"Checking Bags Through?"
 

I will be flying into London Heathrow on United and 2 3/4 hours after landing fly to Prague on British Airways.

Based on your experiences, is this enough turn around time?

Does any one know if I can check my bags "through" from one carrier (United) to another carrier (BA).

I originally thought 2 3/4 hrs was plenty to get through customs, pick up luggage, change terminals, check-in at BA and go through security again. After reading another post I'm not so sure.

Any thoughts?

You can, and should, check your bags through. There is very detailed information on how to make connections here:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/porta...t+Connections/

Thanks Jeff! It's kind of like looking up something in the "Rules of Golf!" The info is in there it just takes awhile to find.

My confusion is I used freq flyer miles to get to LHR on United. Separate ticket for LHR to Praque on BA.

Does this mean I can't check luggage "through?"

The above website refers to a "connecting ticket" which I do not believe I have.

Is checking through something the United rep can do upon check-in?

(sorry, I've been trying to research this topic on my own and not (unusually) I'm not getting very far!)

Hi M,

Call your first carrier and ask if they will check your luggage all the way to Prague.

((I))

calling really won't help IMO -- no matter what they say on the phone, it is really up to the specific agent you have when you check in. They might/might not. Often UA will cooperate but there is no guarantee. But in any case - the two flights are in different terminals.

2.75 hours should be plenty of time - IF you land on time, and the plane actually has a gate available. When I last flew into LHR T-3 in May we had to sit and wait for another plane to move away before we could park at the gate.

The problem is -- if your plane has to circle to wait for a landing slot, or wait for a gate, or any other snafu and you are delayed getting to T-5 -- your BA ticket is worthless.

Call UA and ask them to put a notation about your BA flight connecting flight on your PNR (passenger name record - but they'll understand PNR).

If you can change your flights, it would be better to connect in Frankfurt - as United code shares with Lufthansa.

If everything goes on schedule and UA will check your luggage through you should make it without any trouble - but don't dawdle anywhere - there are interminable corridors and escalators to traverse - as well as a bus to wait for - and you need to move briskly. If other people from your flight are passing you - you need to speed up.

If there are delays and your luggage is checked through you can usually make it with 2 hours or even a few minutes less. But walk as fast as you can ( security lines can be very long at times).

If your luggage is not checked through you will very likely not make it.

I would call UA now and find out what they do in this situation. If they say they won;t check luggage through I would get a later flight to Prague now at a limited change fee - rather than end up standing in Heathrow with a useless ticket.

I've done this back in the days when there was no doubt about United checking bags onto other airlines. On one momentous occasion, doing so with bags checked from Las Vegas, via SFO, LHR, and Prague, to Bucharest (Bet you didn't know they made baggage tags with that many bits?), but being told as I was getting on the plane at SFO to come through immigration at LHR, meet a client, collect things from him and get them checked in to Prague/Bucharest too. All done within 2 hrs at LHR from touchdown, through immigration, client meeting, terminal change, check in, security, etc, etc, etc.

But there are now problems.

BA these days LOATHE accepting bags from non-partner airlines on separate tickets (though apparently they can deal with it if you've paid, in real money and not just airmiles, a full premium fare). So you MUST double check that:

1. United will still do this eastbound (they might) and that BA will do it in reverse westbound if you're doing much the same thing to go home. I'll guarantee you now: BA simply, flatly, won't.

2. You're happy with the consequences of missing the connection to Prague. It doesn't matter whether that's 99% unlikely (which, even if you exit immigration, it is) or 80% unlikely: if you're on a non-refundable BA ticket they will not, under any circumstances, do anything except tell you what a prat you were for not booking BA all the way, and happily sell you a seriously overpriced last minute ticket on the next flight. United will be absolutely no use at all either. They've got you to London: it's your fault you booked a connection you missed: next customer please.

Your question shouldn't be "can I make it?" (almost certainly yes). It should be "what'll happen if I don't" - unless forking out an extra £300 or so (yes, that was pounds) doesn't matter to you.

I just got off the phone with United Customer Service (in Bangalore, India?!).

I was assured that United has a "baggage alliance" with British Airways and my bags would be checked through.

Thanks for all of your help!!

It will be really helpful if, when you return, you post here as to how it went. As someone above said, they could tell you anything on the phone! I guess I'm sceptic enough to think this might be so. Hopefully all will go well.

Is there any chance you could go with just carry-on? We always do this. I am too worried about not having luggage for a few days at the beginning of a trip.

Kristinelaine...For Europe, we usually take two mid-sized luggage bags. Too big for the overhead. Last year in CDG we had to pull a couple of things out of one bag, put it in the other and pay an extra $35 (euros) for the overweight bag. Taking two carry on bags for 18 days requires great skill and looking like Rick Steves most of the time. If all gets lost, I will have to dress like a "wild and crazy Czech guy," followed by a slick Lederhosen outfit.

I will follow-up upon my return in Sept. how everything went.

"<i>looking like Rick Steves most of the time.</i>"

Totally NOT true. If one wants to look like him (though I can't imagine why) they can. But I can easily get 30+ unique outfits in a 21 inch rollaboard (many more actually, if you count changing scarves for a different look - but I don't call that a "different" outfit).

Doesn't take great skill - just some planning. The secret is layering and color coordination. Easy peasy.

I'm impressed Janis!!!

"30+ unique outfits?!" What do you consider an "outfit?" :)

I'm going to give it a shot...

I'm going to see what I can fit in the 21 inch rollaboard.

How often do you do laundry?

Another "secret" is taking clothes that are not too thick. Relatively thin knit tops work well for this purpose. A big heavy sweater would ruin the plan unless one intended to wear it whenever travelling.

We wash out in hotel sinks every few days or as needed. Some people don't like to do this and are willing to pay to have laundry done for them.

Masterphil: By outfits - I mean a combination of clothing on my body :) (I know, a smart ass answer)

But consider the math -- 4 "bottoms" (any combination of skirts, slacks, jeans, dresses) combined w/ 8 tops that go w/ most of and bottoms, and a couple of jackets/cardigans that go w/ most of everything and you easily have more than 30 outfits.

More than 60 if absolutely everything goes w/ absolutely everything - but that's sort of overkill IMO.

I have to give it a shot!

Good for you! It's certainly worth a try.

Funny you all finally got around to that! I was thinking right from the top as I read thru this entire thread... "Masterphil, Can you manage with carry-on only?" Problem solved.

I can but my wife can't. I will check one bag but put some of both of our clothes in the carry on.

All of you carry on folks...what do you do with "stuff" you buy in Europe?

We buy very little "stuff". Some people take old clothes and throw them away to make space, but I don't like to wear things that are bad enough to justify throwing out! Other people mail packages home. Another option is to pack an empty soft-sided piece of luggage (very thin, nylon maybe) and use it for excess on the way home, putting the new stuff in the most secure luggage. When going home, it doesn't matter so much if your luggage is slower to arrive home than you are!