Interlining Baggage
 

I had scheduled flights OMA-IAH; IAH-LAS today. Late last night, I was told my mother in law was dying. I thought rather than change IAH-LAS to IAH-LAX; I would just add LAS-LAX for simplicity sake (I was getting other relatives home, so my flight was simple in comparison).

I arrived at OMA this morning to check in. I asked if they could please interline my bag with USAIR (my LAS-LAX flight) . I was told they could not. I told them they had an interline agreement with USAIR. They told me that a borading pass would not work (nor would my confirmation number, etc. that I booked last night).

After some discussion (I am way beyond calm today), I was told I could do nothing but pick my bag up at LAS and check it with USAIR to LAX. Is this correct? I've done similar routing before but don't know if it was correct or just someone going the extra mile and making my life easier.

It will be a pain, but I do have enough time to make this work in LAS pending no flight delays. Was I in the wrong asking for this or did I have a check in agent who didn't know all the rules? Thanks, in advance, for you help.

If you had proof that you were on the US Air flight, they should have done it.

Did they at least ask you for the e-ticket receipt? Perhaps because you were in a small town they didn't understand how to do it.

I did not have my E-ticket receipt as I had just booked the flight last night; though I told them I could get it from USAIR counter (two feet away) and they said no - they told me only a paper ticket would work, or that it needed to be in my CO reservation. She called the supervisor and he said no as well. I think perhaps it's that they don't do it. I don't think I would have had the problem in Houston.

It turns out I had plenty of time, but it was a pain.

I too wonder if it's a paper ticket deal. I know I haven't had a problem with a paper ticket (even if I am not checked in), but with an e-ticket, it hasn't worked. I can't check a bag through, so I have had to lug it around instead.

Per CO's rules, they have interline baggage agreements with pretty much every domestic carrier in the US, with few exceptions. The agent should have been able to check your bage all the way to your final destination....sounds like that he or she was not familiar with the process....

Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law...

File a complaint. Legacy carriers brag about offering services such as interlining and how this sets them apart from the LCC.