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UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix w/ *A Partners (YES) & Non-Partners (NO) {Archive}

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Old May 7, 2022, 10:10 pm
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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Thia is a archive thread, the active tread is UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix with *A Partners (YES) & Non *A Partners (NO)


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

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).
UA.com link
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.
Some conditions when UA may not interlining with another carrier on a separate ticket
  • 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

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)
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UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix w/ *A Partners (YES) & Non-Partners (NO) {Archive}

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Old Mar 8, 2018, 9:21 am
  #451  
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Originally Posted by Kacee
Have you actually done it at PEK? I recall reports of issues if you're not flying CA.
? OP is transiting PEK; any decision about whether or not luggage will be tagged through would be at the discretion of the UA agents in ORD. As far as I know, it's no more difficult to interline bags through PEK than through any other airport. I'd be surprised if UA agents were expected to know that at certain airports, UA would only interline to certain carriers.

And, actually, reading through the OP again, I'm not sure if we know whether the PEK-BKK flight is CA is TG.

I have transited there, with checked luggage on a single ticket with a four-hour connection, and it was a slog. I did note that agents would periodically come through the long re-screening line looking for passengers who were booked onto the next flight in order to escort them to the front. I don't recall whether or not any of those agents were from TG. There were definitely CA agents.
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Old Mar 8, 2018, 9:46 am
  #452  
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Originally Posted by jsloan
? OP is transiting PEK; any decision about whether or not luggage will be tagged through would be at the discretion of the UA agents in ORD. As far as I know, it's no more difficult to interline bags through PEK than through any other airport. I'd be surprised if UA agents were expected to know that at certain airports, UA would only interline to certain carriers.
I'm not talking about whether the agent will tag it through, I'm referring to being forced to retrieve your bag and re-check it at PEK if you're not flying CA. Not sure if that's still an issue, as I avoid all China connections.
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Old Mar 8, 2018, 9:55 am
  #453  
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Originally Posted by Kacee
I'm not talking about whether the agent will tag it through, I'm referring to being forced to retrieve your bag and re-check it at PEK if you're not flying CA. Not sure if that's still an issue, as I avoid all China connections.
Ah, got it. Thanks; that makes much more sense.

You do not need to re-claim at PEK if your bag has been checked through to an international destination: International to International-GUIDES-BCIA .
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Old Mar 8, 2018, 11:45 am
  #454  
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Originally Posted by laxmillenial
There are specific rules of why UA agents would not through check bags on specific tickets, even within *A

1. Tickets not meeting the MCT. I have been told that I must manually re-check the bag since I am under the allowed MCT.
2. You're not finding the right agent or asking the right questions.
3. Overnights (as others have stated in this thread)

Every other time, without exception, I have gotten myself or a friends (no status) bags through checked. I've never gotten a "no this is not allowed".
I don't self-connect, so I'm never asking these questions.
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Old Mar 11, 2018, 9:29 am
  #455  
 
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To clarify, I was going UA to TG

And I agree, I've been through that airport several times and it is always a bit stressful with the pace.

Assuming UA will check the bags through (and it looks like they would). What would be the min time you guys would recommend for a connection in T3 there?
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Old Mar 11, 2018, 11:20 am
  #456  
 
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Just discovered that UA doesn't interline. Connecting from UA to JL in ORD. Normally I don't check bags so wasn't aware of the issue. Traveling with my wife who does check bags. Ended up hauling bags through ORD. I gave up on UA internationally awhile ago. After this last trip, I think I'll probably be switching domestic carriers as well.
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Old Mar 11, 2018, 11:23 am
  #457  
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Originally Posted by 5khours
Just discovered that UA doesn't interline.
It always pays to research before booking. An informed consumer is a happy consumer.
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Old Mar 11, 2018, 11:28 am
  #458  
 
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Originally Posted by mahasamatman
It always pays to research before booking. An informed consumer is a happy consumer.
Agree, but when you're booking a couple of hundred tickets a year, sometimes there's no time for research.
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Old Mar 11, 2018, 11:29 am
  #459  
 
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They do internline still, btw. Even on separate tickets. Just not necessarily to non *A partners.
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Old Mar 11, 2018, 12:06 pm
  #460  
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Originally Posted by 5khours
Just discovered that UA doesn't interline. Connecting from UA to JL in ORD. Normally I don't check bags so wasn't aware of the issue. Traveling with my wife who does check bags. Ended up hauling bags through ORD. I gave up on UA internationally awhile ago. After this last trip, I think I'll probably be switching domestic carriers as well.
Good luck finding a domestic carrier that will interline to a non-alliance partner on separate tickets. On a single ticket, there wouldn't have been any problem. To ANA, this wouldn't have been a problem either.

American: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...es-2016-a.html
Delta: Delta Confirms Through-Check Baggage Policy (11 January 2016)
Alaska: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...e-tickets.html

And, of course, Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, Allegiant, etc., won't interline to anybody.
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Old Mar 19, 2018, 7:10 am
  #461  
 
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Originally Posted by laxmillenial
There are specific rules of why UA agents would not through check bags on specific tickets, even within *A

3. Overnights (as others have stated in this thread)

Every other time, without exception, I have gotten myself or a friends (no status) bags through checked. I've never gotten a "no this is not allowed".
Why would overnight matter? Are you referring to USA to Europe overnight flights? Just trying to come up with a strategy in case I am rejected....
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Old Mar 19, 2018, 7:21 am
  #462  
 
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Originally Posted by serialportme
Why would overnight matter? Are you referring to USA to Europe overnight flights? Just trying to come up with a strategy in case I am rejected....
See post 446.

I'm not talking about a single flight that's overnight, but rather a flight followed by a prolonger overnight (think 12+hours), then another flight on the same PNR.
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Old Mar 19, 2018, 7:25 am
  #463  
 
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Originally Posted by laxmillenial
See post 446.

I'm not talking about a single flight that's overnight, but rather a flight followed by a prolonger overnight (think 12+hours), then another flight on the same PNR.
LOL - thanks, I see that now....THANKS!
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Old Mar 19, 2018, 1:59 pm
  #464  
 
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Checked bag - two flights same day

I have a flight tomorrow from ORD to BOS and will be checking a bag.

I return to ORD on Thursday and will be checking a bag in the return as well. Today I booked another flight on Thursday from ORD to BUF. Basically I will fly from BOS to ORD and then have a couple hour layover and then fly ORD TO BUF.

Is there a way to check my bag in BOS and have it go to BUF without having to claim it in ORD and go through check in/security again?
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Old Mar 19, 2018, 2:09 pm
  #465  
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Originally Posted by HawkeyeFlyer
... Is there a way to check my bag in BOS and have it go to BUF without having to claim it in ORD and go through check in/security again?
Assuming all UA flights, yes. Standard UA policy to do this (see the wiki for the quote)
Just allow a little extra time at bag check-in BOS. Agents unfamiliar with the process may need help from another agent or their HelpDesk.
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