May 7, 2022, 10:10 pm
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
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)
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).
* 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)
UA Bag Interlining If Separate Tix w/ *A Partners (YES) & Non-Partners (NO) {Archive}
Jun 17, 2018, 7:10 pm
#571
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,419
Yes. It helps to have the second ticket printed out so they agent at DFW can reference what they need.
Jun 17, 2018, 7:16 pm
#572
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Yes, it's policy for UA to interline to *A on separate tickets
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 17, 2018 at 8:36 pm Reason: cleanup after merge; thanks for the link
Jun 17, 2018, 8:28 pm
#573
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Never had any problem interlining bags from UA to any of the Star Alliance carriers including SQ.
I have only done this at UA hub airports.
I have only done this at UA hub airports.
Jun 26, 2018, 1:04 pm
#574
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: united
Posts: 75
My husband and I are flying JTR (Santorini) - ATH - FRA on Olympic and Aegean respectively and then FRA - IAH UA Polaris. The JTR - ATH - FRA segment was booked on UA.com but on a separate itinerary from the FRA - IAH segment. Can our bags be checked through from JTR - IAH or will we have to grab our bag and recheck in FRA? If we have to re-check, do we have to go landside or is there a way to transfer after customs?
Jun 26, 2018, 1:12 pm
#575
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Jun 26, 2018, 2:08 pm
#576
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: united
Posts: 75
Do you know if there is any specific interline policy that would apply to a subsidiary of a *A partner? Since Olympic is a subsidiary of Aegean, I'm wondering if there's anything I can reference at check-in to help my cause.
Jun 26, 2018, 2:12 pm
#577
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Jun 29, 2018, 10:34 am
#578
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
My Fiance and I will be traveling to Phuket for our Honeymoon in October.
We are currently booked business from ORD-PEK-BKK. ORD-PEK is UA and PEK-BKK is on Hainan - These are all on the same ticket. I am looking to pick up a ticket from BKK-HKT round trip on Thai Airways which I understand is a *A member. Will UA at check-in be able to interline our bags to HKT for the outbound and ORD on the inbound? We've got a 5 hour stop over in PEK and would have a 5-6 hour stop over in BKK.
We are currently booked business from ORD-PEK-BKK. ORD-PEK is UA and PEK-BKK is on Hainan - These are all on the same ticket. I am looking to pick up a ticket from BKK-HKT round trip on Thai Airways which I understand is a *A member. Will UA at check-in be able to interline our bags to HKT for the outbound and ORD on the inbound? We've got a 5 hour stop over in PEK and would have a 5-6 hour stop over in BKK.
Last edited by HoosierIU; Jun 29, 2018 at 11:28 am
Jun 29, 2018, 12:34 pm
#579
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
My Fiance and I will be traveling to Phuket for our Honeymoon in October.
We are currently booked business from ORD-PEK-BKK. ORD-PEK is UA and PEK-BKK is on Hainan - These are all on the same ticket. I am looking to pick up a ticket from BKK-HKT round trip on Thai Airways which I understand is a *A member. Will UA at check-in be able to interline our bags to HKT for the outbound and ORD on the inbound? We've got a 5 hour stop over in PEK and would have a 5-6 hour stop over in BKK.
We are currently booked business from ORD-PEK-BKK. ORD-PEK is UA and PEK-BKK is on Hainan - These are all on the same ticket. I am looking to pick up a ticket from BKK-HKT round trip on Thai Airways which I understand is a *A member. Will UA at check-in be able to interline our bags to HKT for the outbound and ORD on the inbound? We've got a 5 hour stop over in PEK and would have a 5-6 hour stop over in BKK.
On the outbound, you can probably argue that this is within policy, but I wouldn't be surprised by a blank stare or two due to the Hainan segment.
Jun 29, 2018, 12:45 pm
#580
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
UA can't do anything with your luggage on the inbound. The question there is whether or not Thai will interline to Hainan. They do have a baggage agreement in place, so it's at least feasible.
On the outbound, you can probably argue that this is within policy, but I wouldn't be surprised by a blank stare or two due to the Hainan segment.
