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)
Dec 4, 2017, 10:48 am
#317
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PBI
Programs: DL Plat, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 427
Whether on the same PNR or not, are you on the same ticket?
1. If the 12 hours is overnight, your bag will only be checked to IAD and you must reclaim it.
2. If you are on two tickets, even if they are booked into the same PNR, it is your option.
3. If one ticket and the 12 hours is not overnight, UA will not short-check, but it is possible that you may find an agent willing to do this. While the underlying policy reason may have to do with hidden city ticketing fraud, the policy is the policy and agents don't make policy, they just enforce it.
To be frank, if your sole reason is to change into more comfortable clothes, given UA's generous carry-on allowance, I would suggest tossing the change of clothes into your carryon and not have to deal with the checked luggage at IAD.
1. If the 12 hours is overnight, your bag will only be checked to IAD and you must reclaim it.
2. If you are on two tickets, even if they are booked into the same PNR, it is your option.
3. If one ticket and the 12 hours is not overnight, UA will not short-check, but it is possible that you may find an agent willing to do this. While the underlying policy reason may have to do with hidden city ticketing fraud, the policy is the policy and agents don't make policy, they just enforce it.
To be frank, if your sole reason is to change into more comfortable clothes, given UA's generous carry-on allowance, I would suggest tossing the change of clothes into your carryon and not have to deal with the checked luggage at IAD.
Thank you again for the insight.
CK
Dec 29, 2017, 1:53 am
#318
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EB*D, M&M, IHG, Hilton Hhonors
Posts: 138
Hej,
I'm booked on LAS-SFO-FRA-GOT in January (Lufthansa ticket) and will have to drop the last leg (as my plans have changed). Lufthansa usually has no problem with this, but check-in in Las Vegas will be with United (LAS-SFO-FRA is on United) and I'm wondering whether I will encounter any problems if I ask them to check the bags only to Frankfurt. Connection time in Frankfurt is 90 minutes. The ticket is refundable/changeable (with penalty) and my backup plan would be to change to an overnight.
Thanks
Andreas
I'm booked on LAS-SFO-FRA-GOT in January (Lufthansa ticket) and will have to drop the last leg (as my plans have changed). Lufthansa usually has no problem with this, but check-in in Las Vegas will be with United (LAS-SFO-FRA is on United) and I'm wondering whether I will encounter any problems if I ask them to check the bags only to Frankfurt. Connection time in Frankfurt is 90 minutes. The ticket is refundable/changeable (with penalty) and my backup plan would be to change to an overnight.
Thanks
Andreas
Dec 29, 2017, 2:11 am
#319
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
just came across this thread and i'm really surprised. i short check all the time.
eg
miaiah(6hrs)yvr
iahewr(22hrs)lhr
fraiah(1.5hrs)yvr, do bear in mind that a) at iah int<>int do not touch their bags and b) fra agents are ua agents
every time:
"hey can you just short check me? (i've been gold each of the three times i can remember) i got homies in ___ and i'm going to sdc or at least try to. less drama to just have my bags"
"ya of course. np. here your tix, remember to pickup at ___" (ie: i get zero resistance)
the hidden city ticketing defense is so stupid: bag searches take forever, you're just wasting the time of 50+ people, the airline and yourself, only to wait a few mins for your bag to get thrown in (or you can be a jerk and walk away then go to the bag office later on to get your bag unlocked). much easier to harm reduce and just do it. but that just me.
anyways, again, surprised short checking is an issue. but this is ua.
eg
miaiah(6hrs)yvr
iahewr(22hrs)lhr
fraiah(1.5hrs)yvr, do bear in mind that a) at iah int<>int do not touch their bags and b) fra agents are ua agents
every time:
"hey can you just short check me? (i've been gold each of the three times i can remember) i got homies in ___ and i'm going to sdc or at least try to. less drama to just have my bags"
"ya of course. np. here your tix, remember to pickup at ___" (ie: i get zero resistance)
the hidden city ticketing defense is so stupid: bag searches take forever, you're just wasting the time of 50+ people, the airline and yourself, only to wait a few mins for your bag to get thrown in (or you can be a jerk and walk away then go to the bag office later on to get your bag unlocked). much easier to harm reduce and just do it. but that just me.
anyways, again, surprised short checking is an issue. but this is ua.
