Luggage - changing airlines at Heathrow
 

Flying to Heathrow on United. Picking up a flight there on Aer Lingus to Dublin. They are on separate reservations. Is it possible to check my luggage all the way through to Dublin, or do I have to retrieve it at Heathrow?
Thanks

ask united

And double check to make sure that both flights are out of Heathrow.

Neither airline uses Gatwick so it's a safe assumption that both flights use Heathrow.

Actually, I tried calling United before posting here, but the reservations people couldn't give me an answer and couldn't tell me any other place to call. Also, there is nothing on their website about this subject. Hopefully someone here will know or we'll just see what happens at the airport.

I think you should assume you'll need to collect your bags and schlep them from T3 (UAL) to T1 (EI). You will clear passport control at LHR at the UK and Eire are in a common passport/immigration zone. While it's possible your bags might be checked through to DUB by a friendly UA person if you show them your Aer Lingus res, I'd frankly doubt it. Aer Lingus is now operating as a low-cost carrier and I don't know if they'll do it. Frankly, given baggage woes at LHR I'd much prefer to fetch them there and re-check them, just for safety's sake. Be prepared for a big pain, but that comes with the territory at Heathwoe.

Thought I would report back. The good news was United was happy to check two of our bags through to Dublin. The bad news is that Aer Ligus lost them for our first four days here. Thankfully, we had a carryon that took care of most of our needs during that time.

I think Heathrow is notorious for losing luggage. I remember that my boss would never make a connection in Heathrow because his luggage had been lost there a couple of times in the past.