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)
Mar 14, 2024, 9:05 am
#466
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
All of this is predicated on you holding regular economy tickets. If you have Basic Economy tickets, expect to be told 'no.'
Oh no! I wish you hadn't pre-purchased the bags. 
If you're able to get the bags checked through, they would almost certainly have been free.
UA supervisors seem to back up whatever nonsense their front-line agents come up with, so I'd go with, "really? I had this done on my last trip / I know someone who just had this done on their last trip." (depending upon how far you'd like to stretch the truth 
. "I think the agent had to call their 'help desk?'" I can assure you that it's possible, as I've done this sort of thing myself (albeit, I have UA status, which may have helped).
It does not matter if you check in or not, and the luggage probably doesn't matter either. No matter what you put at checkin, you should probably bring your bag tags to the EVA gate agent and ask them to make sure they're registered in their system.
If you're able to get the bags checked through, they would almost certainly have been free.. "I think the agent had to call their 'help desk?'" I can assure you that it's possible, as I've done this sort of thing myself (albeit, I have UA status, which may have helped).Additionally, just to be completely safe, does it have any impact on UA's ability to check the bags through to TPE if I do online check in on EVA's website? Or should I wait to do the online check in until after I checked in for our UA flight? If I do online check in for my EVA flight, I assume I just have to put 2 and 1 for our checked bags to match UA?
Mar 14, 2024, 9:25 am
#467
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 83
All of this is predicated on you holding regular economy tickets. If you have Basic Economy tickets, expect to be told 'no.'
Oh no! I wish you hadn't pre-purchased the bags. If you're able to get the bags checked through, they would almost certainly have been free.
Oh DANG! Good to know for future reference! I did use our Amex credits for this, so not a huge loss. But we are switching from UA back to AA for this year for Amex credit, so it's good to know the bags would have been free.
It does not matter if you check in or not, and the luggage probably doesn't matter either. No matter what you put at checkin, you should probably bring your bag tags to the EVA gate agent and ask them to make sure they're registered in their system.
Oh no! I wish you hadn't pre-purchased the bags.
If you're able to get the bags checked through, they would almost certainly have been free.Oh DANG! Good to know for future reference! I did use our Amex credits for this, so not a huge loss. But we are switching from UA back to AA for this year for Amex credit, so it's good to know the bags would have been free.
It does not matter if you check in or not, and the luggage probably doesn't matter either. No matter what you put at checkin, you should probably bring your bag tags to the EVA gate agent and ask them to make sure they're registered in their system.
Oh DANG! Good to know for future reference! I did use our Amex credits for this, so not a huge loss. But we are switching from UA back to AA for this year for Amex credit, so it's good to know the bags would have been free.
Yep! I had planned to bring our bag tags to the EVA gate agent when we picked up our paper boarding passes.
Thanks so much for your insights. I hope we get an agent willing to help. We have a long layover since EVA's flight doesn't depart until 1:00 am. It is always much more pleasant in the Polaris Lounge than sitting landside! That was no fun!
Last edited by DFW1003; Mar 14, 2024 at 10:44 am Reason: reordering info
Apr 1, 2024, 11:12 pm
#469
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 57
Will United allow you to link two roudtrip reservations to one Multi-City
Hi,
I am in the process of booking reservation with United for Summer Travel to India (Chennai - MAA). I just found that the fares to India through United is lot expensive compared to other airlines (See Flights to India from SFO are expensive - HELP) I am planning to book two trips (SFO --> SIN and SIN --> MAA ) separately as below:
1. Paid Roundtrip ticket SFO - SIN (say June 5 - June 30)
2. Award Travel on Singapore Airlnes SIN - MAA booked through United using United miles ( say June 6 to June 29)
These two reservations will have two different United Confirmation numbers. Once the ticket is booked, will United allow these to be converted two one Multi-City reservation so that the luggage is checked all the way in bothways,
Thanks
...mottai
I am in the process of booking reservation with United for Summer Travel to India (Chennai - MAA). I just found that the fares to India through United is lot expensive compared to other airlines (See Flights to India from SFO are expensive - HELP) I am planning to book two trips (SFO --> SIN and SIN --> MAA ) separately as below:
1. Paid Roundtrip ticket SFO - SIN (say June 5 - June 30)
2. Award Travel on Singapore Airlnes SIN - MAA booked through United using United miles ( say June 6 to June 29)
These two reservations will have two different United Confirmation numbers. Once the ticket is booked, will United allow these to be converted two one Multi-City reservation so that the luggage is checked all the way in bothways,
Thanks
...mottai
Apr 1, 2024, 11:27 pm
#471
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
On the way back, you'd be covered by SQ's policies, but AFAIK they're substantially similar.
