Hello!

I have a problem that I just found out about. I will be coming into O'Hare on United with probably 4 checked bags because were are going on Aer Lingus for our honeymoon.

Well I was just told by Aer Lingus there counter does not open up until 3pm and my flight gets in at 11:30am.

Where do I go with the Luggage?

Thank you


Paul

Since 9/11 I don't think any US Airport has a storage area for luggage. You might want to check with United and see if they have a baggage handling arrangement with Aer Lingus. If so you can check your luggage through to your destination. If not, ask United if they will "hold' your luggage for a few hours. If neither of these approaches work, your only practical recourse is to get a luggage cart (you pay a small rental fee) at the baggage claim area and keep your luggage with you until you are able to checkin at Aer Lingus.

Paul, that's a long layover with a lot of baggage. Perhaps you should consider a temporary membership in an airline club. You'd be able to park your baggage while enjoying a quiet, comfortable place to hang out with snacks, beverages and wireless internet available. Here's one from Northwest for $85 that would get you both admitted to the club at O'Hare and you can see what other value you might be able to capture on your trip:

http://www.nwa.com/services/bustrav/...empmember.html

You can decide if it's worth it, but it's another option anyway.

UA most likely has interline baggage agreement with Aer Lingus. So, follow A_Traveller's advice first.

I agree. My suggestion would be in the event you can't check the baggage through, which would be the very best alternative.

Hello!

I am planning on using my AA membership but I called to the one in O'Hare and they can not store checked luggage because of secruity issues.

United is not part of the Aer Lingus family nor have a baggage agreement with them. So it looks like I will be camping out for awhile.

Paul

That's not true about AC in H/K. They have a luggage room where you are allowed to leave your luggage, but it's not guarded. I've left my carry on few times when I wanted to make some purchases in the terminal stores, but I'm always a little nervous about it. I always travel with about $5K worth of photo and computer equipment. Nothing has happened yet, but it's always the first time for anything.

Also, you will have to leave the secure area in terminal 3 to take the train to terminal 5 (international) for your AerLingus flight, so don't wait till the last minute as you will have to go through security again in term.5.

Have a great trip!

Well I just finished talking with United again and someone told me this time around that they do have an agreement with Aer Lingus so my luggage will be checked all to Dublin.

I was told by AA Admiral Club that we can use our pass at Aer Lingus so around 4:30 for our 630pm flight we will go to the club room for Aer Lingus until our Flight.

Paul

patval,

Double check and triple check just to be on the safe side.

Congratulations and have a great trip8-)

I would double check if it's really going to be tranferred too.

What I have done (domestic only) is to merely NOT claim my bags from the first airline. After they're left long enough on the carousel the airline takes them to their baggage office. There is a chance someone else could steal your bags, or that someone could get paranoid about security ... so be aware of the risks. You could always hang around the baggage area & make certain no one but UA picks up the bags. I'll wager you get to check bags all the way thru, but if not, that's the option I'd use.

Wow, rb - I admire you for trying that trick. I'd NEVER have the courage to try that - looking at my bags going around and around and hope that the airline's baggage person does pick it up, and that they'll still have my bags when I come back in a few hours... Wow!

rkkwan - I don't even bother to make sure the airline picks the bags up. But as I said, I only do that on domestic flights, and I have anything I can't live without on me, not in the checked bags. To be honest, if it were a honeymoon, as in the o.p.'s case, with an international connection I probably wouldn't be so carefree.