The lack of a checked bag fee is because this is an international ticket. The Orbitz info deals with domestic tickets. You should call United, though, it is possible that the SAS rules (2 free bags, IIRC) may apply to this itinerary. Almost certainly, I would think that you would get 2 free bags coming home.

As to upgrades, I don't think that you will be able to use *A miles to upgrade, as SAS only allows certain fares to be upgraded under that scheme. Your options will likely be to either try and pay for the upgrade (this will be $500 to bump to premium economy, I think, and can only be done on the outbound) or get yourself some SAS miles, which you can use to upgrade at the gate. It is only 10k SAS miles to upgrade at the gate to premium economy. I think it is 30k to upgrade at the gate to business.

Thanks travelgourmet, I really appreciate the info.
I'll call United and SAS to find out what their policies are.

About CPH -- does anyone know if there are shower facilities there? Upon my arrival in CPH at 7am, I'll have about a 5-hour wait until my next flight to Prague at 12pm. I'd like to use that wait time at the airport to freshen up, since I'll have a meeting later that day upon arrival in Prague. If anyone has used shower facilities at CPH, do you remember how much it was?

I remember in Switzerland and Germany they are always available at the train stations and costs around 12-14 Euros.

Thanks again.

>> 12-14 Euros

I meant EUR for DE, CHF for CH

There are no shower facilities at the CPH airport. There used to be a transit hotel facility but it has since closed.

You might try at the Hilton, which is attached. I would assume that they have day rooms and, possibly, some sort of option to use the fitness facilities or something. If you can somehow get into the SAS lounge, they have showers.

great -- useful to know that there's a Hilton attached to the airport.

Thanks, travelgourmet, for the information.

If $740 are okay for you for going LAX-CPH or LAX-ZRH, why don't you check if the one-stop connection with United from LAX via FRA directly to DRS (Dresden) for $1070 is not that much more expensive if you add costs for getting to/from CPH or ZRH to Dresden, extra hotel costs, transfers, etc?

FRA is definetely not the nicest airport to transfer, but your total travel time from L.A. to Dresden is only 14 1/2 hours, and you got secured connection by traveling on one ticket within Star Alliance. (secure shall mean that the airline will deal with problems resulting from missed connections)

good points, Cowboy1968. Thanks for the info. Will definitely keep that in mind...esp. since I just found that I (finally) qualify for *A elite status for 2010.