I've got an unusual situation, and NW hasn't been particularly helpful. My fiancee and I are flying together tomorrow. We are booked on separate PNRs because both of us are going in different directions on the return leg of the journey. We will be checking luggage---a lot of it, which is likely to be just at the weight limit, maybe even over, and contain household items that the TSA is going to love to search through. It's going to take some time to get sorted out. I plan to get to the airport 90 minutes or more in advance to get the luggage checked. Unfortunately, my fiancee will be tied up in meetings until just before flight time, and will need to arrive at the last minute, fly through security, and straight to the plane (generally not a problem at BOS).

Ideally, we'd check in on-line, I'd check the luggage, hang out at the WorldClub, and meet her at the gate for departure. Unfortunately, since there's a lot of luggage, I will need to check it in both of our names. Since we're on different PNRs, though, NW claims I will not be allowed to check in luggage on her allowance.

As a Delta PM, I know the rules and regs quite will on DL, but have no idea what sort of resistance I'm going to face from NW. The phone agents have been quite unhelpful, stating simply that it can't be done, and they cannot join our PNRs to make it possible. Anybody have any suggestions, other than going to the airport and hoping they let me slide? Worst case, I either pay a huge charge for extra baggage since I have to check it all in under my name, or we miss the flight waiting for my fiancee to show so we can check it under both names. I'd like to avoid either.

At ONT I think smiling, being nice and honest about what you want to do would convince an agent to help you out, but you never know. If the agent is having a bad day; if NW had just announced layoffs at the station.
In BOS I've encountered some great agents and others who were pretty unfriendly.
Good luck.
tom

Simply the rules here -

Airline rules: Each passenger may check up to two (2) pieces of luggage which may not exceed 50lbs (check elite rules for excelptions to weight)

TSA/FAA rules: Each passenger checking luggage must present govenment isued photo identification prior to luggage acceptance.

Not that I have not seen it done; but, I have far more often have seen it that the carrier may tag the bag, screen (if done at counter) the bag; but, not send it to the bag room or "accept" it until the passenger has arrived with identification.

Although what may come to mind is the wave of "well they did it for me in . . . . . " The bottom line is that any practice outside of the rules subjects the carrier to a significant fine, the employee to disiplinary procedings and in well documented cases, has caused aircraft to make unscheduled landings when the rules have been found to be compromised.

Better idea, arrive at the airport prior to your fiancees meetings and check the luggage earlier. There has been a recent change to the baggage checkin times so you may want to call to confirm so as you do not arrive too early.

Yes, this would be wonderful. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the two hours in her day to go to the airport, check in, and then get back to her office. As you acknowledge, NW won't let us check in for tomorrow's flight tonight, when we would have the time to get both her and the luggage to the airport.

I find it hard to believe it's a TSA/FAA issue, as every agent I've talked to said it wouldn't be a problem at all if we were on the same PNR. So, being the rational person I am, it seems like I just need to find someone creative enough to put us on the same PNR, or act like we were.

Why not call and have a res agent combine the PNRs. Then check the luggage at the ticket counter, and on you way through the terminal, stop and have a GA split the PNRs again?

I tried! They claim the PNRs cannot be combined, or even linked?!

PNRs can't be combined. They can be split but once split they can't be re-combined. As far as the agents go they are correct. Only the person who's flying can check luggage for themselves. Even if you did self service chekin they will have to see an ID before putting the tag on the luggage. Otherwise what would stop a terrorist from checking luggage under someone elses name to get it on board. You might say it would pop up when the other person checked luggage, but a lot of travelers do not check anything and would never have a clue.

flyerCO

The agents are correct, as are the other posters. Unfortunately, rules are rules and these particular rules can not and should not be bent. First of all, if you check luggage in your Fiancee's name and then for whatever reason she does not make it to the airport, traffic jam, accident, delayed meeting, whatever. The luggage MUST be taken off the plane. NW will not take off with luggage on the plane if the passenger is not on the plane unless NW removed the passenger ( ie. Denied boarding). I think this is a security mandate and is called Positive Luggage Match. I also think that you were misinformed that it would not be a problem if you were both on the same PNR. It might be less of a problem, but there is still the issue of checking the ID of the person physically checking the luggage.

You have the other issue that Boston was actually an airport where some of the attacks were launched. I would hope that they are cautious with potential problems there.

All luggage must be checked 30 minutes prior to the flight so that it can be screened by TSA. You can ask the agent and it is possible that they will accept it. However, they are putting their job on the line and a considerable expsense to the airline if the luggage has to be pulled just to accomodate someone that bought a ticket and did not plan enough time in their schedule to catch the flight.

I am sorry, but your lack of planning or scheduling does not constitute a valid reason in my mind for the agent to take the risk of violating the rules/law. You might want to look into later flights and the possibilty of stand by.

UPS or a freight service might be another option if you don't want to risk missing the flight.

Yet another option available to you is to check-in all the bags in your name and pay for the extra luggage.

Thanks for your helpful response. While I agree that my scheduling troubles do not NorthWest's problem make, I'm astounded that everyone has immediately jumped on the security bandwagon.

<rant on>

All of these security claims are absolutely bogus. Replace "my fiancee" with "my under-age companion", and magically place us on the same PNR. I could check the same bags, and there would be absolutley no need to see ID. This is just another stupid rule to support the security charade, and has absolutely nothing to do with reality. The bags will still be screened in the exact same fashion they would have otherwise. Yes, they might need to be pulled if the passenger doesn't make the flight, but I could simply walk out of the airport *after* I checked in, resulting in the same situation. Lunacy, I tell you, sheer lunacy.

</rant off>

Sounds like I'll just try the old standby: a wink and a smile.

With two different routes I do not think you could have been put on the same PNR no matter who was flying with you. Now I am sure it would be possible to re-issue the tickets as one way tickets and then put you together on the outbound, but if you are flying to different locations on the return I don't think they can be kept on the same record.

The security rules are not infallilble, and yes you can walk out of the airport after you check in and your bags should be pulled. You can also fall asleep in the lounge, or miss the flight for a number of other reasons. The agent can not control what you do after you check in. The agent can only follow the rules at the time of check-in and even with an underage companion if they don't have an ID there is a body there checking in the luggage.

Positive bag match and having to show an ID to check your bags is one of the logical things about security. You asked for help, the replies are just stating how things are, we are not necessarily condoning the rules or "jumping on the security bandwagon" as you state, we are merely trying to give you a realistic expectation with some background information as to what you will encounter with excess luggage.

If you are confirmed in first class when you check in, you should be allowed an extra bag, for a total of three bags up to 50 pounds each. A fourth would be $80. Note that it would be cheaper to take fewer, heavier bags: the surcharge for 50-70# is $25, 70-100# is $50.

I think he is leaving today, but you bring out a good point. I assume he is not elite w/NWA since he is with DL, but NW elites get to check bags up to 70# with no fee and as you stated up to 3 in first class.

You could also always FedEx your bags to your hotel the night before.