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)
Jun 4, 2022, 10:46 am
#76
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Jun 4, 2022, 11:22 am
#77
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Jun 4, 2022, 12:52 pm
#78
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,854
5+ year back the interlining bags across separate tickets became an alliance only benefit. All the big 3 alliances are doing this. So separate tickets on separate alliances is a problem. Single ticket is still honored.
Occasionally there are reports of interline bags with separate tickets on separate alliances for business class and higher elites but that is not standard policy.
Occasionally there are reports of interline bags with separate tickets on separate alliances for business class and higher elites but that is not standard policy.
Jun 4, 2022, 1:20 pm
#79
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA 1K; Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 828
5+ year back the interlining bags across separate tickets became an alliance only benefit. All the big 3 alliances are doing this. So separate tickets on separate alliances is a problem. Single ticket is still honored.
Occasionally there are reports of interline bags with separate tickets on separate alliances for business class and higher elites but that is not standard policy.
Occasionally there are reports of interline bags with separate tickets on separate alliances for business class and higher elites but that is not standard policy.
Jun 10, 2022, 9:27 am
#81
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Location: Austin, TX
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Jun 10, 2022, 9:31 am
#83
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Jun 10, 2022, 9:32 am
#84
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Sorry, I can see how that was confusing. 
I meant, give yourself extra time at LAX prior to starting your trip, because you're going to have to talk to an agent, who is then going to have to modify your itinerary in order to add the SEA/IST leg. This is usually fairly quick, but if you get an inexperienced agent it may take a little while, so I'd plan to arrive 20 minutes earlier than I normally would. I apologize for being unclear.
I meant, give yourself extra time at LAX prior to starting your trip, because you're going to have to talk to an agent, who is then going to have to modify your itinerary in order to add the SEA/IST leg. This is usually fairly quick, but if you get an inexperienced agent it may take a little while, so I'd plan to arrive 20 minutes earlier than I normally would. I apologize for being unclear.
Jun 10, 2022, 9:35 am
#85
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,838
Sorry, I can see how that was confusing. I meant, give yourself extra time at LAX prior to starting your trip, because you're going to have to talk to an agent, who is then going to have to modify your itinerary in order to add the SEA/IST leg. This is usually fairly quick, but if you get an inexperienced agent it may take a little while, so I'd plan to arrive 20 minutes earlier than I normally would. I apologize for being unclear.
I meant, give yourself extra time at LAX prior to starting your trip, because you're going to have to talk to an agent, who is then going to have to modify your itinerary in order to add the SEA/IST leg. This is usually fairly quick, but if you get an inexperienced agent it may take a little while, so I'd plan to arrive 20 minutes earlier than I normally would. I apologize for being unclear. Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 10, 2022 at 11:16 am Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Jun 20, 2022, 12:37 am
#86
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 200
Check through/Interline across 3 tickets: UA>NH>NH
Hi all,
It sounds like this should be doable as long as the UA agent knows how to do it, but just confirming:
I have 3 separate tickets outbound:
1. 8 AM IAH > 9:29 AM LAX (UA, 3hr 41m connection)
2. 1:10 PM LAX > 4:30 PM NRT (NH Award Ticket, 2hr 5m connection)
3. 6:35 PM NRT > 11:20 PM BKK (NH, Operated by Air Japan)
And 3 separate tickets inbound:
1. 12:20 AM BKK > 8:40 AM NRT (NH, 8hr 20m connection)
2. 5:00 PM NRT > 11:25 AM LAX (NH Award Ticket, 3hr 45m connection)
3. 3:10 PM LAX > 8:36 PM LAX (UA)
Questions:
1. Will the UA agent be able to check through our bags from IAH all the way to BKK?
2. Does getting to IAH/BKK 2 hours before departure time sound sufficient to give the agents time to figure out the interlining? UA asks for 45 minutes for domestic check-ins and ANA asks for 1 hour.
3. The shortest connection time is 2 hours and 5 minutes on the outbound leg between NRT>BKK. Is that enough time for the luggage to get checked through?
4. I'm most worried about the outbound UA flight from IAH>LAX. In case the 8 AM flight gets cancelled, there is another flight from departing IAH 10:07 AM and arriving in LAX at 11:38 AM, which would give a connection time of 1hr 40m. Is that enough time for the bags to make it through in the event the 8 AM flight is cancelled? Or should I change the outbound flight from departing at 8 AM to departing at 6 AM?