Jan 22, 2018, 4:07 am
#320
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: CPH
Programs: EBG/*G
Posts: 5
I browsed through this thread, but I'm still unsure about my upcoming trip to Mexico. I'm considering travelling LAX-CUN, then return CUN-SFO-LAX with a 7h transfer in in SFO (same price as 1h transfer, i.e. not stopover, but I need to do some shopping in SF, hence the long transfer). I'm now considering skipping the last leg (SFO-LAX), but I guess I won't be able to short-check my bag CUN-SFO (However, based on 299 it might be possible as I'm StarA Gold...). In case no short-check, I assume that I will need to collect my bag before customs in SFO - so for plan B, wouldn't I be able to get my bag in SFO before customs and then just leave and skip my last segment?
May 5, 2018, 3:59 pm
#323
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
As is noted repeatedly in this thread, UA does not short-check bags. Presuming that you are booked STL-VCE with no overnights and connections, not stopovers, as you note, UA's policy is that you will check your bags at STL and collect them at VCE.
Can you short-check to MUC? Maybe. It will depend on the check-in agent and there is nothing you can do to plan this.
Can you short-check to MUC? Maybe. It will depend on the check-in agent and there is nothing you can do to plan this.
May 6, 2018, 7:59 am
#324
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,419
u can expect whatever return or onward flights you booked on the same ticket to be canceled.
Jul 9, 2018, 12:07 pm
#325
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 22
Can UA just checked in baggage for one segment, not whole trip?
Hello, I have a question: My flight is UA: IAH-LHR, then Agenair: LHR-ATH. Can I just check in baggage for first segment, and claim my checked in baggage and give to my friend at London, and I continue travel to ATH without checked in baggage?
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!
Jul 9, 2018, 12:17 pm
#326
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Aegean is an *A partner and has an interlining agreement, so checking to destination would be the normal process.
You can try, folks have had accommodating agents do it but risk being not able to do this.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 9, 2018 at 12:25 pm Reason: typo
Jul 19, 2018, 4:49 pm
#328
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 10
Does UA allow short checked some baggage?
Hi, I live in LA and got my parents business ticket with ANA point from DFW-LAX-TPE, they each have 2 checked baggage
I'm wondering if UA let them short check 1 baggage to just to LAX instead of final destination TPE so they can bring me alot of stuff to LA
Anyone experience this before? Thank you.
I'm wondering if UA let them short check 1 baggage to just to LAX instead of final destination TPE so they can bring me alot of stuff to LA
Anyone experience this before? Thank you.
Jul 19, 2018, 4:53 pm
#329
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Hi, I live in LA and got my parents business ticket with ANA point from DFW-LAX-TPE, they each have 2 checked baggage
I'm wondering if UA let them short check 1 baggage to just to LAX instead of final destination TPE so they can bring me alot of stuff to LA
Anyone experience this before? Thank you.
I'm wondering if UA let them short check 1 baggage to just to LAX instead of final destination TPE so they can bring me alot of stuff to LA
Anyone experience this before? Thank you.
The primary reason for this is because they don’t want people to engage in HCT. Obviously, it’s pretty much never going to be cheaper to book a TPAC and just fly the domestic portion. But I doubt that will change things. One can always ask, I suppose, but be prepared for the answer to be no.
Jul 19, 2018, 5:13 pm
#330
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 10
In general, UA won’t short-check bags. Except in cases of long/overnight layover.
The primary reason for this is because they don’t want people to engage in HCT. Obviously, it’s pretty much never going to be cheaper to book a TPAC and just fly the domestic portion. But I doubt that will change things. One can always ask, I suppose, but be prepared for the answer to be no.
Thank you, looks like it really depends, I really don't want my parent to got a full luggage to airport and then they can't short check
