Aug 23, 2016, 5:01 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
There is another thread for interlining bags when on separate PNR / tickets, see Bag Interlining Changes If Separate Tix with *A & Non *A Partners after 1 March 2015
Bag interlining (also known as “interline luggage”) is a voluntary commercial agreement between individual airlines to handle passengers bags traveling on itineraries that require multiple airlines, even if not the same alliance (if on a single PNR).
UA's interlining agreement list (May 2022)
Bag interlining (also known as “interline luggage”) is a voluntary commercial agreement between individual airlines to handle passengers bags traveling on itineraries that require multiple airlines, even if not the same alliance (if on a single PNR).
UA's interlining agreement list (May 2022)
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MAY CHECK BAGGAGE TO AA AC AD AF AH AI AM AR AS AV AW AX AY AZ A3 BA BB BE BI BM BR BT BW CI CM CS CX CZ DL EI EN ET EV EW EY FB FI FJ FM FV GA GF GK G3 HA HO HP HU HX IB JJ JL JO JP JQ J2 KA KC KE KG KL KM KQ KS KU KX LA LH LM LO LP LR LX LY MD ME MF MH MI MK MQ MS MU MX NH NU NX NZ OA OK OM OO OS OU OZ O6 PG PR PS PX PZ QF RO SA SK SN SQ SU SZ S2 S4 S7 TA TG TJ TK TP T0 UA UK UL UN UP UX VA VN VS VT VW WF WK WM WP WY XF XL XQ ZH 2K 3K 3M 3U 4B 4Q 4U 4Y 4Z 7C 7H 9B 9K 9W 9X
Bagagge - Connecting flights
For a trip that includes one or more connections, United will check bags to the final destination stated on the ticket. Your connecting flight must depart within 12 hours of your arrival at the airport in order for your bags to transfer automatically. United will generally transport checked baggage on the same flight as the traveler. If this is not practical, United will arrange to transport the baggage on the next flight with available space.
You'll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:
For a trip that includes one or more connections, United will check bags to the final destination stated on the ticket. Your connecting flight must depart within 12 hours of your arrival at the airport in order for your bags to transfer automatically. United will generally transport checked baggage on the same flight as the traveler. If this is not practical, United will arrange to transport the baggage on the next flight with available space.
You'll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:
- Making a voluntary stopover
- Making a connection that involves an overnight stay
- Connecting to an itinerary booked on a separate ticket that doesn't include a Star Alliance partner airline
- Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country
UA Interline Baggage Agreements (single PNR / ticket)
Sep 13, 2014, 9:17 am
#16
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The QF situation is a (hopefully) unusual one. QF policy changed a few years ago to screw over anyone connecting to a non-OW carrier issued on a separate ticket by not interlining luggage. Interlining is still possible, because interlining on the same ticket still has to work, but they choose to refuse to do it otherwise.
Sep 13, 2014, 10:47 am
#17
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The QF situation is a (hopefully) unusual one. QF policy changed a few years ago to screw over anyone connecting to a non-OW carrier issued on a separate ticket by not interlining luggage. Interlining is still possible, because interlining on the same ticket still has to work, but they choose to refuse to do it otherwise.
This is not unusual at all. UA is generous in terms of interlines to OALs across separate tickets.
Sep 13, 2014, 6:12 pm
#18
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It depends on what you mean by unusual. Some US-based airlines have used US DOT rules as an excuse to behave likewise (e.g. US/AS/DL), because they fear losing some of their bag fees. Outside the US, it's one of the services that distinguishes legacy carriers from LCCs. I'm not aware of any Asian or Middle East carriers that won't interline bags.
Sep 24, 2014, 12:02 pm
#19
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Help wit luggage question about UA transfer CX
I have a J ticket from SFO-TPE but my final destination is HKG. The only connection choice is CX. I bought a J award ticket from TPE to HKG. But I might have no time to get out to pick up luggage and re-checkin. Is there any way I can pick up luggage in HKG. BTW, I am GS of United. Thanks!
Sep 24, 2014, 12:18 pm
#20
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Checking in luggage for a UA reservation that connects to a separate reservation on a different carrier is an "interline" baggage issue. Lots of information on this forum about interlining bags. Generally, should not be an issue to have United transfer bags to CX. I've done this a number of times into and out of Asia (though never to CX) and have never had an issue. Always arrive at your baggage check-in counter (here, UA in SFO) with a printout of your other (here, CX) reservation.