5. Is there any issue with the final leg of the outbound flight being operated by Air Japan? Would the UA agent in IAH be able to check through luggage from LAX>NRT operated by NH and then NRT>BKK operated by Air Japan?
Thanks in advance, I managed to snag roundtrip first class for the LAX>NRT flights so I'm excited to make this happen!
It sounds like this should be doable as long as the UA agent knows how to do it, but just confirming:
I have 3 separate tickets outbound:
1. 8 AM IAH > 9:29 AM LAX (UA, 3hr 41m connection)
2. 1:10 PM LAX > 4:30 PM NRT (NH Award Ticket, 2hr 5m connection)
3. 6:35 PM NRT > 11:20 PM BKK (NH, Operated by Air Japan)
And 3 separate tickets inbound:
1. 12:20 AM BKK > 8:40 AM NRT (NH, 8hr 20m connection)
2. 5:00 PM NRT > 11:25 AM LAX (NH Award Ticket, 3hr 45m connection)
3. 3:10 PM LAX > 8:36 PM LAX (UA)
Questions:
1. Will the UA agent be able to check through our bags from IAH all the way to BKK?
2. Does getting to IAH/BKK 2 hours before departure time sound sufficient to give the agents time to figure out the interlining? UA asks for 45 minutes for domestic check-ins and ANA asks for 1 hour.
3. The shortest connection time is 2 hours and 5 minutes on the outbound leg between NRT>BKK. Is that enough time for the luggage to get checked through?
4. I'm most worried about the outbound UA flight from IAH>LAX. In case the 8 AM flight gets cancelled, there is another flight from departing IAH 10:07 AM and arriving in LAX at 11:38 AM, which would give a connection time of 1hr 40m. Is that enough time for the bags to make it through in the event the 8 AM flight is cancelled? Or should I change the outbound flight from departing at 8 AM to departing at 6 AM?
5. Is there any issue with the final leg of the outbound flight being operated by Air Japan? Would the UA agent in IAH be able to check through luggage from LAX>NRT operated by NH and then NRT>BKK operated by Air Japan?
Thanks in advance, I managed to snag roundtrip first class for the LAX>NRT flights so I'm excited to make this happen!
Last edited by alany611; Jun 20, 2022 at 12:43 am
Jun 20, 2022, 12:39 am
#87
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 200
Would you please share the instructions for checking through, and would those instructions work for UA?
Jun 20, 2022, 12:52 am
#88
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Yes, 2h5m would be enough time to get through NRT. Yes, being in F should get you some additional ground service. Yes, you can probably count on the NH representative making a note that there's an F passenger that needs assistance if you're delayed out of LAX.
However, by booking separate tickets, you've assumed the risk. If there's a delay, and you miss your next flight, the late-arriving airline is not obligated to get you to your destination. They might anyway (especially if it's NH at NRT) but you have little recourse if they don't.
4. I'm most worried about the outbound UA flight from IAH>LAX. In case the 8 AM flight gets cancelled, there is another flight from departing IAH 10:07 AM and arriving in LAX at 11:38 AM, which would give a connection time of 1hr 40m. Is that enough time for the bags to make it through in the event the 8 AM flight is cancelled? Or should I change the outbound flight from departing at 8 AM to departing at 6 AM?
I don't see much of an advantage to the 6 AM flight vs. the 8 AM. If you're nervous, I'd take a flight the night before.
Jun 20, 2022, 5:46 am
#89
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Posts: 2
We just (June 2022) did a SFO-LHR-MUC, HAM-LHR-SFO, the LHR-MUC leg was on a LH ticket, the HAM-LHR on a EW ticket, SFO-LHR-SFO was on UA. UA was able to interline baggage through to Munich, on the way back though, EW through a [Moderator edit] Hissy-Fit: The flight HAM-LHR carried a UA flight number, although you could actually not buy it from UA, nor does LH service LHR from HAM, so there is no *A flight unless you count EW, wholly owned by LH as *A.
The agent from 3rd party ground company AAS Martin Belka, literally stated he could have interlined but did not feel like it. Not is this rude to the passengers, it is a [Moderator edit] move towards the ground crew in LHR that has to unload and recheck the luggage all the way in a time of tight personnel. My sense is there is deeper frustration and strike prone behavior at EW and low cost ground service company AAS both notorious for bad service. When challenged on the mess he creates he threatened to report me to the pilot (who does not give a fly for a third party provider complaining).
