United & British Airways; Interlining?
 

Travelling from PHX to GLA next week.

Ticket 1: United PHX-IAD-LHR
Ticket 2: British LHR-GLA

United told me over the phone I can check bags all the way to GLA, but I won't be convinced until I see the bag tickets, what with all the stories here about agents making their own rules.

Can anyone bless me with their experience or wisdom on this proposition?
I've seen quite a few threads where BA refused to interline bags AFTER the BA flight; what about receiving bags FROM UA?

Also, in the event of having to collect bags at LHR, is a 3 hour connection enough time to deplane at T3, passport control, reclaim bags, customs, hussle over to T1, check-in, security, blah-blah-blah..?

What's the quickest way to get from T3 to T1?

Many, many thanks.

If it is on the same PNR, IATA rules require them to interline. If it is on two different PNRs, then it is up to the first carrier (ie - United) as to whether or not they will do it. BA will only do it, for example, if it is another OW carrier.

You will not need to pick up your bags in Heathrow. They will be tagged international, and you will need to go through the appropriate customs queue at GLA.

Quickest way from T1 to T3 is to walk underground.

Thank you!

BA just told me the same thing; if United tag it to GLA it's going to GLA.

BTW what is PNR?

Cheers.

Passenger Number Reference - a fancy name for a ticket !!

When you arrive at LHR, just follow the signs to the "Flight Connections" area. You will first go through a security check before entering this area. Then look for the BA check-in counters and get your boarding pass, if you have not already gotten it.

Because the LHR-GLA is an intra-UK flight, you do go through customs at LHR (and not in GLA). You do this just after you have gotten your BA boarding pass, are exiting the Flight Connections area, and are heading to T1. This customs check is usually quite fast.

Very pedantically, it's actually the Passenger Name Record - the airline's record of your booking with them which is called up against your name. The booking reference is often called the locator so that the airline can locate your PNR. It's different from the ticket, which may after all be paper - you have a PNR even if you're travelling on a paper ticket.Technically, you only clear immigration at LHR - where your passport is checked and stamped if necessary. You actually clear Customs at GLA, but reports are that Customs at Scottish airports are very laid back about this, often to the point of just letting uncleared bags go straight out onto the belt with domestic bags and no requirement for you to make the implicit declaration of walking through the green channel.

I stand corrected :D

Oh dear, re-reading what I wrote I must have been having a serious anorak moment ... but it's done now.