Aug 23, 2016, 5:11 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
See Interline Baggage Agreements (single ticket) when there is a single ticket.
When a passenger has two separate tickets, United will though-check (interline) bags only when the second ticket is for UA or *A partner operated travel. Otherwise, UA may not interline the bags and you will need to recheck bags for the second ticket.
With two qualifying separate tickets, when checking bags thru, you will need to present flight information for both tickets at check-in. This includes the itinerary, PNR and eticket number.
Note: Interlining two UA tickets seems to be challenging for some agents. Allow extra time for bag check, just in case, and perhaps suggest contacting the Help Desk if the agent seems to be having issues.
Interlining UA-UA may not be allowed if one ticket is Basic Economy and does not allow free check bags.
Thread on UA-UA bag interlining
UA.com link
Some conditions when UA may not interlining with another carrier on a separate ticket
Exceptions to the non-partner interlining restriction on separate tickets for 1Ks/GSs have been reported. There still needs to be a regular bag interlining agreement in place.
Additionally, one report suggests that exception would apply also to *Gs and Full Fare J passengers
Whenever checking a bag between carriers (on a single or separate tickets), it is recommended to show your bag tag to each downline carrier at the transfer desk/gate to ensure the bag tag information has propagated to their system.
related thread: Overnight, long layover/connection check through baggage question (consolidated)
Archive thread: UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix w/ *A Partners (YES) & Non-Partners (NO) {Archive}
When a passenger has two separate tickets, United will though-check (interline) bags only when the second ticket is for UA or *A partner operated travel. Otherwise, UA may not interline the bags and you will need to recheck bags for the second ticket.
With two qualifying separate tickets, when checking bags thru, you will need to present flight information for both tickets at check-in. This includes the itinerary, PNR and eticket number.
Note: Interlining two UA tickets seems to be challenging for some agents. Allow extra time for bag check, just in case, and perhaps suggest contacting the Help Desk if the agent seems to be having issues.
Interlining UA-UA may not be allowed if one ticket is Basic Economy and does not allow free check bags.
Thread on UA-UA bag interlining
Effective for travel on and after March 1, 2015, when a customer has two separate tickets, United will though-check bags only when the secondary ticket is for travel on the following carriers:
* United and United Express
* Star Alliance partner airlines
With the new policy, a passenger’s baggage will be checked between the origin and destination points that are reflected on a single or conjunctive ticket.
If the traveler holds a second ticket on another airline beyond the destination of the first ticket, United will check the bag to the destination on the first ticket(s). In such situations, the traveler must collect their baggage on arrival at their first ticketed destination, and then re-check baggage with the next carrier for their continuing flight(s).
* United and United Express
* Star Alliance partner airlines
With the new policy, a passenger’s baggage will be checked between the origin and destination points that are reflected on a single or conjunctive ticket.
If the traveler holds a second ticket on another airline beyond the destination of the first ticket, United will check the bag to the destination on the first ticket(s). In such situations, the traveler must collect their baggage on arrival at their first ticketed destination, and then re-check baggage with the next carrier for their continuing flight(s).
If you have a separate ticket on another carrier, you must claim bags at the destination of the first ticketed itinerary and check bags with the other carrier to the final destination. Baggage can be checked through to the final destination if the separate ticketed itinerary includes Star Alliance member airline-operated flights.
- The carrier is not a *A partner
- the connection is overnight
- the connection is less than MCT
- Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country
- If the UA ticket is Basic Economy No more "through checking" / interlining of bags when connecting from BE
Exceptions to the non-partner interlining restriction on separate tickets for 1Ks/GSs have been reported. There still needs to be a regular bag interlining agreement in place.
Additionally, one report suggests that exception would apply also to *Gs and Full Fare J passengers
Whenever checking a bag between carriers (on a single or separate tickets), it is recommended to show your bag tag to each downline carrier at the transfer desk/gate to ensure the bag tag information has propagated to their system.
related thread: Overnight, long layover/connection check through baggage question (consolidated)
Archive thread: UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix w/ *A Partners (YES) & Non-Partners (NO) {Archive}
Default time is 12 hours. A small number of individual stations are enabled to allow bags to be checked thru for connections greater than 12 hours. Maybe we can build a list based on people's experiences for certain connection points.
I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.
I know FCO is up to 16 hours. SIN, HND, FRA, MUC, ZRH, BRU should all allow up to 24 hours.
UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)
Feb 12, 2023, 6:35 pm
#211
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I am not *G. Have Chase United Quest card. What do you think my chances of through checkin are? If things don't go as expected, I am prepared to re-checkin my bags at SIN, so packing my bags for the award ticket baggage limitation. Last time I had no issue with EVA+Thai.
