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UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)

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Old Aug 23, 2016, 5:11 pm
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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
See Interline Baggage Agreements (single ticket) when there is a single ticket.

When a passenger has two separate tickets, United will though-check (interline) bags only when the second ticket is for UA or *A partner operated travel. Otherwise, UA may not interline the bags and you will need to recheck bags for the second ticket.

With two qualifying separate tickets, when checking bags thru, you will need to present flight information for both tickets at check-in. This includes the itinerary, PNR and eticket number.

Note: Interlining two UA tickets seems to be challenging for some agents. Allow extra time for bag check, just in case, and perhaps suggest contacting the Help Desk if the agent seems to be having issues.
Interlining UA-UA may not be allowed if one ticket is Basic Economy and does not allow free check bags.
Thread on UA-UA bag interlining

Effective for travel on and after March 1, 2015, when a customer has two separate tickets, United will though-check bags only when the secondary ticket is for travel on the following carriers:

* United and United Express
* Star Alliance partner airlines

With the new policy, a passengers baggage will be checked between the origin and destination points that are reflected on a single or conjunctive ticket.

If the traveler holds a second ticket on another airline beyond the destination of the first ticket, United will check the bag to the destination on the first ticket(s). In such situations, the traveler must collect their baggage on arrival at their first ticketed destination, and then re-check baggage with the next carrier for their continuing flight(s).
UA.com link
If you have a separate ticket on another carrier, you must claim bags at the destination of the first ticketed itinerary and check bags with the other carrier to the final destination. Baggage can be checked through to the final destination if the separate ticketed itinerary includes Star Alliance member airline-operated flights.
Some conditions when UA may not interlining with another carrier on a separate ticket
  • The carrier is not a *A partner
  • the connection is overnight
  • the connection is less than MCT
  • Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country

Exceptions to the non-partner interlining restriction on separate tickets for 1Ks/GSs have been reported. There still needs to be a regular bag interlining agreement in place.
Additionally, one report suggests that exception would apply also to *Gs and Full Fare J passengers

Whenever checking a bag between carriers (on a single or separate tickets), it is recommended to show your bag tag to each downline carrier at the transfer desk/gate to ensure the bag tag information has propagated to their system.

related thread:
Overnight, long layover/connection check through baggage question (consolidated)

Archive thread: UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix w/ *A Partners (YES) & Non-Partners (NO) {Archive}

Originally Posted by Lux Flyer
Default time is 12 hours. A small number of individual stations are enabled to allow bags to be checked thru for connections greater than 12 hours. Maybe we can build a list based on people's experiences for certain connection points.

I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.


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UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)

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Old May 12, 2023 | 5:48 pm
  #256  
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Thinking about booking separate tickets, EWR-GVA-XXX, 3:30 connection. If i check bag, will UA interline?
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Old May 12, 2023 | 5:58 pm
  #257  
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Originally Posted by jcturnbull
Thinking about booking separate tickets, EWR-GVA-XXX, 3:30 connection. If i check bag, will UA interline?
GVA-XXX is operated by? *A carrier - yes. other airline - no
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Old May 12, 2023 | 6:06 pm
  #258  
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I have had UA interline my bag on the last 2 trips to connect to a BA flight at LHR with no issues including a trip just yesterday.

I am GS though so not sure if that made a difference.
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Old May 12, 2023 | 6:13 pm
  #259  
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Originally Posted by Jpm81
I have had UA interline my bag on the last 2 trips to connect to a BA flight at LHR with no issues including a trip just yesterday.

I am GS though so not sure if that made a difference.
It did. There have been multiple reports that UA will do this for 1Ks and GSes.
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Old May 12, 2023 | 6:44 pm
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Will be Swiss. Thanks, jsloan!
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Old May 13, 2023 | 9:05 am
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Originally Posted by Jpm81
I have had UA interline my bag on the last 2 trips to connect to a BA flight at LHR with no issues including a trip just yesterday.

I am GS though so not sure if that made a difference.
Originally Posted by jsloan
It did. There have been multiple reports that UA will do this for 1Ks and GSes.
its for any *G they will interline to any carrier they have an interline agreement with. For non *G it is only *A carriers
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Old May 17, 2023 | 1:16 am
  #262  
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Does anyone know if UA can check baggage through on a long layover on separate tickets? Layover is ~14 hours.

Booked on UA1 to SIN, which lands at ~6:15am, and have (or will have...soon) a separate ticket on SQ from there to BLR, which departs at 20:05. I know that since these are both * carriers, interlining itself wouldn't be an issue, but not sure with the timing, given a 14 hour layover at SIN. I don't need to see my bag at SIN, so would rather just have it checked through. Planning on being in the city during the day. I do believe worst case, SQ could take it right after I clear customs, but would rather not have to do that. If it makes a difference, UA will book these flights together on one ticket - though I had trouble doing so last week.

Bonus if anyone can confirm if they can check my bag into an international flight from T3 at SFO (since I'm hoping to hit Amex lounge once I clear security).
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Old May 17, 2023 | 3:30 am
  #263  
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
Does anyone know if UA can check baggage through on a long layover on separate tickets? Layover is ~14 hours.
I believe they dont check through if the layover is longer than 12 hours or overnight
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Old May 17, 2023 | 5:27 am
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
Does anyone know if UA can check baggage through on a long layover on separate tickets? Layover is ~14 hours.

