Question about checking bags all the way through when flying multiple airlines
 

I found an amazing fare on EVA Air from LAX-Bangkok, but I am originating from Houston. Most likely I'll fly Continental from Houston to LAX, which is an EVA partner. I will be flying with the maximum baggage allowance because I'm actually moving to Thailand.

A) given that I'm flying to an international destination, will Continental charge me for my bags?

B) will they allow me to check my bags all the way to Bangkok from Houston?

thanks!

The rest of us are probably going to guess or have opinions.

Why don't you check with Continental and get an answer?

Actually rather than opinions or guesses I was hoping people who have been through the same scenario could tell me how it went for them.

What Continental tells you on the phone rarely matches up with what happens on the ground. They told me I'd be able to check my bags from Milan through to Houston despite stopping in EWR, in fact I had to collect the bags at EWR and re-check them.

Anyone been through the same situation?

thanks,

mp413

<b>mp413</b>,

that's normal for international arrival in US. You have to go through customs at the first port of arrival in the US, so you need to have all your luggage with you as you speak with the customs officer. And I believe you really didn't have to recheck the luggage, just drop it off right outside the customs exit door.

thanks - I wasn't saying it's not normal, just that airlines don't always know what they're talking about when they tell you things over the phone! and it absolutely is re-checking of baggage, though it's a more streamlined version of it.

anyway - back to the topic at hand...

No it's not rechecking. Rechecking would mean that you have to show your ticket, the agent would have to print and attach a new luggage tag.

Your luggage was already tagged so all you did was hand over the luggage to an agent outside the customs door. You did not have to show a ticket, the agent did not have to print and attach a new tag.

1) If it's separate tickets then CO will charge you for any weight above their normal domestic allowance.

2) Yes, your luggage will be checked all the way through and since you are leaving US you will not have to deal with the luggage in LAX.

AAFrequentFlyer has the SOP down pat.

If you're paranoid, when you are checking in, ask the ticket agent if your luggage is checked through to BKK.

If you're really really paranoid, ask to see the luggage stickers that will go on your bags. Final destination should read BKK, with the stops inbetween shown also on the luggage stickers.

AAF thanks for clearing up whether I'll have to deal with the bags at LAX - good to know I won't. Rasta I don't at all see why it's paranoid to find out beforehand if I'll have to deal with getting my bags at LAX. That would SEVERELY affect the layover time I would need there, not to mention be a huge hassle since they'll be heavy bags.

AAF in Africa they let me check heavier bags based on the int'l baggage allowance on different tickets b/c final destination was U.S. so I thought maybe CO would allow me int'l baggage allowance for free seeing as how I'm flying int'lly on their partner airline...but these days with the cutting costs everywhere, probably not.

Not that this has anything to do with my original query, but it WAS rechecking. We didn't have to go upstairs to the regular check-in desks, there were airline booths right after EWR customs, but they did give people new tags, and then based on the destination people handed the bags to baggage agents down the hall.

If the whole itinerary is purchased as single EVA ticket, CO will not charge you for your bags.

Your bags will be tagged and checked all the way to BKK.

If you're coming back, your bags will be tagged all the way to IAH, but you'll need to claim them at LAX, and then drop them off at the customs exit.

Thanks rkkwan, sadly won't all be on one ticket. For some reason on Kayak I can book all on one ticket from IAH-LAX-BKK, and not on EVA's site (they don't have IAH listed) - but on Kayak the flight is a lot more expensive than buying 2 separate tickets.

Anyway, I'm not worried about coming back so much - I'm moving to Thailand so would probably be coming back only with carry-on. It's mainly the going-there with all my gear and avoiding having to deal w/ it at LAX that I'm worried about.

If you are traveling on two separate tickets, one to LAX and another onward from LAX, the check-through and baggage fees may or may not apply. You can show both tickets at your first check-in and ask the agent to tag luggage for transfer between airlines at LAX, but it isn't automatic the way it would be on a single ticket.

If the Houston agent can't or won't check the bags through to BKK, you would have to claim and recheck them in LAX. I have not made connections under those circumstances and could not predict what the Houston agent will do, just want to alert you to another possibility.

If you have a domestic CO ticket and a separate ticket for international, you will be charged luggage fees. It's a separate issue from checking luggage through, which can be done. But definitely expect to pay the fees.

Thanks again rkkwan - the fees are annoying, but not at all a big deal if I can avoid collecting and re-checking at my stop.