- SFO - SIN: UA revenue economy ticket with two checked bags (50 lbs / 23 kg each)
- Layover: 2 hours
- SIN - DEL: SQ award economy ticket with two checked bags (total 66 lbs / 30 kg)
- Am I allowed to check my bags in at SFO until my final destination? Will UA at SFO do a through checkin?
- If yes, am I allowed to check in two bags 50 lbs each? (not that important)
- Wanna avoid re-checkin at SIN
Feb 14, 2023, 6:18 am
#212
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
Next time at EWR don't waste time going to a check in kiosk or the Premier check in area. Just go to 'special handling' which is on the lower check-in floor at the very end and they will take care of it. Also need to give at least an hour buffer in case there is a line or the agent needs help. 30 mins is far too short a time to deal with complex needs that are outside the scope of the average UA check in agent.
Feb 14, 2023, 5:52 pm
#213
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Separate Tickets/Checking Bag Through
I wanted to ask about this. It looks like you had separate tickets (United award ticket to SYD, then paid ticket on VA) but United checked your bags through. Is that correct? Because VA isn't a StarAlliance member. I'm asking as I'm going to Europe, EWR to LHR on United Award ticket then LHR to NCE on BA paid cash for. I'd love to check bag through so that I don't have to go thru passport control, etc. because I have to collect my bag. My husband is United Premier Gold (using his miles). Not sure if that would help.
Here comes the crazy part ... UA was able to issue a BP for SYD-ADL 
Feb 14, 2023, 9:45 pm
#214
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I wanted to ask about this. It looks like you had separate tickets (United award ticket to SYD, then paid ticket on VA) but United checked your bags through. Is that correct? Because VA isn't a StarAlliance member. I'm asking as I'm going to Europe, EWR to LHR on United Award ticket then LHR to NCE on BA paid cash for. I'd love to check bag through so that I don't have to go thru passport control, etc. because I have to collect my bag. My husband is United Premier Gold (using his miles). Not sure if that would help.
UA has partner airlines that are not Star Alliance airlines.
Feb 14, 2023, 10:01 pm
#215
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I hope there's a lot of time built in for a separate-ticket, change-of-terminal transfer at LHR though.
Feb 15, 2023, 3:56 am
#216
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,773
I would be more concerned about transfer of people than baggage with this itinerary. LHR generally not ideal for transfers and terminal 2 to terminal 5 is not a quick seamless transfer. I would say you should leave at least 3.5 hours between flights to be sure you can collect your backs and recheck if UA declines to check them through. Or why not just switch to an award ticket to NCE, through BRU for example- would it not be same miles?
Feb 15, 2023, 5:57 am
#217
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I wanted to ask about this. It looks like you had separate tickets (United award ticket to SYD, then paid ticket on VA) but United checked your bags through. Is that correct? Because VA isn't a StarAlliance member. I'm asking as I'm going to Europe, EWR to LHR on United Award ticket then LHR to NCE on BA paid cash for. I'd love to check bag through so that I don't have to go thru passport control, etc. because I have to collect my bag. My husband is United Premier Gold (using his miles). Not sure if that would help.
Feb 15, 2023, 10:28 am
#218
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
We actually have 4.25 hours for the connection time, so I think we should be fine. The other good thing is BA lets you switch your ticket the day of with no fee, and there is an another BA flight LHR to NCE 3 hours after our flight. So I am basically trying to just avoid the hassle of doing customs/passports at LHR rather than being worried about making our LHR to NCE flight. We also bought BA tickets that include one checked bag, so not trying to avoid bag fee.
United and other Star Alliance airlines don't have any direct flights from LHR to NCE or CDG to NCE. So if we only booked on United/Star Alliance partners for award travel or even paid travel we would have had to connect in a different city in Europe other than LHR or CDG before getting to NCE. I didn't love any of the other choices for connecting cities, especially timing, and was worried that some didn't have later flights to NCE that day if missed the original connecting flight. (I know United would have been responsible for new flight to NCE but still would have missed time in Nice.) We also got amazing deal--only 18,000 miles per flight, so only 36,000 RT per person. The flight EWR to CDG was a lot more miles, so decided to do LHR instead on our outbound flight, but are flying home CDG to EWR (and taking train to Paris/CDG from Nice, as felt more comfortable with that than flight NCE to CDG).
Thanks everyone!
