What happens to my bags if I miss second separate ticket flight on LX
 

I am traveling USA-ZRH-EU on two separate tickets (first is revenue on UA, second is UA award on LX). My understanding is that they should be able to check the bag through. But the "connection" is not the longest (just below 2hrs) and this flight is often delayed by about an hour. Since it's a cheap (8k) award ticket I am not worried about losing the value and there always seems to availability for a flight 5hrs later. But what happens to my bag in this case, when I don't make it for the original second flight? Does LX do positive bag matching within Europe, is it possible my bag makes it without me? If I miss the flight and book a new ticket should I attempt to pick up and recheck the bag at ZRH or try to work it out with them so that they somehow relabel the bag in the background? The former seems safer...

Has anyone ever been in such situation (i.e. missing a second flight on two separate tickets with a bag checked through)?

As this question is about LX, have moved it to the LX forum

WineCountryUA
UA coModerator

Most likely LX will check your bag to final destination and secondly most likely you will be able to make it to the second flight, even if incoming flight is delayed. There is nothing to worry about. If you misconnect at ZRH you need to collect your bag (it will not be loaded on the flight unless you make it to the flight) at the luggage belts and proceed to re-check-in with LX at departure level.

Just had several connections in ZRH.. even if it's down to "only" one hour, it's not likely you'll miss the connection.

Mostly depends on the lines at immigration. Never had a bad experience in ZRH before, but on my last trip to SFO I spend nearly 1,5 hours in line to board the Heidi-train. Wasn't too worried as I had enough time but a lot of people on tight connections were super-stressed. The line backed up all the way up the stairs into the main terminal area.

But I agree, that is not the normal thing to happen. Usually ZRH is quite efficient and US-Schengen connections can be easily made with 45 minutes after doors open of the US flight.

Just make sure you let the agent know at check-in so they check your luggage to final destination.

Bag checked through successfully at origin. But I didn't expect what was coming next: sitting in the lounge I got an email that my flight departing ZRH is cancelled. They autorebooked me throught Stuttgart on Eurowings on a 40-min connection, so just cancelled and rebooked on the next direct flight to my destination (still on LX). But what will happen to my bags? They are currently tagged for the cancelled flight. And I have a ticket for the next direct, but completely new booking. Who should I talk to? Connection desk? Go to baggage claim? I'd prefer to stay airside. Landing in ZRH in about 10hrs, thanks for the tips in advance.

This will be a mess :) Curious how rebooking is possible after starting/boarding the trip anyway.

I'd look at the arriving gate, if LX personal is around. Next stop transfer/connection desk.. since you really need to have an "intervention" as early as possible or the bags are "gone" on EW.

Good luck!

Landing soon, so will see. My incoming flight is UA (with working wifi:)) and the LX flight was on a different ticket. So I don't think they would reroute the bags through Stuttgart as the bags were never attached to the booking that I cancelled (only to the flight number).

Most probably they'll put your bag aside and manually check the state. I'd not worry much. Your new flight Ex-ZRH is still linked to the old, cancelled one, as much as I can understand, so the system probably auto-changes it.

You probably just landed now, when is your new (direct) flight? If you'd like to chill out in ZRH a bit, I'm off this afternoon and could offer you a personal tour of Zürich :)

Went to transfer desk, they called the baggage department and they said it's going to be ok, they'll just put in on the next flight. I am not sure I have a lot of confidence that they will, but let's see. Now off the city since we have 7 hours....

Thanks a lot, but just saw this now. We had a nice lunch and just about to head back to the airport.

Bags arrived with us to final destination, happy ending!