Nov 25, 2016, 11:53 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
"Short Checking" -- the practice of checking bags to a location short of your travel destination is no longer permitted by UA (and many airlines). It is believed one reason for this is to discourage "Hidden City Ticketing."
There are a couple of exceptions / loopholes
-- Over nights in route stays -- you are overnight at a connecting city.
Long layover/connection check through baggage question (consolidated) (>12 hours)
UA policy on connecting bags requiring recheck
-- Port of entry for USA arrivals
At most USA port of entries, you will have clear customs and you then can exit with your baggage (or recheck).
This does not work at IAD mid-field arrivals since must clear TSA to exit.
Also PreClearance airports (where you clear immigration and customs at the departure international city -- such as most Canada-USA flights and DUB and some Caribbean)
There are a couple of exceptions / loopholes
-- Over nights in route stays -- you are overnight at a connecting city.
Long layover/connection check through baggage question (consolidated) (>12 hours)
UA policy on connecting bags requiring recheck
-- Port of entry for USA arrivals
At most USA port of entries, you will have clear customs and you then can exit with your baggage (or recheck).
This does not work at IAD mid-field arrivals since must clear TSA to exit.
Also PreClearance airports (where you clear immigration and customs at the departure international city -- such as most Canada-USA flights and DUB and some Caribbean)
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 will not Short Check bags (but some loopholes)
Jun 18, 2023, 8:13 am
#406
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 630
I would imagine so, but my ultimate goal is to cancel the legs only after I made to my LCY flight. I’m more concerned about agent error accidentally checking it to JMK but I guess I can check the luggage receipt 🧾 at check in to validate.
Jun 18, 2023, 8:58 am
#407
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
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12 hours should work, but I assume it is not over-night? I believe they can check it through and would ... will be good to have a story with the short-check ... like visiting friends in London during the layover and having gifts in the bag.
Jun 18, 2023, 10:30 am
#408
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 141
I'd be careful here: This could be construed as hidden city ticketing and United might take offense to it. They can potentially revoke your status and cancel your miles. If you have a return, they definitely will cancel that.
Jun 18, 2023, 10:55 am
#409
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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True, there better not be a return flight ... but UA won't go after miles/status for dropping a segment on an award ticket
Jun 18, 2023, 11:13 am
#410
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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UA will allow short checking if over 12 hours, may not if under 12 hours.
On an one off case, not a chance.
A history of doing this, yes possible.
A history of doing this, yes possible.
Jun 18, 2023, 11:53 am
#412
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Jun 18, 2023, 6:43 pm
#414
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Lol show me one instance where United took away someones status for missing a partner award segment..
Jun 18, 2023, 7:45 pm
#415
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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In the post-chart, fully dynamic award world, UA has clearly started pricing awards the same way that they price cash tickets, meaning they may be watching out for HCT whereas it didn’t matter before.
Jun 19, 2023, 12:35 am
#416
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
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I think the system automatically short checks at >12 hour connection, but I’m not sure.
I had an overnight connection at EWR - this was SFO-EWR-YYZ, in Feb. I think scheduled arrival was ~10:45pm and departure was next morning at like 7:30. I thought since it was overnight, system would automatically short check, but kiosk tagged all the way through. Had to go to an agent to have them re-tag. Agent did it no problem, but used as an opportunity to train a new agent on this - beleive I heard her say that since the connection was overnight, they should do it, but because it was <12 hours, even with the overnight it wasn’t done by default.
I had an overnight connection at EWR - this was SFO-EWR-YYZ, in Feb. I think scheduled arrival was ~10:45pm and departure was next morning at like 7:30. I thought since it was overnight, system would automatically short check, but kiosk tagged all the way through. Had to go to an agent to have them re-tag. Agent did it no problem, but used as an opportunity to train a new agent on this - beleive I heard her say that since the connection was overnight, they should do it, but because it was <12 hours, even with the overnight it wasn’t done by default.
Jun 26, 2023, 10:59 am
#417
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Jul 28, 2023, 12:23 am
#418
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Miles and Smiles Elite, EY Silver, VS Silver
Posts: 155
Flying on a multi city ticket EWR - BRU - LIS - EWR and originally was landing 7/28 and departing BRU for LIS on 7/29. I moved my outbound to 7/28 so it is now showing EWR - BRU - LIS together with a 9 hour layover. Is there any way that they'd be able to only tag my bag to Brussels so I can pick it up to take some things out and give it to a family member in Brussels (it doesn't fit in my carry on). Alternatively, is there anyway to "split" the PNR into EWR - BRU on one and BRU - LIS - EWR on another?
Jul 28, 2023, 12:45 am
#419
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Flying on a multi city ticket EWR - BRU - LIS - EWR and originally was landing 7/28 and departing BRU for LIS on 7/29. I moved my outbound to 7/28 so it is now showing EWR - BRU - LIS together with a 9 hour layover. Is there any way that they'd be able to only tag my bag to Brussels so I can pick it up to take some things out and give it to a family member in Brussels (it doesn't fit in my carry on). ...
Customs and access to baggage is done at destination in EU
To break into two PNR, will cause the ticket to be repriced
Jul 28, 2023, 6:10 am
#420
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,130
It’s possible the PNR was priced as a stopover at BRU and not a connection since the onward flight was maybe more than a day later. Might be worth the OP looking into that for the impact on pricing.