Help with UA/VS Ticketing

Hello All

I have to make a trip to London for a family gathering.

Because of my college schedule, I have to fly out of SBP (San Luis Obispo Airport) and connect in either SFO or LAX and then on to london.

United (to SFO and LAX) and US Airways (to PHX) are the only two airlines that serve SBP at the moment.

Im looking at flying on United to SFO, and then from SFO to London with Virgin (I was able to do the routing on Expedia).

What can I expect from an intinerary like this? In terms of checking baggage and stuff. VS partners with Continental and a lot of other Star Alliance members but nothing with United. Can I check my bags through?

Thanks

[honey lamb]

I have always managed to get my bags checked through when on a UA/VS ticket simply by asking at the airport. This has even been when I have had two separate tickets

I've flown regularly on a VS/UA joint ticket, and once on separate tickets and all times the bags were c hecked through.

I would strongly advise that you have your itinery on one ticket, as I've had at least 2 occassions, 1 with United and 1 with Virgin where there have been delays or cancellations that have affected my connecting flight.

Same here, done it a few times, last time this November, and it's never been an issue on the UA side. You will have possibly more problems with VS in London checking through to San Luis Obispo if the UA flight is not on the same ticket. I usually call Virgin and book it with them if I need the itinerary on the same ticket, and they are perfectly happy to sort this out for you, it has never been an issue.

Much as I prefer flying on the 747s, going to LA might be better since you have two VS flights to connect to, if you schedule yourself on the first one and something goes wrong you have a later flight to rely on. Then again, United are always very good with dealing with issues like these, I was flying from Minneapolis once connecting to Virgin in Chicago, and ORD was engulfed in its usual wind BS, UA flights were severely delayed, and they got me on an earlier flight our of Minneapolis. Basically, I've always had a reasonably good experience with UA on these sorts of routes.

thank you very much for the responses, it is very helpful.

Just one more question, will I have to pay the checked baggage fee on United for the local segment, or will they count the VS portion as an International leg

quote:Originally posted by gojetset
thank you very much for the responses, it is very helpful.

Just one more question, will I have to pay the checked baggage fee on United for the local segment, or will they count the VS portion as an International leg


If it's through ticketed, it should show up as an International itinerary, and from what I can tell, you won't need to pay a baggage fee on the domestic sector.

Mike

Please don't book on Expedia!!!

I didnt.

I called Continental and had them make the reservation for me.

They booked me on United from SBP-SFO and then on the VS codeshare from SFO-LHR

They said i have to wait 24 hours before I can actually book the ticket though, something about getting the availability from United.