I will be transferring from Virgin to a BA flight to Rome at Heathrow and I had intended to through check my bag, but now I am informed that BA will not accept through checked bags from a non partner airline. Anyone have any recent experiences?

Did you get that info from BA? If not, call them. I once took a trip w/BA and CO, which are not partners, but I was able to check my bags all the way through.

Recently got the info from Virgin. I have read many previous posts from people who say they have through checked at Heathrow and some who have suggested that it is insane not to. I wanted to know if anyone had the experience of not being able to do so, and specifically with BA recently.

BA have recently refused to accept my bags for transferring onto a non-partner airline on a separate ticket.

They came out with some security excuse. I have found trying to charm checkin staff has worked in reverse sometimes: that is you can, with enough firmness, get non-BA checkin people to through-check onto a BA connection. But if Virgin is now saying they won't do that, your chances of sweet talking the groundstaff are probably remote.

The nuisance factor in all this isn't Heathrow, which just does whatever the baggage tag says (and its system is geared to through-checking). It's BA.

Thanks Cotswold--I may still try the old charm on Virgin, but will count on having to retrieve bag and recheck in with BA. Fortunately I travel on an EU passport so that will speed the process a little.

BA at LHR are real PITAs over interline bag checks. They won't even do it (sometimes) to/from a fellow OneWorld partner (like American or Aer Lingus.) It may be the World's Favourite Airline, but often it's the World's Most Arrogant Airline.

And if you have to move between terminals at LHR with your bags, you have my sympathy.

Thanks Gardyloo -- I have about 3 1/2 hours to get from Virgin to BA and I intend to check in online for BA, so hopefully I have enough time. I don't think however I will be able to meet my sister in the Virgin lounge as she would wish (her flight from Newark arrives earlier than my flight from SF)--but we will see.

I was recently on a Lufthansa to BA flight. At first, I was told I could not through check. But when I showed them I was all on one ticket, they checked my bag all the way through (they called BA to make sure). If you are all on one ticket, I believe that BA will accept the through check.

I was told by Lufthansa that BA will not interline through check a bag on separate tickets.

Not all on one ticket --Virgin was done on miles and is separate from BA--so looks like no through checking for me.

I have a VA flight that changes to a BA flight at LHR. I contacted both airlines about through checking my bags and was told that in no way will they do it. That is BA's rule. In addition, VA booked the flights 1hr35min apart but failed to tell me about picking up my bags, terminal changes,etc. I am very bothered.I called VA back and although they wouldn't put me on a later flight (yet), they noted in the computer that they will be responsible should I not make the connecting flight. Also it is all on one ticket. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens!