Connection Problem at SFO
 

I have booked a flight from LAX to SFO on UA for my uncle months ago. With some changes of plans, another segment from SFO to ORD or MDW is to be booked. My uncle has no status on UA and will check one piece of luggage, so he is going to pay $25 for the checked luggage from LAX to SFO.

Several questions:

1. If the new SFO-ORD segment is on UA, is it possible to transfer the checked luggage to the second flight when the first flight arrives at SFO? (There is no problem paying $25 again, but I just don't want my old uncle to do all the hassle.)
   
2. What if the new segment is on other airlines, say DL, AA or WN? Can the bag be transferred automatically as well? In case it is on DL or AA, how can the checked bag be paid for?

Thanks for your help!

He isn't staying in SFO, correct? -- His plans have juat changed, and now needs to be in ORD, instead?


So long as you book in a carrier OTHER THAN WN, your uncle can show both itineraries, and have his bag checked through to ORD, and only pay the single bag fee.

WN does not interline bags with anyone, so id avoid them.

Thanks for your answer!

Right. He is not going to stay in SFO at all. I am just thinking if the 2 PNRs will cause troubles on transferring his checked bags.

Do you mean that no matter the second flight is on AA, UA, DL or VX, he can simply show both itineraries at LAX and tell agents at the counter to check the luggage to ORD, while only one single $25 is to be paid at UA?

I do not know if VX has an interline agreement with UA. Best bet, stick with UA, it will be easiest for him. Otherwise the other majors (DL/US/AA and probably even B6 should interline with UA.

I would not, however use the prepay feature for bags at Online Checkin, it could just confuse things.

They will have to build the bag tag manually, using the connecting flight information, which is why it is important to have printouts ready.

I do this regularly between 9K (Cape Air) and United, and haven't ever had issue...