The agent from 3rd party ground company AAS Martin Belka, literally stated he could have interlined but did not feel like it. Not is this rude to the passengers, it is a [Moderator edit] move towards the ground crew in LHR that has to unload and recheck the luggage all the way in a time of tight personnel. My sense is there is deeper frustration and strike prone behavior at EW and low cost ground service company AAS both notorious for bad service. When challenged on the mess he creates he threatened to report me to the pilot (who does not give a fly for a third party provider complaining).
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Jun 20, 2022 at 12:58 pm Reason: To comply with FT Rules.
Jun 20, 2022, 7:24 am
#90
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Hi all,
It sounds like this should be doable as long as the UA agent knows how to do it, but just confirming:
I have 3 separate tickets outbound:
1. 8 AM IAH > 9:29 AM LAX (UA, 3hr 41m connection)
2. 1:10 PM LAX > 4:30 PM NRT (NH Award Ticket, 2hr 5m connection)
3. 6:35 PM NRT > 11:20 PM BKK (NH, Operated by Air Japan)
And 3 separate tickets inbound:
1. 12:20 AM BKK > 8:40 AM NRT (NH, 8hr 20m connection)
2. 5:00 PM NRT > 11:25 AM LAX (NH Award Ticket, 3hr 45m connection)
3. 3:10 PM LAX > 8:36 PM LAX (UA)
Questions:
1. Will the UA agent be able to check through our bags from IAH all the way to BKK?
2. Does getting to IAH/BKK 2 hours before departure time sound sufficient to give the agents time to figure out the interlining? UA asks for 45 minutes for domestic check-ins and ANA asks for 1 hour.
3. The shortest connection time is 2 hours and 5 minutes on the outbound leg between NRT>BKK. Is that enough time for the luggage to get checked through?
4. I'm most worried about the outbound UA flight from IAH>LAX. In case the 8 AM flight gets cancelled, there is another flight from departing IAH 10:07 AM and arriving in LAX at 11:38 AM, which would give a connection time of 1hr 40m. Is that enough time for the bags to make it through in the event the 8 AM flight is cancelled? Or should I change the outbound flight from departing at 8 AM to departing at 6 AM?
5. Is there any issue with the final leg of the outbound flight being operated by Air Japan? Would the UA agent in IAH be able to check through luggage from LAX>NRT operated by NH and then NRT>BKK operated by Air Japan?
Thanks in advance, I managed to snag roundtrip first class for the LAX>NRT flights so I'm excited to make this happen!
It sounds like this should be doable as long as the UA agent knows how to do it, but just confirming:
I have 3 separate tickets outbound:
1. 8 AM IAH > 9:29 AM LAX (UA, 3hr 41m connection)
2. 1:10 PM LAX > 4:30 PM NRT (NH Award Ticket, 2hr 5m connection)
3. 6:35 PM NRT > 11:20 PM BKK (NH, Operated by Air Japan)
And 3 separate tickets inbound:
1. 12:20 AM BKK > 8:40 AM NRT (NH, 8hr 20m connection)
2. 5:00 PM NRT > 11:25 AM LAX (NH Award Ticket, 3hr 45m connection)
3. 3:10 PM LAX > 8:36 PM LAX (UA)
Questions:
1. Will the UA agent be able to check through our bags from IAH all the way to BKK?
2. Does getting to IAH/BKK 2 hours before departure time sound sufficient to give the agents time to figure out the interlining? UA asks for 45 minutes for domestic check-ins and ANA asks for 1 hour.
3. The shortest connection time is 2 hours and 5 minutes on the outbound leg between NRT>BKK. Is that enough time for the luggage to get checked through?
4. I'm most worried about the outbound UA flight from IAH>LAX. In case the 8 AM flight gets cancelled, there is another flight from departing IAH 10:07 AM and arriving in LAX at 11:38 AM, which would give a connection time of 1hr 40m. Is that enough time for the bags to make it through in the event the 8 AM flight is cancelled? Or should I change the outbound flight from departing at 8 AM to departing at 6 AM?
5. Is there any issue with the final leg of the outbound flight being operated by Air Japan? Would the UA agent in IAH be able to check through luggage from LAX>NRT operated by NH and then NRT>BKK operated by Air Japan?
Thanks in advance, I managed to snag roundtrip first class for the LAX>NRT flights so I'm excited to make this happen!