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)
Aug 16, 2023, 8:10 pm
#346
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 462
just have a copy of your SQ PNR and ticket. That’s all the agent should need.
note that whether your connection is 12 hours or less or slightly over 12 hours could be a differentiating factor. My understanding is by default, UA won’t check bags for over 12 hours between flights, with some stations being exempted from this - SIN is one, and I just had, with some difficulty, this done on a 14 hour connection (somehow, the computer was telling the agents that my SQ [regular economy] fare was ‘not a valid class’, but eventually, it got done, with persistence from the amazing agent and supervisor at SFO helping me. If your connection, is say, 12:05, they may not try or even be able to it if they do. So if that’s the case, I’d plan to have to go through customs at LHR to get the bag and re-check, but hope that you don’t have to.
on that note, note that even if SQ desk is open at LHR to check the bag with, they may or may not actually check it if your flight is not theoretically open for check in. SQ at SIN will accept bags within 24 hours of flight, IIRC, but not sure if that works at their other stations as well. May want to find out from SQ.
note that whether your connection is 12 hours or less or slightly over 12 hours could be a differentiating factor. My understanding is by default, UA won’t check bags for over 12 hours between flights, with some stations being exempted from this - SIN is one, and I just had, with some difficulty, this done on a 14 hour connection (somehow, the computer was telling the agents that my SQ [regular economy] fare was ‘not a valid class’, but eventually, it got done, with persistence from the amazing agent and supervisor at SFO helping me. If your connection, is say, 12:05, they may not try or even be able to it if they do. So if that’s the case, I’d plan to have to go through customs at LHR to get the bag and re-check, but hope that you don’t have to.
on that note, note that even if SQ desk is open at LHR to check the bag with, they may or may not actually check it if your flight is not theoretically open for check in. SQ at SIN will accept bags within 24 hours of flight, IIRC, but not sure if that works at their other stations as well. May want to find out from SQ.
Aug 17, 2023, 6:51 am
#347
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
Aug 17, 2023, 8:51 am
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,962
hopefully you are not getting these helpful agents into a lot of trouble for breaking the rules. We need them to continue to help us in cases where it is a legitimate request. I don't get it why folks try and make agents break the rules ...
Aug 28, 2023, 6:28 pm
#349
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London, UK
Programs: AA Plat, LAN Comodoro, LH SEN, Flying Blue Plat
Posts: 491
If I have two separate tickets, one is UA Y (not basic economy) domestic and connect to another sepatae ticket on BR J, I understand I can thru check my bags to TPE when I check in for the UA domestic ticket. Will I be allowed just 1 piece of bag free since my UA Y only has 1 free bag from *G? Or will UA honor BR J ticket's 3-piece allowance for UA's Y sector even though it was on a separate ticket?
Aug 29, 2023, 5:47 am
#350
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Edmond, OK
Programs: British Airways Silver, United Silver, Marriot Titanium + LT Gold
Posts: 18
If I have two separate tickets, one is UA Y (not basic economy) domestic and connect to another sepatae ticket on BR J, I understand I can thru check my bags to TPE when I check in for the UA domestic ticket. Will I be allowed just 1 piece of bag free since my UA Y only has 1 free bag from *G? Or will UA honor BR J ticket's 3-piece allowance for UA's Y sector even though it was on a separate ticket?
Last edited by ScottSchultz; Aug 29, 2023 at 5:50 am Reason: Forgot to quote
Aug 30, 2023, 7:00 pm
#351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,962
If I have two separate tickets, one is UA Y (not basic economy) domestic and connect to another sepatae ticket on BR J, I understand I can thru check my bags to TPE when I check in for the UA domestic ticket. Will I be allowed just 1 piece of bag free since my UA Y only has 1 free bag from *G? Or will UA honor BR J ticket's 3-piece allowance for UA's Y sector even though it was on a separate ticket?
Aug 30, 2023, 11:20 pm
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,352
Agreed, but I'm not sure if it would be the BR TPAC allowance or UA's J TPAC allowance.
Sep 2, 2023, 11:38 am
#353
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 103
got dp today at ewr
ua biz I connected to cx econ X
the lady seemed very familiar
told me she needed to do it in the old system
even got my cx bp
and i immediately got email saying my bag checked through to cx destination, also reflected in ua app
ua biz I connected to cx econ X
the lady seemed very familiar
told me she needed to do it in the old system
even got my cx bp
and i immediately got email saying my bag checked through to cx destination, also reflected in ua app
Sep 2, 2023, 11:04 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,352
What's your UA status?
Sep 3, 2023, 4:12 am
#356
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,153
The info I got a couple years ago (but never got to test because plans changed) was that *full fare* UA business for the transoceanic segment would be interlined to non-partners across PNRs regardless of status (1K was more generous so I never clarified what the policy considered "full fare" e.g. of they meant J inventory only or if more fare buckets came into play...anyway it seems this tracks.
Sep 3, 2023, 7:51 am
#357
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BAEC Gold (1w Emerald), United Platinum (*G), Marriott Plat Elite
Posts: 351
Can I interline a bag coming from UA SFO-LHR in deep discounted biz to LH LHR-MUC-MLA in economy? No status with both and separate PNRs (UA AABBCC and LH QQWWZZ)
If I read the thread correctly, this works as long as I do not have a basic economy fare on the LHR-MUC-MLA, ie there's checked bag included?
If I read the thread correctly, this works as long as I do not have a basic economy fare on the LHR-MUC-MLA, ie there's checked bag included?
Last edited by jaro; Sep 3, 2023 at 8:49 am
Sep 3, 2023, 8:35 am
#358
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 103
The info I got a couple years ago (but never got to test because plans changed) was that *full fare* UA business for the transoceanic segment would be interlined to non-partners across PNRs regardless of status (1K was more generous so I never clarified what the policy considered "full fare" e.g. of they meant J inventory only or if more fare buckets came into play...anyway it seems this tracks.
but my dp is award saver biz
Sep 3, 2023, 11:16 am
#359
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 31,962
Can I interline a bag coming from UA SFO-LHR in deep discounted biz to LH LHR-MUC-MLA in economy? No status with both and separate PNRs (UA AABBCC and LH QQWWZZ)
If I read the thread correctly, this works as long as I do not have a basic economy fare on the LHR-MUC-MLA, ie there's checked bag included?
If I read the thread correctly, this works as long as I do not have a basic economy fare on the LHR-MUC-MLA, ie there's checked bag included?
Sep 3, 2023, 11:45 am
#360
Join Date: Aug 2019
Programs: BAEC Gold (1w Emerald), United Platinum (*G), Marriott Plat Elite
Posts: 351