United and other Star Alliance airlines don't have any direct flights from LHR to NCE or CDG to NCE. So if we only booked on United/Star Alliance partners for award travel or even paid travel we would have had to connect in a different city in Europe other than LHR or CDG before getting to NCE. I didn't love any of the other choices for connecting cities, especially timing, and was worried that some didn't have later flights to NCE that day if missed the original connecting flight. (I know United would have been responsible for new flight to NCE but still would have missed time in Nice.) We also got amazing deal--only 18,000 miles per flight, so only 36,000 RT per person. The flight EWR to CDG was a lot more miles, so decided to do LHR instead on our outbound flight, but are flying home CDG to EWR (and taking train to Paris/CDG from Nice, as felt more comfortable with that than flight NCE to CDG).
Thanks everyone!
Last edited by benezet; Feb 15, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Feb 17, 2023, 3:52 pm
#219
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 2
LAX-SFO in paid UA Y - no UA or *A status, credit cards, etc.
SFO-SIN in J using SQ KF miles
One checked bag.
If I check-in at LAX, bag should be checked through to SIN due to *A.
What is the baggage allowance? My assumption is that since US DOT First Marketing Carrier applies, I have to pay for the bag at LAX. Do I lose out on SQ J free bags due to FMC and will have to pay twice?
If I get a UA Explorer with free checked bags, does that eliminate the fees on both legs? Or just the UA leg since they are FMC and the UA free checked bag only applies to the UA flight?
SFO-SIN in J using SQ KF miles
One checked bag.
If I check-in at LAX, bag should be checked through to SIN due to *A.
What is the baggage allowance? My assumption is that since US DOT First Marketing Carrier applies, I have to pay for the bag at LAX. Do I lose out on SQ J free bags due to FMC and will have to pay twice?
If I get a UA Explorer with free checked bags, does that eliminate the fees on both legs? Or just the UA leg since they are FMC and the UA free checked bag only applies to the UA flight?
Feb 17, 2023, 4:28 pm
#220
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
LAX-SFO in paid UA Y - no UA or *A status, credit cards, etc.
SFO-SIN in J using SQ KF miles
One checked bag.
If I check-in at LAX, bag should be checked through to SIN due to *A.
What is the baggage allowance? My assumption is that since US DOT First Marketing Carrier applies, I have to pay for the bag at LAX. Do I lose out on SQ J free bags due to FMC and will have to pay twice?
If I get a UA Explorer with free checked bags, does that eliminate the fees on both legs? Or just the UA leg since they are FMC and the UA free checked bag only applies to the UA flight?
SFO-SIN in J using SQ KF miles
One checked bag.
If I check-in at LAX, bag should be checked through to SIN due to *A.
What is the baggage allowance? My assumption is that since US DOT First Marketing Carrier applies, I have to pay for the bag at LAX. Do I lose out on SQ J free bags due to FMC and will have to pay twice?
If I get a UA Explorer with free checked bags, does that eliminate the fees on both legs? Or just the UA leg since they are FMC and the UA free checked bag only applies to the UA flight?
In practice, if you book the UA flight with your Explorer Card, you’ll at least get the first bag free. My guess is that you will get two bags free regardless, because UA will use their rules for business class to Singapore, but it is only a guess based upon the way that they handle the bag tags.
Feb 23, 2023, 11:40 pm
#222
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Yes, unless this is overnight in ORD. Allow a little extra time in LAX for the UA agent to handle this.
Feb 24, 2023, 8:24 am
#223
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And when at ORD: at the TK check-in counter or ORD-IST gate, have the TK handling agents note the bag tag info in the TK record. It may not be necessary for the luggage to be loaded properly, but it can minimize the chances of the bag not being loaded onto the ORD-IST flights (and/or any onward flight from IST) as originally tagged by UA.
Mar 1, 2023, 4:21 am
#224
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,161
Booked on UA929 ORD-LHR on upcoming trip in June arriving 06:45. Thinking of booking LX317 on separate ticket departing 08:40 for ZRH with onward connection to BCN. Looks like MCT in LHR is 60 min for my routing. Assuming I can get UA to check bag through to BCN (will plan extra time at ticket counter), am I safe to book my Economy Light ticket on SWISS without paying for checked bag? I am UA 1K status.
Mar 1, 2023, 8:55 am
#225
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Booked on UA929 ORD-LHR on upcoming trip in June arriving 06:45. Thinking of booking LX317 on separate ticket departing 08:40 for ZRH with onward connection to BCN. Looks like MCT in LHR is 60 min for my routing. Assuming I can get UA to check bag through to BCN (will plan extra time at ticket counter), am I safe to book my Economy Light ticket on SWISS without paying for checked bag? I am UA 1K status.
MCT is for a single ticket, since your connection will not be protected in case of a delayed arrival, or airport processing requiring more time to get from plane to gate any misconnect is at your own risk and cost. I would put more than 60 minutes between flights.