On the outbound, you can probably argue that this is within policy, but I wouldn't be surprised by a blank stare or two due to the Hainan segment.
Jun 29, 2018, 12:57 pm
#581
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 609
Transfer at ORD for two separate UA tickets -- checked luggage
I have a friend who intends to travel AAA-ORD (domestic) then ORD-CCC (international) on two separate revenue bookings, both flights are operated by UA, transfer time at ORD is less than 3-4 hours. The cost difference of having the two legs on same PNR vs. separate is significant for her, thus the question. If she has to check a bag at origin AAA, what is the odds of UA checking her bag all the way thru to destination (CCC), without having to claim and recheck at ORD?
To complicate matters further, what if the first leg is booked with UA and second with AA, would UA being willing to interline a checked bag with AA on separate tickets? (for the second leg, AA has a flight departs 30 minutes after UA flight, although I am uncertain about what the actual gain would be after accounting for distance between UA/AA gates).
Thanks for any input and all help.
To complicate matters further, what if the first leg is booked with UA and second with AA, would UA being willing to interline a checked bag with AA on separate tickets? (for the second leg, AA has a flight departs 30 minutes after UA flight, although I am uncertain about what the actual gain would be after accounting for distance between UA/AA gates).
Thanks for any input and all help.
Jun 29, 2018, 1:08 pm
#582
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I can't speak to interlining with AA.
If both revenue tickets are with UA - they "should" be able to check it to the final destination, I often do that. I say "should" - because some agents don't know how to do it and it can go relatively painless or very time consuming/painful - it gets further complicated if the second ticket flight is booked full as it my experience it has complicated things with how they have to offload/onload you to check the bag.
If both revenue tickets are with UA - they "should" be able to check it to the final destination, I often do that. I say "should" - because some agents don't know how to do it and it can go relatively painless or very time consuming/painful - it gets further complicated if the second ticket flight is booked full as it my experience it has complicated things with how they have to offload/onload you to check the bag.
Jun 29, 2018, 1:10 pm
#583
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 592
The answer to my question, based on actual experience, is, "no, you cannot check through to your final destination on this itinerary."
Question: I am flying EWR-GVA-ATH (J on a single UAL ticket, GVA-ATH on a codeshare operated by Swiss). I am connecting in ATH to a domestic Aegean flight (in Y) on a separate ticket. Connection time is plenty long. I saw on this page: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...d-baggage.aspx that one exception to the interline policy is "You'll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:...Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country." Anyone know if this is enforced? Can I still through check, but just need to claim, drag the bag through customs and drop off on the other side (like in the US)?
Thanks,
J S
Thanks,
J S
Jun 29, 2018, 1:12 pm
#584
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I can't speak to interlining with AA.
If both revenue tickets are with UA - they "should" be able to check it to the final destination, I often do that. I say "should" - because some agents don't know how to do it and it can go relatively painless or very time consuming/painful - it gets further complicated if the second ticket flight is booked full as it my experience it has complicated things with how they have to offload/onload you to check the bag.
If both revenue tickets are with UA - they "should" be able to check it to the final destination, I often do that. I say "should" - because some agents don't know how to do it and it can go relatively painless or very time consuming/painful - it gets further complicated if the second ticket flight is booked full as it my experience it has complicated things with how they have to offload/onload you to check the bag.
UA-UA interline is allowable, but a chore for exactly the reasons that you state. They actually create a phantom second booking for the passenger on the target flight, and if the flight is full, that can mean getting the help desk involved to push it through. Allow an extra 30 minutes for check-in to be on the safe side.
Jun 29, 2018, 1:20 pm
#585
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AS MVP, HH Gold, MR Gold
Posts: 1,848
UA policy is to interline with partners (and themselves). UA also has a reputation of being forgiving of missing a flight because they delivered you late; I would not expect AA to be forgiving if a UA flight on a separate ticket was late. I think the most likely outcome (by far) is that this works out fine with 3-4 hours (as long as the inbound isn't scheduled during Thunderstorm Hours at ORD). If there were a big price difference, and I could take a day delay if the inbound was late, I could see doing this UA to UA. I would not involve AA.