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)
Apr 26, 2024, 11:00 am
#481
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 518
OK Folks. I think I know the answer to this, but I have additional options to consider that I'd like feedback on.
I need to travel from BOS to KUL in business. The best / most efficient routing on *A is to go BOS-EWR-SIN-KUL and back. BOS-EWR is on UA. EWR-SIN-KUL are on SQ.
I can find the flights on matrix.itasoftware.com by forcing the EWR SIN routing, which I believe are ticketed by SQ. Due to UA/SQ rules the BOS-EWR price is really expensive in business. (Full J Fare). So I've tried to look at other options.
Option 3 is straight forward. It's expensive but I'll be able to check my bag all the way BOS-EWR-SIN-KUL as it's all one SQ ticket and all one record.
Option 5 is really the topic of this thread. Two separate itineraries and tickets. And I know this "should" be possible to check a bag in BOS all the way to KUL, knowing the agent will need to take time and do some work in the system to get the bag tag to print.
My question is really with Option 4: How will UA handle a single PNR with two tickets? I've done this on UA before on a circle pacific fare where BOS-SFO was one round trip and the SFO-Cirlce Pacific on another. All on the same record. And it worked great. I've also done it with AC where BOS-YYZ was ticketed UA (operated by AC) and YYZ-BOM was AC, also all on same record. But in those cases the operating carriers were the same.
Theoretically, if I had one record for both the BOS-EWR leg ticketed by UA and EWR-SIN-KUL was ticketed SQ would checking a bag be simpler? Or will the UA Shares vs SQ Amadeus differences cause a segment to be dropped from each and I'm no better off booking separate PNR's. (I know UA sometimes will only show one segment immediately before or after a UA segment on a multi carrier itinerary.)
Thanks!
I need to travel from BOS to KUL in business. The best / most efficient routing on *A is to go BOS-EWR-SIN-KUL and back. BOS-EWR is on UA. EWR-SIN-KUL are on SQ.
I can find the flights on matrix.itasoftware.com by forcing the EWR SIN routing, which I believe are ticketed by SQ. Due to UA/SQ rules the BOS-EWR price is really expensive in business. (Full J Fare). So I've tried to look at other options.
- Option 1 (FAILED): Called UA 1K desk to see if they could price and sell as a complete round trip. Hard NO. SQ won't sell UA the flights from EWR to SIN.
- Option 2 (FAILED): Went to SQ.com to see if they would sell me the route. Their website is terrible and I only get options via JFK or SFO with feeders on AS or B6. Hard no. And times don't work as well anyway.
- Option 3 (That I'm considering): Get a travel agent to book me the flights all on one SQ ticket. This should be doable. But it will be more expensive because UA only sells SQ the BOS-EWR leg at full J fare.
- Option 4 (That I'm considering): Get a travel agent to book me that itinerary on a single travel agent PNR, but ticket the BOS-EWR segments on UA, and EWR-SIN-KUL on SQ. So two separate tickets, yes, but technically on the same PNR.
- Option 5 (That I'm considering): Just book BOS-EWR round trip in cheapest F class on UA.com and, separately EWR-SIN-KUL on Sq.com.
Option 3 is straight forward. It's expensive but I'll be able to check my bag all the way BOS-EWR-SIN-KUL as it's all one SQ ticket and all one record.
Option 5 is really the topic of this thread. Two separate itineraries and tickets. And I know this "should" be possible to check a bag in BOS all the way to KUL, knowing the agent will need to take time and do some work in the system to get the bag tag to print.
My question is really with Option 4: How will UA handle a single PNR with two tickets? I've done this on UA before on a circle pacific fare where BOS-SFO was one round trip and the SFO-Cirlce Pacific on another. All on the same record. And it worked great. I've also done it with AC where BOS-YYZ was ticketed UA (operated by AC) and YYZ-BOM was AC, also all on same record. But in those cases the operating carriers were the same.
Theoretically, if I had one record for both the BOS-EWR leg ticketed by UA and EWR-SIN-KUL was ticketed SQ would checking a bag be simpler? Or will the UA Shares vs SQ Amadeus differences cause a segment to be dropped from each and I'm no better off booking separate PNR's. (I know UA sometimes will only show one segment immediately before or after a UA segment on a multi carrier itinerary.)
Thanks!
Apr 26, 2024, 4:30 pm
#482
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,766
It shouldn’t really matter IMO if you do option 4 or 5, you might be able to get better pricing by just keeping them completely separate and going with the lowest price rather than the place willing to put this on the same record locator with 2 tickets. BOS is very used to checking through bags and that should not be a concern.
