankfully. I don't think many folks connect there. Just like JFK- it's not the most common to fly SFO-JFK-SEA, but does sound like something I would try.
Also, the AS verbage is ambiguous. When it says "international" does that mean from an international point onward or does that mean domestically to an international flight or does it mean either?
James
May 26, 2019, 11:53 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
FlyerTalk is an advertising funded website. I think I saw this on a ping-back on another site too. *shrugs*
But as missydarlin mentioned, the Sabre system pairs SEA in the same "zone" as SFO, so it confused the system when you tried to check a bag sfo-jfk-sea-nrt... I was kinda curious why you couldn't either when you mentioned it as a problem (my company helps troubleshoot Sabre for another airline (stuff their own help desk or sys admins can't figure out, and no, Alaska isn't a client)
But as missydarlin mentioned, the Sabre system pairs SEA in the same "zone" as SFO, so it confused the system when you tried to check a bag sfo-jfk-sea-nrt... I was kinda curious why you couldn't either when you mentioned it as a problem (my company helps troubleshoot Sabre for another airline (stuff their own help desk or sys admins can't figure out, and no, Alaska isn't a client)
Last edited by UAPremierExec; May 26, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Jun 1, 2019, 4:34 am
#49
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, AA, BA, SQ
Posts: 164
Just a datapoint... I had a 9 hr overnight connection in JFK on separate tickets. The agents tried to check it through to my final destination, and had all the segments up (4 total) but the JFK connection was showing up as an illegal connection. It was AS -> AS metal; AS -> JL ticket stock. Two agents couldn't make it work, one went to talk to a supervisor and came back saying that the other is that they won't store the bags in JFK overnight.
This is not what the website claims -- just a warning.
Does anyone know if you can rent lockers or something anywhere in JFK? Something big enough to fit a carry-on-sized bag and preferably a backpack as well...
This is not what the website claims -- just a warning.
Does anyone know if you can rent lockers or something anywhere in JFK? Something big enough to fit a carry-on-sized bag and preferably a backpack as well...
Jun 1, 2019, 6:48 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
Take a look at the airport information on Alaska's website. If it says that their hours are anything other than 24 hours (I don't know if any are), and your layover includes the hours they are "closed", your bag will not be automatically transferred since during that time it cannot be attended and secured against pilferage. As far as tagging the bag goes, the agent should be able to add three additional flights manually but you would still be required to claim and re drop your bag if the layover includes a portion of time they are "closed". It sounds like this was the agents erring on the side of caution (due to the overnight) and telling you it must be re checked than a systemwide policy against thru checking on separate tickets.
Jun 1, 2019, 9:04 am
#51
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,361
The OP is not complaining about the policy. He is legitimately complaining about his reasonable interpretation of the policy as published on the AS website,. His luggage planning would have been different. It is also not reasonably incumbent on a passenger to peruse various airport operating hours, save for check-in, etc, when investigating baggage policy.
Jun 2, 2019, 8:11 am
#52
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
Jun 2, 2019, 1:12 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,630
Jun 2, 2019, 11:30 pm
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
I think it was reasonable and feasible. Maybe not logical but theoretical.
Jun 3, 2019, 6:51 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Programs: UA GS; Former Alaska MVPG75/DL Diamond/NW Platinum/BA Gold
Posts: 942
After several recent long-ish Seattle connections, I'm afraid it doesn't matter what the policy is, or how reasonable the agents can be. Alaska's systems are highly resistant to unusual baggage checks.
Jun 5, 2019, 11:32 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I had a chance to talk to the baggage agent in JFK about this after one of my flights got cancelled (different thread...)
She basically told me that they have a blanket policy against storing bags overnight at JFK, and that overrides AS' policy.
AS should probably update the language on their website to indicate that some airports may not allow bags to be checked through on overnight connections.
This had nothing to do with separate tickets. AS allows bags to be checked through on separate tickets. The issue was the overnight.
It turned out to be fine; I'm not going to spend a lot of time on a problem that can be solved for $20. This is more of a PSA in case anyone is planning something similar in JFK.
She basically told me that they have a blanket policy against storing bags overnight at JFK, and that overrides AS' policy.
AS should probably update the language on their website to indicate that some airports may not allow bags to be checked through on overnight connections.
This had nothing to do with separate tickets. AS allows bags to be checked through on separate tickets. The issue was the overnight.
It turned out to be fine; I'm not going to spend a lot of time on a problem that can be solved for $20. This is more of a PSA in case anyone is planning something similar in JFK.
Jun 6, 2019, 12:01 am
#58
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
I had a chance to talk to the baggage agent in JFK about this after one of my flights got cancelled (different thread...)
She basically told me that they have a blanket policy against storing bags overnight at JFK, and that overrides AS' policy.
AS should probably update the language on their website to indicate that some airports may not allow bags to be checked through on overnight connections.
This had nothing to do with separate tickets. AS allows bags to be checked through on separate tickets. The issue was the overnight.
It turned out to be fine; I'm not going to spend a lot of time on a problem that can be solved for $20. This is more of a PSA in case anyone is planning something similar in JFK.
She basically told me that they have a blanket policy against storing bags overnight at JFK, and that overrides AS' policy.
AS should probably update the language on their website to indicate that some airports may not allow bags to be checked through on overnight connections.
This had nothing to do with separate tickets. AS allows bags to be checked through on separate tickets. The issue was the overnight.
It turned out to be fine; I'm not going to spend a lot of time on a problem that can be solved for $20. This is more of a PSA in case anyone is planning something similar in JFK.
Agree AS needs to make this more clear online. @:-)