Check here to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...greements.html
Check here to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...greements.html
Sep 24, 2014, 1:06 pm
#21
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Checking in luggage for a UA reservation that connects to a separate reservation on a different carrier is an "interline" baggage issue. Lots of information on this forum about interlining bags. Generally, should not be an issue to have United transfer bags to CX. I've done this a number of times into and out of Asia (though never to CX) and have never had an issue. Always arrive at your baggage check-in counter (here, UA in SFO) with a printout of your other (here, CX) reservation.
Check here to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...greements.html
Check here to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...greements.html
Sep 24, 2014, 1:07 pm
#22
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Checking in luggage for a UA reservation that connects to a separate reservation on a different carrier is an "interline" baggage issue. Lots of information on this forum about interlining bags. Generally, should not be an issue to have United transfer bags to CX. I've done this a number of times into and out of Asia (though never to CX) and have never had an issue. Always arrive at your baggage check-in counter (here, UA in SFO) with a printout of your other (here, CX) reservation.
Check here to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...greements.html
Check here to start: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...greements.html
Also, checking bags interline are always at the discretion of the airline. I remember when I worked for CO in IAH, we were instructed to never check a bag to connect in Mexico City because they frequently got lost. The fact that we had an interline agreement with both Mexicana and AeroMexico at the time made no difference.
The problem with checking baggage through is that if the bag is lost and both flights are on a single ticket, then CX is responsible for tracing the bag all the way back to SFO. If you have two separate tickets, CX is only responsible for tracing the bag back to TPE. If they have no record of ever receiving the bag in TPE, then they won't do any more for you and won't pay any compensation.
I am always leery of people in Flyertalk who say "I have done this several times and it works fine." EVERYTHING always works fine until it does not work at all.
Sep 24, 2014, 1:09 pm
#23
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UA and CX have an interline agreement.
I have checked through from UA to CX (and vice-versa) on separate tickets with no problem. Be sure to ask nicely at UA check-in, as interlining is at the agent's discretion.
btw, in response to the prior post, which is replete with inaccuracies, I have also had lost/delayed bag issues when interlining across separate tickets. AA (the receiving carrier) resolved those issues with no problem. While interlining does add a level of complexity, it's certainly preferable to clearing customs at an intermediate stop and then rechecking your bag.
Last edited by Kacee; Sep 24, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Sep 24, 2014, 1:12 pm
#24
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"Interline" by definition is when both airline's flights are on the same ticket. Flying on two separate tickets is not an interline. It is just two separate tickets whether they are on the same day or weeks apart.
Also, checking bags interline are always at the discretion of the airline. I remember when I worked for CO in IAH, we were instructed to never check a bag to connect in Mexico City because they frequently got lost. The fact that we had an interline agreement with both Mexicana and AeroMexico at the time made no difference.
The problem with checking baggage through is that if the bag is lost and both flights are on a single ticket, then CX is responsible for tracing the bag all the way back to SFO. If you have two separate tickets, CX is only responsible for tracing the bag back to TPE. If they have no record of ever receiving the bag in TPE, then they won't do any more for you and won't pay any compensation.
I am always leery of people in Flyertalk who say "I have done this several times and it works fine." EVERYTHING always works fine until it does not work at all.
Also, checking bags interline are always at the discretion of the airline. I remember when I worked for CO in IAH, we were instructed to never check a bag to connect in Mexico City because they frequently got lost. The fact that we had an interline agreement with both Mexicana and AeroMexico at the time made no difference.
The problem with checking baggage through is that if the bag is lost and both flights are on a single ticket, then CX is responsible for tracing the bag all the way back to SFO. If you have two separate tickets, CX is only responsible for tracing the bag back to TPE. If they have no record of ever receiving the bag in TPE, then they won't do any more for you and won't pay any compensation.
I am always leery of people in Flyertalk who say "I have done this several times and it works fine." EVERYTHING always works fine until it does not work at all.
So I want to take the risk.
Sep 24, 2014, 1:22 pm
#25
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1) Bring a printout of your CX itinerary so the UA agent can add the flight information to the baggage tag.
2) Present baggage tag when you check-in at the transfer desk to make sure the bag is in the system.
Sep 24, 2014, 3:52 pm
#26
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"Interline" by definition is when both airline's flights are on the same ticket. Flying on two separate tickets is not an interline. It is just two separate tickets whether they are on the same day or weeks apart.
Also, checking bags interline are always at the discretion of the airline. I remember when I worked for CO in IAH, we were instructed to never check a bag to connect in Mexico City because they frequently got lost. The fact that we had an interline agreement with both Mexicana and AeroMexico at the time made no difference.
The problem with checking baggage through is that if the bag is lost and both flights are on a single ticket, then CX is responsible for tracing the bag all the way back to SFO. If you have two separate tickets, CX is only responsible for tracing the bag back to TPE. If they have no record of ever receiving the bag in TPE, then they won't do any more for you and won't pay any compensation.
