Oct 26, 2014, 7:29 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
"Short Checking" Checked Baggage to Point Previous Than Destination
Short-checking baggage - e.g. flying DCA-DFW-LAX, but desiring to recover baggage at DFW without a ticketed stopover or mandated "Last In - First Overnight' or other extended connection, may or may not be allowed by check-in agents (most likely not).
Short-checking is easy at a US port of entry if returning to the US from a non-preclearance destination, as one must generally pass immigration, recover checked baggage, pass through customs and re-check baggage st the customs exit bag drop (or ticket counter) to proceed.
AA is concerned about passengers short-checking baggage to bail on an itinerary for various reasons, most importantly "Hidden City - Point Beyond" ticketing (dropping segments to avoid higher pricing, e.g. AUS-DFW-JFK-DFW-AUS bailing at DFW because one lives there and doesn't want to pay the higher price a fortress hub might incur. This thread is the one to read.
On an award ticket, as indicated in the award threads, one may be allowed to drop a segment without penalty. " AA no longer charges to drop the first or last segment of an award, as long as doing so does not change the country of origin or arrival." guv1976.
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Short-checking baggage - e.g. flying DCA-DFW-LAX, but desiring to recover baggage at DFW without a ticketed stopover or mandated "Last In - First Overnight' or other extended connection, may or may not be allowed by check-in agents (most likely not).
Short-checking is easy at a US port of entry if returning to the US from a non-preclearance destination, as one must generally pass immigration, recover checked baggage, pass through customs and re-check baggage st the customs exit bag drop (or ticket counter) to proceed.
AA is concerned about passengers short-checking baggage to bail on an itinerary for various reasons, most importantly "Hidden City - Point Beyond" ticketing (dropping segments to avoid higher pricing, e.g. AUS-DFW-JFK-DFW-AUS bailing at DFW because one lives there and doesn't want to pay the higher price a fortress hub might incur. This thread is the one to read.
On an award ticket, as indicated in the award threads, one may be allowed to drop a segment without penalty. " AA no longer charges to drop the first or last segment of an award, as long as doing so does not change the country of origin or arrival." guv1976.
Wikipost instructions: signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost to update; wiki contents may be printed by using the
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Short check / checking baggage (consolidated)
Aug 8, 2023, 5:29 am
#122
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Madrid
Programs: IB+ Oro / OWS
Posts: 631
https://www.iberia.com/es/faqs/gener...t-information/
Most days of the week there is a 1200-1310 MAD-LEI?
Aug 8, 2023, 9:20 am
#123
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,968
Personally, I rarely check bags except when I have a layover long enough so Im leaving the airport. In those cases Im very happy to have the airline keeping my bag instead of lugging it around town. Ive certainly had luggage lost or delayed by airlines, but long layovers are not, in my experience, a particular culprit. For a daytime 14 hour layover, take a change of clothes and whatever you need for a day (or two in case of flight delays) in a carryon backpack.
(But I also travel for three week wintertime trips with a toddler in a rollaboard only.)
(But I also travel for three week wintertime trips with a toddler in a rollaboard only.)
Aug 8, 2023, 11:13 pm
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Good catch, I started skimming at the hotel part and missed that the arrival is at 6AM local time rather than midnight (US time). Agreed, the easier option is always to leave the bag checked and just carry what you need with you, but whether daytime or overnight flight, I'd be perfectly willing to lobby for getting my bag back at the transit point for a layover that long if I really felt I needed it.
Aug 9, 2023, 4:39 am
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,719
I'm sure you are saying that because you must have had a bad experience, but quite frankly, as someone who uses MAD and many other airports very regularly, I have to say that is complete nonsense. MAD is in fact one of the easier airports for short connections in Europe as long as we are talking OW flights (ie stay within T4/T4S) and especially if you are considering options amongst OW hubs (granted, HEL is even easier but it is in fact a lot smaller). Again, I'm not questioning the fact that you must have had a horrible experience to say it, but I wouldn't want people to avoid connecting at MAD as a result of something which I really find at odds with the airport's typical experience.
Nov 27, 2023, 9:17 am
#126
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Join Date: Aug 2012
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AA to BA - Short checking 1 bag
I have IAH-LAX-LHR-ABV coming up with IAH-LAX on AA and the rest on BA. The layover in LHR is 9.5 hours.
I suspect the answer is no, but is there any way to have one bag terminate in LHR? I would like to carry some beer and bourbon to my family in London; can't take it as a carry on and bags are checked through usually without requiring an intermediary step like Intl arrivals in the US.
