VA-to-UA, SYD domestic-to-international on separate PNRs
 

I'm doing BNE-SYD on VA, connecting to a UA international flight. I haven't been down under since the VA/UA partnership, so wondering what to expect.
These flights are booked on *separate* PNRs.
Will I be able to check baggage at SYD all the way through to the UA transpac flight, or will I need to claim the bag at SYD domestic and re-check with UA over on the international side?
And, I suppose somewhat dependent on the answer to that question -- what's the most efficient way to make the DOM-INTL transfer these days?

VA should be technically able to check the bag through to UA even on separate tickets.

How much time between flights? Allow plenty of time. Can be queues at SYD T1.

Free T-bus easiest -> https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/inf...ur-next-flight
FT thread-->https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocea...transport.html

Edit
UA are flying BNE-SFO 3 times a week UA97 11:30 06:40
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL97
QLD govt-->https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/96446
FT https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...australia.html

Thanks. I just ate it and booked on a super early departure so I'll have ~3hrs in SYD to make the transfer.

I knew about BNE-SFO, but going via SYD because there's vastly better upgrade slots there (2x77W per day vs a single 789 on the BNE run). Both SYD flights were J9 C9 D9 Z9 P9 whereas BNE-SFO was J0 a month before departure (wow). I booked it maybe a week and a half ago and the upgrade already cleared.

I'd say the chance that VA through checks to UA on separate tickets is almost zero!

Even before covid VA were very hesitant to through check onto to a different ticket and since then it's been basically non existent. I'd fully expect that you'll need to collect your luggage in Sydney and check in at the United desk.

They certain 'can' do it. Will they? That is very different question. The agreements are in place to do this ... and UA-VA works with no issues (on separate tickets).

The OP will need an experienced (and willing) agent for sure.

I never had an issue doing this with the VA/DL partnership. Probably did it 5-6 times, never denied or any issue. That said, this was all pre-COVID

Changing at Sydney, the free bus is an option.

I personally prefer paying for the train, they're normally empty and often arrive every 5 minutes and take 2 minutes, much better than waiting 20 minutes for a packed bus that takes 10 minutes+.

Just got through check in here in BNE…. I guess I got a combination of experienced and willing. The baggage thing took a lot of smiling (by me) and a lot of typing (by the very friendly woman behind the counter). She basically had to manually enter the SYD_SFO and SFO-RDU legs into the system, but the tag that printed did indeed say SYD-SFO-RDU and she put the big yellow “international transfer SYD” tag on it as well and assured me they would transfer it from domestic->intl there.
Without planning to, I got the “premium bag drop” agent who was sitting next to the “Premium Service Desk”, and the woman at the service desk knew ALL the tricks and basically told my agent what to do. So at least so far, things look like they should work…
As I’ve learned traveling around here a little bit for the last 20 years, “never underestimate the power of a smile and an American accent…”

That's indeed the way it has to be done. Glad it worked out :)

Anyone think this would work on ANA as well? Flying VA CNS-SYD and then ANA SYD-HND-SFO