I wouldn't expect any issues beyond an untrained agent.
Apr 1, 2024, 11:36 pm
#472
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,166
What jsloan said.
Arrive extra early at SFO. It may take multiple agents and time to get the bags checked through properly since it is a 2 itinerary thing.
And read the bag receipt before walking away, make sure it shows MAA as final destination.
Arrive extra early at SFO. It may take multiple agents and time to get the bags checked through properly since it is a 2 itinerary thing.
And read the bag receipt before walking away, make sure it shows MAA as final destination.
Apr 2, 2024, 9:07 am
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
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What jsloan said.
Arrive extra early at SFO. It may take multiple agents and time to get the bags checked through properly since it is a 2 itinerary thing.
And read the bag receipt before walking away, make sure it shows MAA as final destination.
Arrive extra early at SFO. It may take multiple agents and time to get the bags checked through properly since it is a 2 itinerary thing.
And read the bag receipt before walking away, make sure it shows MAA as final destination.
Apr 2, 2024, 8:36 pm
#474
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 23
Curious to know this too. If no one knows yet, I will report back next when. I am departing IAH on a UA ticket and then taking the SK IAD to CPH flight on a separate ticket.
Apr 7, 2024, 5:32 am
#475
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 23
I had a good UA agent at IAH. However, she couldn’t get it to work all the way. She was able to get a bag tag to get from IAH-IAD-CPH but could not get the CPH-ARN to work. I only have a 45 minute connection time in CPH so I. Wonder if that was the issue. Due to the short connection time in CPH, I ended up not interlining.
Apr 7, 2024, 8:37 am
#476
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I had a good UA agent at IAH. However, she couldn’t get it to work all the way. She was able to get a bag tag to get from IAH-IAD-CPH but could not get the CPH-ARN to work. I only have a 45 minute connection time in CPH so I. Wonder if that was the issue. Due to the short connection time in CPH, I ended up not interlining.
Apr 18, 2024, 12:30 am
#477
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles Area/South of France
Programs: UA Gold Million Miler , Hertz #1 Gold Five Star, Sixt Platinum and various hotel programs
Posts: 85
Sorry if this has been asked and answered, I have a UA award ticket LAX-DEN-MUC (UA to DEN and LH to MUC) and a separate LH revenue ticket MUC-MRS.
Should there be an issue with interlining bags through to MRS when I check in at LAX, given that one ticket is an award ticket on UA stock and the other is a cash ticket on LH stock?
Should there be an issue with interlining bags through to MRS when I check in at LAX, given that one ticket is an award ticket on UA stock and the other is a cash ticket on LH stock?
Last edited by dpdapper; Apr 18, 2024 at 8:45 am
Apr 18, 2024, 2:23 am
#478
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
Sorry if this has been asked and answered, I have a UA award ticket LAX-DEN-MUC (UA to DEN and LH to MUC) and a separate LH revenue ticket MUC-MRS.
Should there be an issue with interlining bags through to MRS when I check in at LAX, given that one ticket is non-revenue on UA stock and the other is a revenue ticket on LH stock?
Should there be an issue with interlining bags through to MRS when I check in at LAX, given that one ticket is non-revenue on UA stock and the other is a revenue ticket on LH stock?
That shouldn't present any extra complications on its own, beyond the general, occasional inability to add additional segments from a second PNR. However, you get a second bite at the apple -- if the LAX agents can't do it, when you reach the LH gate at DEN, explain the situation and ask if they can reroute your bag.