Booked on UA1 to SIN, which lands at ~6:15am, and have (or will have...soon) a separate ticket on SQ from there to BLR, which departs at 20:05. I know that since these are both * carriers, interlining itself wouldn't be an issue, but not sure with the timing, given a 14 hour layover at SIN. I don't need to see my bag at SIN, so would rather just have it checked through. Planning on being in the city during the day. I do believe worst case, SQ could take it right after I clear customs, but would rather not have to do that. If it makes a difference, UA will book these flights together on one ticket - though I had trouble doing so last week.

Bonus if anyone can confirm if they can check my bag into an international flight from T3 at SFO (since I'm hoping to hit Amex lounge once I clear security).
Shouldn't be a problem. Bags can be tagged through SIN if the connection time is less than 24 hours.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 6:07 am
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Originally Posted by emcampbe
Does anyone know if UA can check baggage through on a long layover on separate tickets? Layover is ~14 hours.

Booked on UA1 to SIN, which lands at ~6:15am, and have (or will have...soon) a separate ticket on SQ from there to BLR, which departs at 20:05. I know that since these are both * carriers, interlining itself wouldn't be an issue, but not sure with the timing, given a 14 hour layover at SIN. I don't need to see my bag at SIN, so would rather just have it checked through. Planning on being in the city during the day. I do believe worst case, SQ could take it right after I clear customs, but would rather not have to do that. If it makes a difference, UA will book these flights together on one ticket - though I had trouble doing so last week.

Bonus if anyone can confirm if they can check my bag into an international flight from T3 at SFO (since I'm hoping to hit Amex lounge once I clear security).
Short answer - maybe.

The UA policy on must pick up bag on connection:
However, antidotally many have reported (myself included) they have checked bags through with even longer connections.

I would say you have a good chance to have it checked through, but by the rules, you must pick it up.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 12:06 pm
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Originally Posted by gusd
I believe they dont check through if the layover is longer than 12 hours or overnight
Originally Posted by PVDtoDEL
Shouldn't be a problem. Bags can be tagged through SIN if the connection time is less than 24 hours.
Originally Posted by Global321
Short answer - maybe.

However, antidotally many have reported (myself included) they have checked bags through with even longer connections.

I would say you have a good chance to have it checked through, but by the rules, you must pick it up.
Default time is 12 hours. A small number of individual stations are enabled to allow bags to be checked thru for connections greater than 12 hours. Maybe we can build a list based on people's experiences for certain connection points.

I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 9:14 pm
  #267  
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Originally Posted by Lux Flyer
Default time is 12 hours. A small number of individual stations are enabled to allow bags to be checked thru for connections greater than 12 hours. Maybe we can build a list based on people's experiences for certain connection points.

I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.
Do I assume the stations above is the connecting station (vs. the origin)?

Thanks for the input. Would having flights on one ticket help things? When trying to book this as a connection to BLR (same flights to SIN, and same connection I was going to book) - it wouldnt go through. Dont want to get into details (which are in another thread), but supposedly can do it now. To change this to go to BLR vs. SINtotal should be about $20 more than booking the other segment separate, and has some other benefits (better mileage accrual, UA change policy and easier phone support, etc.)
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Old May 30, 2023 | 11:57 am
  #268  
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Reviving this thread.

I have a UA-ANA ticket on the same PNR on 016 stock. CLE-ORD segment on UA, then ORD-HND-DEL on ANA. My UA flight arrives ORD at 8am and ANA flight is 5pm same day. I understand that ANA counters don't open until 3 hours before the flight time, so I am wondering if UA will through check my bags at CLE all the way to DEL and issue me boarding passes for ANA? Or do I sit around waiting for ANA to open and check in again at ORD? Thanks!
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Old May 30, 2023 | 12:03 pm
  #269  
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Originally Posted by ksingh0311
Reviving this thread.

I have a UA-ANA ticket on the same PNR on 016 stock. CLE-ORD segment on UA, then ORD-HND-DEL on ANA. My UA flight arrives ORD at 8am and ANA flight is 5pm same day. I understand that ANA counters don't open until 3 hours before the flight time, so I am wondering if UA will through check my bags at CLE all the way to DEL and issue me boarding passes for ANA? Or do I sit around waiting for ANA to open and check in again at ORD? Thanks!
UA will check the bags all the way through. Not sure about issuance of physical BPs, but UA wil probably check you in for ANA flights.
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Old May 30, 2023 | 12:06 pm
  #270  
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Originally Posted by ksingh0311
Reviving this thread.

I have a UA-ANA ticket on the same PNR on 016 stock. CLE-ORD segment on UA, then ORD-HND-DEL on ANA. My UA flight arrives ORD at 8am and ANA flight is 5pm same day. I understand that ANA counters don't open until 3 hours before the flight time, so I am wondering if UA will through check my bags at CLE all the way to DEL and issue me boarding passes for ANA? Or do I sit around waiting for ANA to open and check in again at ORD? Thanks!
Cant think of any reason for the bags not to go straight to DEL.
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