surram

Hello folks,
An urgent question...need to ticket this itinerary soon. I am a United 1K flying in from BLR-SIN-LAX-IAH (see below). I am planning to get a separate ticket for the BLR-SIN - say with Singapore (SQ), or Air India (AI) or Jet Airways (9W) because if I add that segment with SQ on L fare, or AI on some cheap fare, the SIN-LAX-IAH automatically bumps to a "B" fare and the fare rises to $3K - $4K in economy.

Questions:
1) Since SQ and AI are Star partners with UA, will I be able to check-in my bags all the way from BLR-LAX (customs)-IAH even though they are on two separate tickets?
2) If I choose 9W, since UA has an interline with 9W, will BLR staff check my bags all the way?
3) There is also an Indigo option from BLR-SIN...anyone know what the baggage allowance there is for BLR-SIN?
4) The BLR-SIN segment may be a weight concept (max. 30 kgs?) as opposed to piece concept, right? If so, will they consider that I am a US bound passenger in BLR and offer me piece concept because of interline though the first ticket is only for BLR-SIN?
5) If it is a weight concept (30kg) can I check-in two bags, so long as the combined weight is less than 30 kgs?

================================================== ================================================== =====

Tue., Jun. 12, 2018 Singapore, SG (SIN) to Houston, TX, US (IAH - Intercontinental)

• Depart: 10:00 a.m. Tue., Jun. 12, 2018 Singapore, SG (SIN)
• Arrive: 11:05 a.m. Tue., Jun. 12, 2018 Los Angeles, CA, US (LAX)
• Flight Time:16 hr 5 mn Flight distance: 8,770 m/14,114 km
  • Flight:UA38
•  
  • Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
  • Fare Class: United Economy (W)
  • Meal: Lunch

Change Planes. Connect time in Los Angeles, CA, US (LAX) is 2 hr 19 mn.

• Depart: 1:24 p.m. Tue., Jun. 12, 2018 Los Angeles, CA, US (LAX)
• Arrive: 6:40 p.m. Tue., Jun. 12, 2018 Houston, TX, US (IAH - Intercontinental)
• Flight Time:3 hr 16 mn
• Travel Time:
  21 hr 40 mn
• Flight distance:
• 1,379 m/2,219 kmTotal Distance:
  10,149 m/16,333 km
• Flight: UA1241
•  
  • Aircraft: Boeing 737-900
  • Fare Class: United Economy (W)

LondonElite

I’m not sure there is a definitive answer, though your assumption should be that, as you are on separate tickets, there is no obligation to do so. You may get your way, but I would leave a lot of time between these flights.

oliver2002

You need to get a travel agent in India to book the entire trip in one PNR and issue two separate tickets. Then (SQ/9W/AI) agents in BLR will see the entire trip in their system and check the baggage thru to the final destination . You still will have to collect the boarding passes from United in SIN and have to show them the baggage receipt so they have it in their system and accept the bags.

L_D_M

I don't think these two interline anymore.

PiperAtGatesofDawn

My 1.3 cents - you're flying in the wrong direction. Are the tickets substantially cheaper going around the Pacific? It will take you loads more time than doing something like BLR - LHR/FRA/DUB/AUH etc. - IAH for example.

To answer your questions
1. Yes SQ, AI and UA will interline. I've done this between UA & AI a few times in the past
2. No idea.
3. 30 kgs
4, Since you're on separate tickets they may but are certainly not obliged to look at your UA ticket and have no legal requirement to. If you're flying *A you can use your *G status to get 2 pieces - 23kgs + 23 kgs anyways. On 6E you get 30kgs but make sure you split that between 2 pieces otherwise UA won't accept it at SIN.
5. Yes you can take 2 pieces totaling 30 kgs

How much time do you have between your BLR-SIN and SIN-LAX flights? Make sure you have plenty of time because if you're late for your UA flight they won't accommodate you on another flight.

Keyser

not necessarily....on separate tickets they can decline....i faced this problem recently a couple of months ago....was flying ai from dxb-del & then del-sin on sq....was on separate tickets & ai refused to interline....

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Keyser

they were both separate tickets booked directly with the airlines....i had a business trip to dubai & then another one to singapore the following day....i had a lot of time between flights but didn't want to carry my luggage out & then check it in later on in the day....i asked ai in dxb if they could interline but they refused....i've always found ai staff to be very unhelpful at dxb so i wasn't surprised....

surram

Hello Piper: I am using my Global certificate GPU...so BLR or MAA to BOM/DEL-EWR was not available; but SIN-LAX-IAH was available as R class was wide open; plus, SIN-LAX-IAH is cheap. The entire IAH-EWR-BOM-BLR; SIN-LAX-IAH on UA priced with GPU (only 2 GPU certs roundtrip) priced out at: US$1176. I chose to buy a separate tix on SG from MAA-SIN for around US$ 200.

I have 4 hour connection in SIN. So I am bracing for the possibility that SG does not check my bags all the way through. Called SG customer service, and they said they do not want to take liability for bags all the way thru (MAA-SIN-LAX-IAH) because the SG ticket is only for MAA-SIN. But when I called UA 1K line (I am UA 1K, Million Miler), they said if I originate with UA and have separate tix on any Star alliance carriers, they will do it. But SG said they don't. SG said may be the MAA check-in agent might do it...but no guarantees.
The fare jumps to $4200 from $1174 (because it prices out as Y fare) if I add the MAA-SIN segment...hence chose to buy a separate ticket directly from SG.

PiperAtGatesofDawn

Your route makes a little more sense now.

GPUs have been clearing quite well on BOM - EWR route recently. My collegue is 3/3 on this route this year! Is there a way to track the GPU clearance records or do you have to base it just on R availability?

Also, are you saying M fares are $1174 and Y fares are $4200? That’s quite a sharp difference even if you including the MAA-SIN leg.