PDX-YVR-ICN-TPE transfer help
Dec 11, 2019, 7:00 am
#1
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PDX-YVR-ICN-TPE transfer help
Ok I need a little help here, I bought this award ticket through united airlines and flying AC for most of it and TG from ICN - TPE. I just checked in at AC and they couldn't check me in from ICN-TPE and they couldn't check my bags all the way through to TPE. Only to ICN. I already have such short connection from ICN - TPE (1 hour 10 minutes), is there anything I can do? or has anyone done the transfer at ICN with checked bags with a short connection?
Last edited by snowboardpunk; Dec 11, 2019 at 7:30 am
Dec 11, 2019, 7:02 am
#2
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Ok I need a little help here, I bought this award ticket through united airlines and flying AC for most of it and TG from ICN - TPE. I just checked in at AC and they wouldn't print my boarding pass from ICN-TPE and they couldn't check my bags all the way through to TPE. Only to ICN. I already have such short connection from ICN - TPE (1 hour 10 minutes), is there anything I can do? or has anyone done the transfer at ICN with checked bags with a short connection?
ETA: The fact that they couldn't check your bags through is a killer. emcampbe gave the best advice here. Good luck!
Last edited by jsloan; Dec 11, 2019 at 1:15 pm
Dec 11, 2019, 12:00 pm
#3
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I think you can probably check in with TG online - but if not, you should have no problem checking in at the transfer desk in ICN.
regardless of ACs ability to check in all the way, theres no reason they shouldnt be able to check your bag though all the way at origin, particularly since it would be all on one ticket. Ive had CX not be able to check me into UA on a ticket that was issued by UA (BKK-HKG-EWR), as they apparently have incompatible systems for that, but they had no problem checking bags through. My guess is you got an agent (likely a contractor at PDX, who doesnt work for AC, but a different airline or ground services firm), who didnt know how to do it. Only reason they might not be able to do it is if you had a really long or overnight layover. Other potential possibility, I suppose, is its too far ahead of the flight, but I find that unlikely.
it seems youve already checked in at the desk, so anything know is probably too late, unless they can do something behind the scenes to update the bag destination. If I were you, Id find an agent at YVR, probably at a customer service desk as soon as you land, let them know the situation, and see if they can help you. If they cant, get to the gate early and see if the agent their can help. If not, your biggest issue is you wont be able to transfer properly in ICN, as the bag will go the belt for terminating passengers, and youll need to go there. At just over an hour, theres not time for that and then to re-check with TG. The only alternative is to check at TG transfer desk in ICN to see if they can pull the bag to have it routed with you.
in the future, Id ask for someone else to check in - start with asking for a supervisor. There should also be a help desk the agent could have called to help them get this done at the outset.
regardless of ACs ability to check in all the way, theres no reason they shouldnt be able to check your bag though all the way at origin, particularly since it would be all on one ticket. Ive had CX not be able to check me into UA on a ticket that was issued by UA (BKK-HKG-EWR), as they apparently have incompatible systems for that, but they had no problem checking bags through. My guess is you got an agent (likely a contractor at PDX, who doesnt work for AC, but a different airline or ground services firm), who didnt know how to do it. Only reason they might not be able to do it is if you had a really long or overnight layover. Other potential possibility, I suppose, is its too far ahead of the flight, but I find that unlikely.
it seems youve already checked in at the desk, so anything know is probably too late, unless they can do something behind the scenes to update the bag destination. If I were you, Id find an agent at YVR, probably at a customer service desk as soon as you land, let them know the situation, and see if they can help you. If they cant, get to the gate early and see if the agent their can help. If not, your biggest issue is you wont be able to transfer properly in ICN, as the bag will go the belt for terminating passengers, and youll need to go there. At just over an hour, theres not time for that and then to re-check with TG. The only alternative is to check at TG transfer desk in ICN to see if they can pull the bag to have it routed with you.
in the future, Id ask for someone else to check in - start with asking for a supervisor. There should also be a help desk the agent could have called to help them get this done at the outset.
Dec 11, 2019, 1:14 pm
#4
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it seems youve already checked in at the desk, so anything know is probably too late, unless they can do something behind the scenes to update the bag destination. If I were you, Id find an agent at YVR, probably at a customer service desk as soon as you land, let them know the situation, and see if they can help you. If they cant, get to the gate early and see if the agent their can help. If not, your biggest issue is you wont be able to transfer properly in ICN, as the bag will go the belt for terminating passengers, and youll need to go there. At just over an hour, theres not time for that and then to re-check with TG. The only alternative is to check at TG transfer desk in ICN to see if they can pull the bag to have it routed with you.
The fact that they only tagged the bag to ICN is much more important than the boarding passes. OP: I agree with emcampbe. You definitely want to try to get the bag re-routed before getting on the plane for ICN. While that's not a short transfer with a through-checked bag, it's a nigh-impossible transfer if you're hand-transferring the bag.
I'l go back and edit my original post.