Apr 28, 2024, 11:48 am
#483
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: KBP/TLV
Programs: UA, AE
Posts: 383
UA will generally check bags thru to a *A partner as long as it is not overnight or more than a 12 hour break. And it meets the the Minimum Connection Time at EWR.
In that process you will generally receive the higher bag allowance of the two tickets. Note this is not stated explicitly but is the practice
In that process you will generally receive the higher bag allowance of the two tickets. Note this is not stated explicitly but is the practice
Apr 28, 2024, 12:15 pm
#484
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,196
Did this twice in the past year, (UA-LH on one trip; UA-UA on another), and both times the UA bag drop agent got an unspecified error. In both instances, it worked when she backed out of the system and proceeded through anew. It’s like the system requires a refresh in order to process.
Last edited by AirbusFan2B; Apr 28, 2024 at 12:23 pm
May 10, 2024, 3:10 pm
#485
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Christchurch New Zealand
Programs: Air New Zealand Airpoints
Posts: 18
Hi all, I'm flying with UA from STL to ORD arriving at 1:08pm 15th June. Next flight which is on a separate ticket departing 12:30am 16th June. Anyone has any experience getting UA to check through their luggage to EVA air? By reading the posts previously, this may be depending on the check in counter staff. Would the next day flight reduce the chance of getting the luggage checked through although it's just under 12 hours layover.
May 10, 2024, 5:40 pm
#486
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,769
Hi all, I'm flying with UA from STL to ORD arriving at 1:08pm 15th June. Next flight which is on a separate ticket departing 12:30am 16th June. Anyone has any experience getting UA to check through their luggage to EVA air? By reading the posts previously, this may be depending on the check in counter staff. Would the next day flight reduce the chance of getting the luggage checked through although it's just under 12 hours layover.
May 11, 2024, 9:12 am
#487
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Small town near RNO
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 909
I've never had any issues with checking though to EVA from RNO to MN, with EVA through IAH. Same with OZ through LAX.
Only issues are an inexperienced agent or sometimes the computer doesn't play nice and they need to call the Help Desk for an override.
Only issues are an inexperienced agent or sometimes the computer doesn't play nice and they need to call the Help Desk for an override.
May 12, 2024, 12:04 pm
#488
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: mileage plus
Posts: 54
interline from 016 pnr (UA) to another 016 pnr (BR, award) 3x32kg
Im a 1k flying from S. America to TPE in business on UA metal. I would like to make use of my 3x32kg baggage allowance, on my connection.
the connecting flight is BR economy with a 2x23kg allowance.
the layover is about 4hrs, and i assume interlining wont be an issue.
However I am concerned about being stuck paying cash for the difference in weight and count.
Did not get a definitive answer from the 1k desk.
looking to the collective e perince and wisdom here for guidance.
cheers
the connecting flight is BR economy with a 2x23kg allowance.
the layover is about 4hrs, and i assume interlining wont be an issue.
However I am concerned about being stuck paying cash for the difference in weight and count.
Did not get a definitive answer from the 1k desk.
looking to the collective e perince and wisdom here for guidance.
cheers
May 12, 2024, 12:09 pm
#489
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,769
Im a 1k flying from S. America to TPE in business on UA metal. I would like to make use of my 3x32kg baggage allowance, on my connection.
the connecting flight is BR economy with a 2x23kg allowance.
the layover is about 4hrs, and i assume interlining wont be an issue....
the connecting flight is BR economy with a 2x23kg allowance.
the layover is about 4hrs, and i assume interlining wont be an issue....
May 12, 2024, 11:22 pm
#490
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Austin, TX (AUS)
Programs: I have a frequent flyer account with pretty much any airline to exist. Usually use AA and OW.
Posts: 38
This thread has been really helpful in easing my anxieties about my first D-I separate ticket connection. But with travel in less than 2 days, I have a couple of questions that I'm a bit unclear on. For context, I am flying from AUS to MAA, with AUS to SFO on a single ticket both operated and ticketed by UA in Y (award ticket), and SFO to MAA on a single ticket operated by AI and ticketed by TK in J (also award ticket).
1. If UA can interline my bags (which according to this thread is yes, given my layover in SFO is 4h15m), I can follow AI J's baggage policy? If they cannot due to a system error, then I'd be expected to pay for the total cost of the bags from AUS to SFO, right?
2. Can I pick up my boarding pass for the AI flights at the UA desk in AUS? I've checked in (AI does a 48 hour check in policy, not 24 like other airlines), but owing to a previous experience with Indian immigration, would need a printed boarding pass to avoid additional hassles.
Thank you so much for y'all's help thus far!
