Checking bags through to destination

Was having a read at another of these excitable threads on airnet (why does everything over there turn into ww3?) about checking bags onto a connecting flight and there seems to be a thought that most airlines don't do this.

i.e. vs flight from mco to lgw followed by a ba shuttle up to edi. with the problem seeming to be about having 2 seperate tickets.

I have always had 2 seperate tickets and have no problems whatsoever. Have I been lucky or do the check-in girls just like my smile

Thanks for your comments.

David

Hi David

We had no problem checking our bags through from antigua to belfast in January. Saw them last in cocobay at check in chill out and didn't seem them again until belfast baggage collection.

We also had 2 separate tickets

Robert

Separate tickets is normal: Usually you can check all the way through regardless. I believe it depends on the handling arrangements of the transer airport. The only time I have not checked thru was flying Air China, on one ticket, via beijing.

We do try to avoid having WW3 on this site!

[fozzyo]

When we flew to Vegas last year we were on VS to SFO and then United from SFO to Vegas - two seperately booked flights. We mentioned at check-in we had a connection and the lovely guy said he'd check the bags through for us no problem.

We picked them up at baggage claim, through the transfers door and then dropped off at a luggage area and on to Self-Service check-in to check in to the United flight. No problems at all - great service.

Mat xxx

Virgin will normally do through check-in, provided it is not busy, and the onward flight is part of the interline agreement. Other airlines as the first carrier (including the dark side) will NOT usually do through check-in unless it is part of a 'through ticket' ie: all on one ticket. One again, though, it never hurts to ask, but be prepared to collect and re-check bags to be sure you have enough time and save stress at the airport.

Juliet

Sorry to be the first to cast the stone but on my last flight, it all went King Kong.

My trip home was:
MIA-MCO with AA
MCO-LGW VS
LGW-MAN BA

Outbound I simply checked in three time for each leg - a pain yes, but it seemed to only option. Plus I had to anyway due to the alliance issues. I would of had to pick my bag up in MCO anyways.

Inbound I asked the chap at AA if he can check me/my bag all the way to Manchester. He said yes to my bag if I can give him all my three tickets. So I did. He made a nice long bag tag for me and I asked him when the next time Id see my bag was. He said Manchester, England.

Upon boarding the VS flight in MCO, I had to disembark to ID my bag on the tarmac. No problem, it was quite fun! Upon arrival at LGW I thought: "Hmmmm, I bet you.....should I? Yes, Id better..." Instead of proceeding direct to the BA check in booth I swung past the bag carosel just to check.

And there it was.

Spinning around.

editedtedted for speeelling.

[honey lamb]

The only time I had a problem checking bags through was when my EI flight was cancelled and we were re-routed ORK-LHR via MAN on BA. BA would only check my bags to LHR even though the MAN-LHR leg was on BD.

I've had separate tickets and it has never been a problem even with the most convoluted routings home from American airports. EI as my first carrier even allowed me to check bags through after using the DIY check-in kiosks [y]

Upon boarding the VS flight in MCO, I had to diembark to ID my bag on the tarmac. No problem, it was quite fun! Upon arrival at LGW I though, "Hmmmm, I bet you.....should I? Yes, Id better..." Instead of proceeding direct to the BA check in booth I swung past the bag carosel just to checl.

And there it was.

Spinning around

Perhaps you did not show your baggage tags when checking in for your onward flight so that they hadn't been linked to your details on VS and onward?

Oh, and I've just remembered! I did have a skirmish at the UC check-in in IAD about checking my bags through. I won! [y]

As a slight OT, this seems to be my problem with OLCI this morning. After phoning the FC they explained that as I am flying on from LAS with a non-Partner airline and its all one booking I am unable to check-in online.

[B)]

Thanks for the replies. Its nice to know that Virgin are sensible about things, when some "others" aren't.

(some guy : i always have that fear that I am on my way back to Scotland and my bags are still trundling round all alone,;))

David

I've checked through at Heathrow (travelling from Teesside) and although I did not see my bags again until my destination (SFO) I just went to the check-in desk at Heathrow and they confirmed that my bags had been scanned en route and were being taken to the correct plane.

TTFN

Paul

[ChuckC]

Having one ticket certainly helps. When I returned FCO-LHR-LAX last year, I was on AZ FCO-LHR, switching to VS for the second leg. I had one "paper" ticket. My travel mate had an e-ticket and a paper ticket. AZ refused to interline his baggage but allowed mine through. My friend had to collect his bags at LHR, then recheck them with VS. Fortunately he was in Upper on VS and could at least drown his sorrows in a libation at the CH before continuing onward; I'd been there for nearly an hour when he arrived (though I thought better of sharing that information!).

Chuck-

As long as the originating airline has a baggage agreement with the connecting airline, and you have proof of your onward travel, the originating airline will be able to check your luggage, no problem.

Problems arise if you're connecting from say Delta to Southwest, as Southwest does not do any ticketing/baggage agreements, Delta would be unable to check the bags.

Most major airlines have agreements with most major airlines. The only time you really might run into trouble is if you're connecting to a low cost or budget carrier, as they tend to isolate themselves from other carriers.

If you're traveling on two seperate tickets, or stock from different carriers, be sure to have a complete itn. or the actual tickets prooving your onward travel, or the originating carrier will not check the bags.

Just a reminder when you enter the United States, you are required to claim your luggage for customs and immigration, then recheck to your connecting airline (however they will be already tagged, simply drop them off at baggage recheck).

Hopefully that helps.

[ChuckC]

Good one, Mike. Thanks as always for your helpfulness.

Chuck-

Originally posted by David
Thanks for the replies. Its nice to know that Virgin are sensible about things, when some "others" aren't.

(some guy : i always have that fear that I am on my way back to Scotland and my bags are still trundling round all alone,;))

David

Yes VS are good like this.

The one thing that winds me up about transferring bags is that you STILL have to pick your bags up in the US. I wish they'd get their act together!