my "case":

*Friday, late afternoon: flying UA (Express) Aspen-Denver
*Saturday, midday-morning: UA Denver - IAD - Brusselles (intern. first class, this is the 2nd flight DEN-IAD of that day from Den to IAD, and the only on to Brusselles).
*Sunday-morning: Brusselles - Zurich with Swissair (second flight to Zurich after our UA arrival in Brusseles).


At Check-in in Aspen we try to check our luggage (4 pieces incl. skis) through to Zurich (and manage our one night stay at Denver with handluggage only).

First denial of UA at check-in: Sorry, we can't accept overnight storage at Denver for security-reason.

My argument: UA considers this a through flight (because the stop at DEN is less then 24 hours), please ask your supervisor or inquire with UA by the phone.

The supervisor: "after my knowledge it is now - but I will inquire with UA".

The supervisor (after her phonecall, with me listening): Sorry, we could, for security reason, only accept if your on-going-flight to Washington (Dulles) would be the very next flight after your arrival, which isn't the case, as on Saturday morning there is already a first flight leaving DEN to IAD at 8AM.

My (laughing, friendly) arguments, that if she looks at the next flight-segment (after IAD) to Brussels, that that would indeed be the very next possible flight there (as there is only one flight per day) was in vein.

One of her colleagues then took me a side and told me his solution to my problem: "Sir, just don't get your luggage in DEN, then show up a little early next morning at the "lost and found", and wave your bagagge receipts high in the air, pretending not being able to speak any english" (he must have read one of my guerilla-tips earlier here on the buzz-site ...).

I think UA is giving a hard time to the WRONG person!

Rudi, I think I agree with the airline on that one. Certainly there is an early AM Aspen/Den flight that you could get if you wanted the luggage checked through. Also, I don't have the faith you do about luggage security (remember there is only one Europe flight out of DEN on BA), so DEN is un-accustomed to baggage matching.

The "problem" had little/nothing to do with International flights.

UA was a MAJOR co-planner of that NEW airport (at least there should be sufficient 24hrs storage possibility for oversized luggage as skis - Colorado wants to increase the ski-touristic-business).

The final "solution" to my problem, as described, gave UA more logistic problems and did cost them more man-power-minutes than normal overnight storage.

In Europe competition achieved that all major airlines (UA included) offer "check-in the night before your flight" as a convenience/service.

And in add, when our flight first departed from the gate, it had to return again "because some cargo moved ..." as the pilot said - I am pretty sure they stored that cargo overnight - and I still believe that cargo (and storage of cargo) is the bigger security issue than passenger-accompanying luggage!

let me please add - yes, it is quite obvious that DEN has luggage/logistic problems - still now.

on our early morning flight (leaving SFO at 6AM) - DEN to Aspen - conection time at DEN was 40 minutes (we arrived on time from SFO).

We arrived at Aspen at 11 AM - and our skis arrived at our hotel at 6PM! The skis and all our luggage didn't make the connection. UA offered ski-equipment- and ski-clothes-rental-vouchers for that day and explained.

So I conclude that DEN can't handle luggage staying at the airport more than 4 hours - nor can they forward luggage if the connection-time is 40 minutes or less: the "time-window" left is quite small FOR A NEW AIRPORT.