Dec 11, 2019, 2:34 pm
#5
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I think you can probably check in with TG online - but if not, you should have no problem checking in at the transfer desk in ICN.
regardless of ACs ability to check in all the way, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to check your bag though all the way at origin, particularly since it would be all on one ticket. I’ve had CX not be able to check me into UA on a ticket that was issued by UA (BKK-HKG-EWR), as they apparently have incompatible systems for that, but they had no problem checking bags through. My guess is you got an agent (likely a contractor at PDX, who doesn’t work for AC, but a different airline or ground services firm), who didn’t know how to do it. Only reason they might not be able to do it is if you had a really long or overnight layover. Other potential possibility, I suppose, is it’s too far ahead of the flight, but I find that unlikely.
do you happen to know if you have to go through immigration to get bags and get to transfer desk? I might have one person go to transfer desk to see if they reroute bags and one wait for bags.
it seems you’ve already checked in at the desk, so anything know is probably too late, unless they can do something behind the scenes to update the bag destination. If I were you, I’d find an agent at YVR, probably at a customer service desk as soon as you land, let them know the situation, and see if they can help you. If they can’t, get to the gate early and see if the agent their can help. If not, your biggest issue is you won’t be able to transfer properly in ICN, as the bag will go the belt for terminating passengers, and you’ll need to go there. At just over an hour, there’s not time for that and then to re-check with TG. The only alternative is to check at TG transfer desk in ICN to see if they can pull the bag to have it routed with you.
in the future, I’d ask for someone else to check in - start with asking for a supervisor. There should also be a help desk the agent could have called to help them get this done at the outset.
regardless of ACs ability to check in all the way, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to check your bag though all the way at origin, particularly since it would be all on one ticket. I’ve had CX not be able to check me into UA on a ticket that was issued by UA (BKK-HKG-EWR), as they apparently have incompatible systems for that, but they had no problem checking bags through. My guess is you got an agent (likely a contractor at PDX, who doesn’t work for AC, but a different airline or ground services firm), who didn’t know how to do it. Only reason they might not be able to do it is if you had a really long or overnight layover. Other potential possibility, I suppose, is it’s too far ahead of the flight, but I find that unlikely.
do you happen to know if you have to go through immigration to get bags and get to transfer desk? I might have one person go to transfer desk to see if they reroute bags and one wait for bags.
it seems you’ve already checked in at the desk, so anything know is probably too late, unless they can do something behind the scenes to update the bag destination. If I were you, I’d find an agent at YVR, probably at a customer service desk as soon as you land, let them know the situation, and see if they can help you. If they can’t, get to the gate early and see if the agent their can help. If not, your biggest issue is you won’t be able to transfer properly in ICN, as the bag will go the belt for terminating passengers, and you’ll need to go there. At just over an hour, there’s not time for that and then to re-check with TG. The only alternative is to check at TG transfer desk in ICN to see if they can pull the bag to have it routed with you.
in the future, I’d ask for someone else to check in - start with asking for a supervisor. There should also be a help desk the agent could have called to help them get this done at the outset.
thank you for the advice. they couldn't reroute the bags unfortunately. yea its not me flying but my younger brother and he's new to all this. I would have pushed to have the bags to Taipei. The check in agent apparently told them they're not in the same network but they're both apart of star alliance. frustrating as it is there doesn't seem to be another option if they can't make it. Ill tell them to see of the transfer desk can reroute the bags, even on a later flight and just go to Taipei without the bags and have them reroute it. Or just buy another ticket with another air china. The united agent over the phone told me they don't have anymore flights for the day on any airlines from icn - tpe, and have one flight the next day which is icn-nrt-tpe. which just adds so much more travel.
Last edited by snowboardpunk; Dec 11, 2019 at 2:51 pm
Dec 11, 2019, 2:52 pm
#6
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Oops, sorry, I didn't notice that in my original reply -- thanks for pointing it out.
The fact that they only tagged the bag to ICN is much more important than the boarding passes. OP: I agree with emcampbe. You definitely want to try to get the bag re-routed before getting on the plane for ICN. While that's not a short transfer with a through-checked bag, it's a nigh-impossible transfer if you're hand-transferring the bag.
I'l go back and edit my original post.
The fact that they only tagged the bag to ICN is much more important than the boarding passes. OP: I agree with emcampbe. You definitely want to try to get the bag re-routed before getting on the plane for ICN. While that's not a short transfer with a through-checked bag, it's a nigh-impossible transfer if you're hand-transferring the bag.
I'l go back and edit my original post.
Dec 11, 2019, 3:05 pm
#7
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do you happen to know if you have to go through immigration to get bags and get to transfer desk? I might have one person go to transfer desk to see if they reroute bags and one wait for bags. hoping to reroute bags in ICN cuz they couldn't it it yvr or over the phone
If it were me, I would probably go to TPE and then file a claim with TG for the bag, even though it was never checked properly through to TPE... but it's definitely risky, and there's a chance that TG would refuse to deliver the bag. I'd definitely tell them at the transfer desk, "hey, this bag tag was messed up," though, because maybe they can send somebody to retrieve it.
I'd probably be using the next few hours to check the AC and TG forums to see if there are any similar stories.
