COPA Check In on UA Award
 

Hi All - I have a UA Mileage Plus award (Business Class) booked on Copa and Turkish (BOG-PTY on Copa, PTY-IST on Turkish), with 7 hours between the flights at PTY. Given the situation that some have pointed out in the TK forum, where TK does not always allow free baggage allowance on UA award tickets (assume it is a technical thing), and sometimes fliers had to pay the checked bag fee even though they were technically allowed free bags.

So I am wondering (and hoping) that if we check in through COPA for the flights at BOG, that we can check bags all the way through for free to IST.
Also, has anyone had experience with these two carriers and Copa issuing boarding passes for both flights / carriers?

They both interline for each other and are also both in the Star Alliance, so I am hoping it is as easy as that!

This a same ticket, so you get a two boarding pass in BOG when check in with Copa. Also the luggage police in Copa says that follow the luggage police of more longer flight, in your case follow the luggage police from TK.
You can reach in Copa website with you reservation number if can see the luggage allowance in your ticket.

Wasn't aware of this.

But yes, the luggage (whether be it included in the ticket or paid) will be checked though as sermasri said, because it's the same ticket and Star Alliance.

I'm optimist it will be included so I appreciate you report back.

I hope so also, and will report back in a little over a week. I am Star Alliance Gold and travelling on Business Award in both flights. I have heard issues with TK recognizing free checked baggage at check in and people having to pay for a checked bag on UA award flights. But i am hoping to avoid all of this by being able to check in for both flights (1st being on Copa). We shall see. Good to know both BP's will be issued at check in.

I have had this happen on a mixed UA Award with UA and TK. ORD-GRU on UA and GRU-EZE on TK where I had to pay for one bag over the allowance on TK but would have been allowed on UA. I paid and eventually got refunded by TK.

Just to report back on this, I flew yesterday. Was only able to check in online for the Copa flight. Check in with Copa in BOG , they accepted my checked luggage without any issues and at no charge (which should have been the case, as I was in business and it was within the baggage allowance). Issued BP's for both Copa and TK flights. Upon arrival at PTY, had to go to a special transfer desk that had been set up for the TK flights (there were 2 on this day), and there I received a TK boarding pass before departure. No issues of any kind (except boarding the TK flight, which is always a circus) along the entire trip

Even if flying Business? Seems like it would be weird to charge a J passenger for bags on any airline.

I wasn't worried if it was just a COPA only set of flights (they would recognize the J Cabin Baggage allowance). My concern was the TK portion (which was the longest segment - and the one that would be taking precedence). Historically there have been challenges in TK recognizing free baggage allowance for UA award reservations (even with passengers in J Cabin).