MAXIMUM baggage check-in time?
Dec 7, 2006, 9:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bay Area (SJC/SFO)
Programs: AA 1MM, working my way back up to AS and Marriott elite status post-baby!
Posts: 1,389
MAXIMUM baggage check-in time?
What is the maximum amount of time before a flight that you can check bags?
Reason I ask is that my mother-in-law is flying in to SFO on NW tomorrow, and flying out on AA on a separate ticket. She's got about a 7-hour layover, and we're trying to figure out if she can check her bags with AA as soon as she gets to SFO. The EXP desk said the max is 4 hours before the flight, but I can't find anything to confirm that on AA.com.
If it is 4 hours, does anyone know from experience whether there's any leniency?
(I'm also checking on the NW board to see if they could check her bags through to her final destination, even though the final destination is on a separate ticket.)
Reason I ask is that my mother-in-law is flying in to SFO on NW tomorrow, and flying out on AA on a separate ticket. She's got about a 7-hour layover, and we're trying to figure out if she can check her bags with AA as soon as she gets to SFO. The EXP desk said the max is 4 hours before the flight, but I can't find anything to confirm that on AA.com.
If it is 4 hours, does anyone know from experience whether there's any leniency?
(I'm also checking on the NW board to see if they could check her bags through to her final destination, even though the final destination is on a separate ticket.)
Dec 7, 2006, 9:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: AA Ex Plt
Posts: 474
What is the maximum amount of time before a flight that you can check bags?
Reason I ask is that my mother-in-law is flying in to SFO on NW tomorrow, and flying out on AA on a separate ticket. She's got about a 7-hour layover, and we're trying to figure out if she can check her bags with AA as soon as she gets to SFO. The EXP desk said the max is 4 hours before the flight, but I can't find anything to confirm that on AA.com.
If it is 4 hours, does anyone know from experience whether there's any leniency?
(I'm also checking on the NW board to see if they could check her bags through to her final destination, even though the final destination is on a separate ticket.)
Reason I ask is that my mother-in-law is flying in to SFO on NW tomorrow, and flying out on AA on a separate ticket. She's got about a 7-hour layover, and we're trying to figure out if she can check her bags with AA as soon as she gets to SFO. The EXP desk said the max is 4 hours before the flight, but I can't find anything to confirm that on AA.com.
If it is 4 hours, does anyone know from experience whether there's any leniency?
(I'm also checking on the NW board to see if they could check her bags through to her final destination, even though the final destination is on a separate ticket.)
Dec 7, 2006, 9:58 pm
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
NW/AA have an interline agreement, so no problem checking bags through even on a separate ticket as long as you have the NW ticket number with you (not just the PNR number). It is easier if the airlines are in the same alliance, but still possible with competing alliances.
The max checkin time is set by the airport as well as the airline, thus it varies by airport. For many airports it is indeed 4 hours (they don't have storage space for baggage!). Often the computer enforces the time limit (the agents cannot print out the baggage tag earlier, without an override).
The max checkin time is set by the airport as well as the airline, thus it varies by airport. For many airports it is indeed 4 hours (they don't have storage space for baggage!). Often the computer enforces the time limit (the agents cannot print out the baggage tag earlier, without an override).
Dec 7, 2006, 10:03 pm
#4
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
If you get stuck, there is baggage storage in the non-secure area of the international terminal.
The Airport Travel Agency is a full service travel agency located in the International Terminal Main Hall, Departures/Ticketing Level, near the security checkpoint for Boarding Area G. Services include travel reservations, travel insurance, luggage storage, overnight express delivery, Notary Public, Western Union, faxes and photocopies.
Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Telephone: (650) 877-0422
http://www.flysfo.com
The Airport Travel Agency is a full service travel agency located in the International Terminal Main Hall, Departures/Ticketing Level, near the security checkpoint for Boarding Area G. Services include travel reservations, travel insurance, luggage storage, overnight express delivery, Notary Public, Western Union, faxes and photocopies.
Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Telephone: (650) 877-0422
http://www.flysfo.com
Dec 8, 2006, 7:15 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bay Area (SJC/SFO)
Programs: AA 1MM, working my way back up to AS and Marriott elite status post-baby!
Posts: 1,389
I just spoke with my mother-in-law. Turns out her first flight was actually with CO, and they were able to check her bags through to SYD. I'm not sure what information she had to give them, but I did make sure she had both her PNR and her ticket number along with her.
Thanks all for your help... you have no idea how much easier this makes my day
BTW, I just have to share my mother-in-law's full itinerary. She was originally scheduled to go AUS-IAH-MSP-SFO-LAX-SYD, with AUS-IAH on CO, IAH-MSP-SFO on NW, SFO-LAX on AA, and LAX-SYD on QF. Given that UA flies nonstop AUS-SFO and QF flies nonstop SFO-SYD, I think that itinerary makes her an honorary FT'er
Thanks all for your help... you have no idea how much easier this makes my day
BTW, I just have to share my mother-in-law's full itinerary. She was originally scheduled to go AUS-IAH-MSP-SFO-LAX-SYD, with AUS-IAH on CO, IAH-MSP-SFO on NW, SFO-LAX on AA, and LAX-SYD on QF. Given that UA flies nonstop AUS-SFO and QF flies nonstop SFO-SYD, I think that itinerary makes her an honorary FT'er