Last edited by jsloan; Dec 11, 2019 at 4:11 pm Reason: Corrected city (not my thread for reading comprehension)
Dec 11, 2019, 3:31 pm
#8
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Wow this is a mess. Your brother should go to the TG transfer desk at ICN and plead with them to have the bag loaded on the TG flight to TPE. Otherwise he's going to miss the connection. Then AC is likely to pull the "we can only rebook you into award space, and we can't force OZ, BR, or TG to open award space" nonsense (I haven't searched for space, so don't know how much of a problem this would be). The alternative of flying without the bag is risky because it was never tagged over to TG, and AC doesn't fly ICN-TPE, and likely relies on contract staff there.
The pax isn't going to BKK. It's a Fifth Freedom flight ICN-TPE.
I would be very concerned about TG accepting responsibility since the bag wasn't tagged to them.
I think we all agree, an experienced traveler would never have left the counter at PDX without getting the bags tagged all the way through.
The pax isn't going to BKK. It's a Fifth Freedom flight ICN-TPE.
I would be very concerned about TG accepting responsibility since the bag wasn't tagged to them.
I think we all agree, an experienced traveler would never have left the counter at PDX without getting the bags tagged all the way through.
Dec 11, 2019, 4:17 pm
#9
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Wow this is a mess. Your brother should go to the TG transfer desk at ICN and plead with them to have the bag loaded on the TG flight to TPE. Otherwise he's going to miss the connection. Then AC is likely to pull the "we can only rebook you into award space, and we can't force OZ, BR, or TG to open award space" nonsense (I haven't searched for space, so don't know how much of a problem this would be).
This isn't my thread for reading comprehension.
I corrected my post; it doesn't really change the gist, but I appreciate getting the record straight.Right. And, assuming the bag does actually end up at baggage claim at ICN, and thus OP's brother ends up having to buy new clothes or whatnot, it's going to be difficult to get TG to accept monetary damages either, for the same reason. Perhaps AC will, although this story has a much happier ending if the TG staff manage to locate and transfer the bag.
Dec 11, 2019, 4:18 pm
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ICN is a fairly efficient airport. It is certainly not out of the question to get the bags and re-check them. It will require him to go through immigration, get his bags, and then go to the TG counter and check them. Honestly if he has enough time that might be worth trying as opposed to working with TG and *hoping* they say yes and then *hoping* again that they actually send an agent to get them off the carousel and get them onto the TG flight.
Dec 11, 2019, 4:27 pm
#11
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ICN is a fairly efficient airport. It is certainly not out of the question to get the bags and re-check them. It will require him to go through immigration, get his bags, and then go to the TG counter and check them. Honestly if he has enough time that might be worth trying as opposed to working with TG and *hoping* they say yes and then *hoping* again that they actually send an agent to get them off the carousel and get them onto the TG flight.
TG's ticket counter closes 45 minutes prior to departure, so if the flight is merely on time, that would give OP's brother 25 minutes to deplane, get through immigration, wait for luggage to be unloaded, get through customs, carry it upstairs, and get through the TG line to check it in. I wouldn't like my odds.
Dec 11, 2019, 4:31 pm
#12
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ICN is a fairly efficient airport. It is certainly not out of the question to get the bags and re-check them. It will require him to go through immigration, get his bags, and then go to the TG counter and check them. Honestly if he has enough time that might be worth trying as opposed to working with TG and *hoping* they say yes and then *hoping* again that they actually send an agent to get them off the carousel and get them onto the TG flight.
Dec 11, 2019, 6:10 pm
#13
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If he has enough time, yes, which I would interpret as the AC flight being at least 45 minutes early.
TG's ticket counter closes 45 minutes prior to departure, so if the flight is merely on time, that would give OP's brother 25 minutes to deplane, get through immigration, wait for luggage to be unloaded, get through customs, carry it upstairs, and get through the TG line to check it in. I wouldn't like my odds.
TG's ticket counter closes 45 minutes prior to departure, so if the flight is merely on time, that would give OP's brother 25 minutes to deplane, get through immigration, wait for luggage to be unloaded, get through customs, carry it upstairs, and get through the TG line to check it in. I wouldn't like my odds.
UA has been somewhat helpful. talked to two people over the phone. One said the bags are going to TPE but not sure cuz there isn't the luggage tag going to TPE and the other willing to rebook us on another flight but the next day.
Dec 11, 2019, 6:17 pm
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as of now the flight is 30 minutes early. scheduled to arrive 1620 but arriving at 1550. I can't say for certain but there's two of them. Would it be possible for one to rush up to the transfer desk and have one wait at baggage to see if the TG is willing to work with them?
Absent a line at the transfer desk, I suspect that the largest amount of elapsed time will be waiting for the luggage to come out. So, it might be possible for both to go to the transfer desk and plead their case, and, if unsuccessful, hightail it to immigration and baggage claim.
Dec 11, 2019, 6:24 pm
#15
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If there's award availability the next day, the worst case scenario is an overnight at ICN. That's not so bad.