1. If UA can interline my bags (which according to this thread is yes, given my layover in SFO is 4h15m), I can follow AI J's baggage policy? If they cannot due to a system error, then I'd be expected to pay for the total cost of the bags from AUS to SFO, right?
2. Can I pick up my boarding pass for the AI flights at the UA desk in AUS? I've checked in (AI does a 48 hour check in policy, not 24 like other airlines), but owing to a previous experience with Indian immigration, would need a printed boarding pass to avoid additional hassles.
Thank you so much for y'all's help thus far!
May 13, 2024, 12:21 am
#491
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 22,117
This thread has been really helpful in easing my anxieties about my first D-I separate ticket connection. But with travel in less than 2 days, I have a couple of questions that I'm a bit unclear on. For context, I am flying from AUS to MAA, with AUS to SFO on a single ticket both operated and ticketed by UA in Y (award ticket), and SFO to MAA on a single ticket operated by AI and ticketed by TK in J (also award ticket).
1. If UA can interline my bags (which according to this thread is yes, given my layover in SFO is 4h15m), I can follow AI J's baggage policy? If they cannot due to a system error, then I'd be expected to pay for the total cost of the bags from AUS to SFO, right?
2. Can I pick up my boarding pass for the AI flights at the UA desk in AUS? I've checked in (AI does a 48 hour check in policy, not 24 like other airlines), but owing to a previous experience with Indian immigration, would need a printed boarding pass to avoid additional hassles.
Thank you so much for y'all's help thus far!
1. If UA can interline my bags (which according to this thread is yes, given my layover in SFO is 4h15m), I can follow AI J's baggage policy? If they cannot due to a system error, then I'd be expected to pay for the total cost of the bags from AUS to SFO, right?
2. Can I pick up my boarding pass for the AI flights at the UA desk in AUS? I've checked in (AI does a 48 hour check in policy, not 24 like other airlines), but owing to a previous experience with Indian immigration, would need a printed boarding pass to avoid additional hassles.
Thank you so much for y'all's help thus far!
2. Possibly; boarding passes are hit or miss.
May 14, 2024, 12:43 pm
#492
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Austin, TX (AUS)
Programs: I have a frequent flyer account with pretty much any airline to exist. Usually use AA and OW.
Posts: 38
Update - MIGHT need to pay for bags
I checked in at the airport with my bags. The agent was experienced and took care of it easily. I even saw the computer screen (oops!) and it looked like a fairly simple process, even for UA-UA (key word, looked). However, the agent said I would have to pay for the bags. At this point, I asked them to contact the help desk, and she said they couldn’t do anything about it, because it was a system issue. I asked for a receipt, and apparently the system refresh was delayed because the receipt showed a 0 amount.
However, they couldn’t generate the boarding pass for the other flights… not a huge deal.
Hope my experience eases some worries for everyone.
However, they couldn’t generate the boarding pass for the other flights… not a huge deal.
Hope my experience eases some worries for everyone.
May 18, 2024, 3:27 pm
#493
Join Date: Dec 2023
Programs: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Korean Air Skypass Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 255
Parents Star Alliance interline EWR-MNL via LAX/NRT
UA does interline nicely with Star Alliance partners for my parents it was this NH820 to NH6 and then EWR UA2055 origin MNL destination EWR via LAX and NRT. Their inbound trip was originally UA2321 to NH105/869 EWR-LAX-HND-MNL and then replaced by UA2321 BR5 to BR261 the final version was UA2321 delayed by 4hr to NH5 and then NH819 to MNL T3. The tag will have a rerouted sticker attached to it over the original routing. A Different result had my parents dropped NH5 to NH819 in LAX since UA system might not detect them canceling NH5 to 819 if they chose PR113 from a delayed UA2321 on April 28th
Last edited by allianceflyer9506; May 18, 2024 at 3:30 pm Reason: delay of UA2321
May 19, 2024, 10:25 am
#494
Join Date: May 2024
Location: New York City
Programs: Turkish Miles&Smiles
Posts: 2
Declined interlining with *A at EWR
Visited EWR terminal C yesterday. Agent at the self-checkin area directed us to the travel assistance counter at the end of the hall. Asked the agent at the travel assistance counter if we could check through bags to Air China via CDG, said they did that before but now it's only available for 1K members.
Got separate tickets EWR-CDG on UA57 non-basic Economy and CDG-PEK on CA876. Connection time is ~5 hours so that shouldn't be the problem. She didn't even ask the flight number though.
Got separate tickets EWR-CDG on UA57 non-basic Economy and CDG-PEK on CA876. Connection time is ~5 hours so that shouldn't be the problem. She didn't even ask the flight number though.
Last edited by twistsoffate; May 19, 2024 at 10:31 am Reason: add flight numbers