Checking bag question
 

Later this year I will fly:

LAS-LAX on UA
LAX-SFO on UA
SFO-LAX on VX
LAX-SYD on UA

all on the same day (and on 3 separate tickets with the 2 first segments being on 1 ticket)

Will I be able to check my bag LAS-LAX-SYD?

Jeff

As long as UA and VX have interline agreement in place, you should have no problem checking your luggage from LAS to SYD. You might get some funny looks from the agent at the check-in counter though.:p

Thanks for that

What I really meant was for my bags to not follow me to SFO (and therefore have less chance of being delayed or lost). I have absolutely no problems with getting odd looks from check in agents :)

Jeff

Shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't show anyone your LAX-SFO-LAX tickets.

Just noticed that the first ticket is LAS-LAX-SFO, so yes - think you will have a problem.

I think the bag's tag has to match the pax's BP/Itinerary. So my guess is that they won't let you skip the LAX-SFO-LAX legs. But it never hurts to ask.

Tred this several times and never been successful. YMMV

may i ask why you booked this itinerary? i am thinking not for miles, since vx you won't get miles. why not just go las-lax-syd?

seems with 3 pnr's, you have a risk that weather could delay vx and then you're stuck missing syd with no recourse.

just trying to figure this out.

in terms of bags, i could see them forcing them to stay with you. i don't think an agent can check bags to an itinerary different than what you have. since las-lax-sfo is one pnr, you won't really be able to hide the lax-sfo segment

That's true. I forgot the OP said the trips are on 3 separate tickets.

Wait.. the OP said that LAS-LAX-SFO is on one ticket, SFO-LAX (VX) is on a separate ticket, and then LAX-SYD on a third ticket. Not sure if the don't show SFO-LAX ticket trick would work.

Yes the LAS-LAS-SFO is on one ticket so no chance of hiding that. Why did I book this way ? Well it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had some VX credit to use and wanted to check out the Virgin lounge in SFO. Also will get a few more miles for the UA portion (will be on quadruple miles). The flights are in August so weather should not be a problem. There is plenty of padding in the schedule but if it seems like a problem on the day I would simply not do the LAX-SFO-LAX flights

I guess I will simply have to be prepared to check through for my whole trip (unless of course UA does not interline with VX which I guess is possible)

Jeff

With SFO, the WX problem is usually related to fog and reduced visibility. This can happen all year round, depending on time of the day. So I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that weather is no problem. A couple years ago, I was on a morning flight from LAX-SFO that was delayed for more than 3 hours because of fog at SFO. This was in early September.

Well I was unable to check my baggage LAS-LAX-SYD as she could not short check to LAX and onto SYD

She could have checked the baggage to follow my intinerary as the CSR confirmed UA and VX have an interline agreement but thought that was not without risk so I will recheck with VX in SFO

On another point, the check in agent thought I would not be able to access the CO presidents Club without a RCC membership. However, i'm in there right now without any difficulty (just showed my LAX-SYD BP)

Jeff

They don't let (or aren't supposed to let) bags fly without the pax onboard, unless they are trying to get the bag to you. Day of departure, you and your bag are supposed to ride the same plane.

Not a requirement for US domestic flights. And occasionally not followed for international.

Perhaps true but I was not asking for that. My bags would have only flown on flights that I was on (and simply missed a couple of segments). When I got to SFO VX advised me they did not have an interline agreement with UA (and stressed they did not even have an interline agreement with VA). On a further note VX first was streets ahead of UA first (of course we all knew this)

Jeff