Any other thoughts on ways to make this happen?
I suspect the answer is no, but is there any way to have one bag terminate in LHR? I would like to carry some beer and bourbon to my family in London; can't take it as a carry on and bags are checked through usually without requiring an intermediary step like Intl arrivals in the US.
Any other thoughts on ways to make this happen?
Nov 27, 2023, 10:02 am
#127
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,327
While no guarantee I think that this ought to be possible. Just ask the staff at IAH to check one of your bags to London and the other(s) to ABV.
Short checking is not normally permitted to make it harder for people to miss the last leg of a journey intentionally to benefit from lower prices. In your case if you're still checking at least one bag to ABV it should be obvious to the check in staff that you're not in that category.
I've done this before in similar circumstances where I wanted to collect my golf clubs and leave them at the baggage storage in LHR while continuing on to India with no checked luggage. I had no problems.
Short checking is not normally permitted to make it harder for people to miss the last leg of a journey intentionally to benefit from lower prices. In your case if you're still checking at least one bag to ABV it should be obvious to the check in staff that you're not in that category.
I've done this before in similar circumstances where I wanted to collect my golf clubs and leave them at the baggage storage in LHR while continuing on to India with no checked luggage. I had no problems.
Nov 27, 2023, 10:04 am
#128
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While no guarantee I think that this ought to be possible. Just ask the staff at IAH to check one of your bags to London and the other(s) to ABV.
Short checking is not normally permitted to make it harder for people to miss the last leg of a journey intentionally to benefit from lower prices. In your case if you're still checking at least one bag to ABV it should be obvious to the check in staff that you're not in that category.
I've done this before in similar circumstances where I wanted to collect my golf clubs and leave them at the baggage storage in LHR while continuing on to India with no checked luggage. I had no problems.
Short checking is not normally permitted to make it harder for people to miss the last leg of a journey intentionally to benefit from lower prices. In your case if you're still checking at least one bag to ABV it should be obvious to the check in staff that you're not in that category.
I've done this before in similar circumstances where I wanted to collect my golf clubs and leave them at the baggage storage in LHR while continuing on to India with no checked luggage. I had no problems.
). I'll give it a shot. Worst case, i can either schlep it to Abuja and try on the way back or some clients get lucky with presents.
Nov 27, 2023, 10:18 am
#129
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,380
They do allow it, but unfortunately it's at the discretion of the agent. If permitted, the agent has to enter the "reason" for the short-check, so you might think of a convincing one LOL
Was thinking since you are talking alcoholic beverages, duty-free might be a good alternative.
Was thinking since you are talking alcoholic beverages, duty-free might be a good alternative.
Nov 27, 2023, 11:35 am
#130
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,696
My experience was with BA but hopefully it is a helpful data point. I was refused at EWR to have one bag short-checked to LHR (on an overnight connection) and the other continuing to KBP. While the agent confirmed that short-checking was possible, they stated that all bags must travel to the same destination so either both bags travel to LHR only and I recheck the next day or they travel to the final destination.
Nov 27, 2023, 11:38 am
#131
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,327
My experience was with BA but hopefully it is a helpful data point. I was refused at EWR to have one bag short-checked to LHR (on an overnight connection) and the other continuing to KBP. While the agent confirmed that short-checking was possible, they stated that all bags must travel to the same destination so either both bags travel to LHR only and I recheck the next day or they travel to the final destination.
Nov 27, 2023, 11:51 am
#132
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: JFK/LGA
Programs: AA EXP/5 MM, BA Blue Bayou, HH LT Diamond
Posts: 5,846
Then the OP might be stuck holding all of the bags for most of the layover. BA at LHR has some draconian rules about how much before departure time you can check bags, worth a check.
Nov 27, 2023, 11:58 am
#133
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Nov 27, 2023, 12:01 pm
#134
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My experience was with BA but hopefully it is a helpful data point. I was refused at EWR to have one bag short-checked to LHR (on an overnight connection) and the other continuing to KBP. While the agent confirmed that short-checking was possible, they stated that all bags must travel to the same destination so either both bags travel to LHR only and I recheck the next day or they travel to the final destination.
I believe they have limitations for overnights, but AFAIK you can drop bags any time of the day of travel. Do you have any links to any further limitations?
Nov 27, 2023, 12:04 pm
#135
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I've done it a few times with AA at JFK, connecting to WAW on BA. My stated reason? Complete lack of confidence in the ability of the British people to transfer a bag from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 in time to make my flight, despite having at least 4 hours between. Based on many years of prior experience. It was permitted.