A Tale of Baggage
 

Hello - I'm a newb over at the United forums. So please don't flame me.

I'm flying (today) a SAS reward ticket (~ 40k points and $8.80) from BOS-ORD-IAD-LFW-ADD-BJM. I'm currently in the AF lounge at IAD.

I have (had in a sense) SAS top-tier status, but since SAS inconveniently left between me booking this and flying, I've had to learn how the other half travel.

I had the strangest check-in & check-in experience today.

I rocked up to BOS and tried the self-bag drop.

I couldn't check in advance since the itinerary required document check. At the self-service machine in BOS and after the document check, the system only wanted to deliver my bags to ADD. I spoke to the nearby agent who supervises the self-bag drop. Agreed that was strange and asked me to go to additional assistance.

At additional assistance, I have to say, they were incredibly rude and actively unhelpful - both the supervisor and the initial contact. For a less seasoned traveller, it could've been catastrophic. They told me my flights had been refunded (untrue). After being a bit stern and giving the confirmations - they were insistent that IAD-LFW was somehow incorrectly added to the ticket (LFW is a technical stop) and - according to them - I had to phone Ethiopian to fix this problem and they couldn't even check me in. Nonsense I thought.

I returned to the machine, and thought it would be better to at least check in to ADD. Another agent turned up, this time very helpful, giving an explanation that since the ADD is an overnight stop (~11 hours) I'd have to pick up my bags. Fine I thought - makes sense - okay not an issue. Boarding passes to ADD and bags away to ADD.

Now, being in group 4 - and on a very old plane - meant that when it was my turn to board, the stowage was full. I had to check in my cabin bag. Eurgh I thought.

BUT NOW THEY CHECKED IN MY CABIN BAG ALL THE WAY TO BJM. THE MADNESS!!!

I asked if I could get it either in IAD (5 hour layover) or in ADD - but they said that wasn't an option.

So now I need to collect my hold luggage at ADD, but my cabin bag will make it to BJM.

What makes it the most annoying - is that it was the same agent doing the boarding (and who checked my cabin luggage to BJM) who I initially asked for help in getting my cabin luggage to BJM instead of ADD. She either didn't recognise me or didn't want to appreciate the irony.

(rant over).

P.S - boarding passes for ADD-BJM could, after United check-in, be retrieved from the Ethiopian Airlines app - although strangely the seat numbers were mixed up between the flights - correct but on the wrong flight. Usefully, they also re-printed them at IAD (correct seats). BTW - they give free hotel vouchers for transit at ADD.

P.P.S - The United cabin crew on the flight filled the beverage glass TO THE BRIM with ice. Like wayyyyy too much ice.

P.P.P.S - Some people doing a similar itinerary had the same issue - but left their passports (and $$$) in their checked in cabin bag. Will report back if they manage to get their passport out in IAD from their checked bag.

That’s a lot of flying for 40k miles.

that said, I don’t think I would ever consider even attempting to check my bags through all those connections. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I also likely would’ve found a way to start the trip in DC rather than going from Boston to O’Hare and back to Dulles. There’s just too many mishaps that can happen.

I admire you sense of adventure with such an itin (and with 4 travelers). I had to look up BJM (It is Burundi's only international airport and the only one with a paved runway.)

There is a good chance with 5 hour connection you can retrieve your carry-on at IAD (but on onward flight on ET will complicate that - you will need to ask ET, not UA))
What was your Boarding Group number?
Not checking-thru bags if overnight / >12 hours is standard UA policy (with a few exceptions)

Passports in checked bags. Never. No. Nie. Nunca.

Niet. Nein. Non. Oxi. Não.

Just, "no."

Update - poor souls who checked in their passports were not on the flight.

further, I’ve arrived at ADD. No bags have turned up. United app (very helpfully) states that both were offloaded from my ET flight.

Staff here are helpful. They suspect that both bags are going to BJM - even though one isn’t tagged to the final destination.

I’ve asked if I could have both bags out. Supervisor enroute. We all agree that the check-in bag should have a tag to BJM.

Ethiopia free hotel and transit visa was pretty effortless. Absolutely nothing written in the passport - hopefully I’m not asked to prove entry!