Baggage checked through on stopover
 

I booked reward flights on the Aeroplan website for the following:
BUF>EWR>PHX and returning SFO>EWR>BUF. All flights on United
I intentionally chose the departing itinerary because it included a 9hr 45min stopover in EWR, which we planned to use for some time in Manhattan.

When I looked at my booking receipt from United, it mentions a $25/bag fee for BUF>EWR AND another $25 for EWR>PHX, yet only one fee for the return trip.

I spoke to someone at United who told me not to worry, and my bags would get checked through all the way to PHX, but, I would in fact have to pay $50/bag since the itinerary involved a stop of more than 4hrs. Then, she double-checked with someone, and told me that I would in fact have to claim my bags in EWR, and re-check-in - which essentially kills the whole NYC plan.
I don't have total confidence in United customer service right now, but it seems very strange that I would have to claim bags and check in again, seeing how it's booked. This can't be right, can it? Anyone with similar experience?

Thanks.

While I appreciate OP booked an Air Canada Aeroplan FFP award on UA as this has to do with UA policies & procedures I think it'd be better ansered by the experts in the UA MP forum so have moved the thread there.

Good luck in your travels.

tcook052
Air Canada Forum Moderator

anyone?

They should check it all the way through.

I did a 12-hour connect on UA a couple months ago, no problem sending the bags through.

Do I trust UA with my bags for 4 hours in SFO???
 

I'm doing RDU-ORD-SFO-SYD this saturday... the last time I did this run I did just RDU-SFO-SYD, where the layover in SFO was almost 12 hours. Due to the long layover I checked my bags only to SFO, then picked them up for the day while I was working in the south bay.

This time around, the layover is scheduled for 4h30m in SFO. Is this "too long" to leave the bags checked all the way through? I certainly don't need them while in SFO and it would be more convenient to not pick them up, etc... but at the same time if for some reason this makes them significantly more likely to get lost, I might deal with the hassle.

I know it sounds paranoid, but I was traumatized in the past by UA losing my bags during a 4 hour connection in Dulles, and then my suitcase followed me around England constantly a day behind... and I have even less flexibility to deal with such shenanigans on this particular trip so I'm being extra cautious.

Yes, you've been hit by the ball, time to get back up to the plate :)