I am always leery of people in Flyertalk who say "I have done this several times and it works fine." EVERYTHING always works fine until it does not work at all.
Also, checking bags interline are always at the discretion of the airline. I remember when I worked for CO in IAH, we were instructed to never check a bag to connect in Mexico City because they frequently got lost. The fact that we had an interline agreement with both Mexicana and AeroMexico at the time made no difference.
The problem with checking baggage through is that if the bag is lost and both flights are on a single ticket, then CX is responsible for tracing the bag all the way back to SFO. If you have two separate tickets, CX is only responsible for tracing the bag back to TPE. If they have no record of ever receiving the bag in TPE, then they won't do any more for you and won't pay any compensation.
I am always leery of people in Flyertalk who say "I have done this several times and it works fine." EVERYTHING always works fine until it does not work at all.
Bags can most certainly be interlined between tickets and have been for over 50 years. That is what interline agreements are all about.
In order to interline bags across tickets, you need two things: 1) an interline agreement and 2) a willingness to interline across tickets.
Interline agreements provide that the delivering carrier accepts responsibility for the bag, no matter who loses it and when. This, and new DOT rules, are what cause some carriers to be queasy about interlining across tickets.
In this case, won't know if the interline will occur until check-in / bag drop.
Sep 24, 2014, 4:00 pm
#27
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You can book a legal connection in IAH of 30 minutes. But I wouldn't do it.
You can show up to board a flight seven minutes before scheduled departure and most of time you will board the flight. But UA has the right to deny you boarding if it is less than 15 minutes.
You can check your bag through TPE to HKG with two tickets. There is probably a 1 in 30 chance that your bag will be lost and if it does, you will have a lot of problems. If it doesn't get lost, then everything is fine.
Flying nowadays is lots of shades of gray.
Sep 24, 2014, 4:18 pm
#28
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Incorrect.
Bags can most certainly be interlined between tickets and have been for over 50 years. That is what interline agreements are all about.
In order to interline bags across tickets, you need two things: 1) an interline agreement and 2) a willingness to interline across tickets.
Interline agreements provide that the delivering carrier accepts responsibility for the bag, no matter who loses it and when. This, and new DOT rules, are what cause some carriers to be queasy about interlining across tickets.
In this case, won't know if the interline will occur until check-in / bag drop.
Bags can most certainly be interlined between tickets and have been for over 50 years. That is what interline agreements are all about.
In order to interline bags across tickets, you need two things: 1) an interline agreement and 2) a willingness to interline across tickets.
Interline agreements provide that the delivering carrier accepts responsibility for the bag, no matter who loses it and when. This, and new DOT rules, are what cause some carriers to be queasy about interlining across tickets.
In this case, won't know if the interline will occur until check-in / bag drop.
I am sure that you can check bags on two tickets. But if the bag gets lost, don't expect CX to compensate you with any cash for your loss.
If you wish to learn more about interlining, the official source of such information can be found at http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/workgroups/Pages/mita.aspx
Sep 24, 2014, 4:33 pm
#29
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Interline agreements are for travel on one ticket and have been for over 50 years. If you have two tickets, that is not interlining. Sorry if you don't believe me.
I am sure that you can check bags on two tickets. But if the bag gets lost, don't expect CX to compensate you with any cash for your loss.
If you wish to learn more about interlining, the official source of such information can be found at http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/workgroups/Pages/mita.aspx
I am sure that you can check bags on two tickets. But if the bag gets lost, don't expect CX to compensate you with any cash for your loss.
If you wish to learn more about interlining, the official source of such information can be found at http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/workgroups/Pages/mita.aspx
"Interline" simply refers to an agreement between airlines. It can cover ticketing or baggage (or anything else the carriers wish to agree to). This particular thread covers "Interline Baggage Agreements."
Sep 24, 2014, 4:55 pm
#30
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I have a J ticket from SFO-TPE but my final destination is HKG. The only connection choice is CX. I bought a J award ticket from TPE to HKG. But I might have no time to get out to pick up luggage and re-checkin. Is there any way I can pick up luggage in HKG. BTW, I am GS of United. Thanks!
I would be willing to risk this w/o bags. But I rarely travel with bags so don't really know how much that ups the risk.
You say the CX flight is your only option? Both CX and BR fly this like bus routes (and CI, but I assume you want to stick to *A). Even if you are on the direct UA SFO->TPE looks like you can get a 3 hour connection.
TPE is a fairly easy airport to connect in. But things can go wrong. If I was forced to check bags on this route, I would look for a later flight.
But still, I would expect all to work fine for you. So if this is a done decision, just relax and enjoy the trip.
