Adelaide to San Francisco on Qantas and UNITED AIRLINES - Not Happy

[FlyboyAl]

I'm copying all the paperwork and taking it with me (like Serfty showed in his post). I've read up on the baggage rules and I think I have enough knowledge to put a good case. I'm also seriously going to look at what I can post home and do my best not to have to go to 3 bags.
I suspect the biggest issue with be the additional 3rd bag as a QP member - I can't see that UA will give a stuff about the QP membership and allowances, but I might be wrong.

The check in lady at SFO was GREAT. I managed to fit everything into 2 bags, but she CONFIRMED (without me asking) that I was entitled to 3 bags, due to the fact that QF was the first carrier, and under their new rules, I was entitled to the 3 bags.
So if I do the UA flights again, at least I know for sure what the rules are - and SERFTY was right!!

 

[auspal]

Good result, and now we all know what the rules are , which make sense.

 

[Rebekkap]

Right now, I'm not even sure if my bags will be checked through or not, but I suspect they will. And I guess I'll have a nice walk from TBIT to the UA terminal.
I guess the upside of this is that it won't happen again!!!

I don't think they can check your bags through to SFO, I'm pretty sure it's a US security requirement that you collect them and go through customs at the first US port you arrive in.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't think they can check your bags through to SFO, I'm pretty sure it's a US security requirement that you collect them and go through customs at the first US port you arrive in.

you are correct that you have to claim your bags at the first international entry, however they can still be tagged all the way to your final destination. once you depart the customs hall there is a bag drop... makes it very easy if the tag is already done! (otherwise you need to approach an agent to have them printed)

 

[auspal]

I rang AA this morning, I am flying from Manchester UK, to Heathrow on BA, and then onto Dallas as part of a round the world ticket ( booked with Qantas) .I then had to book an internal flight with AA to Houston as there were no flights available for my arrangements
) AA told me that I will be able to check my bags in at Manchester if I show my round the world itinerary,plus my internal booking via AA, so will I have to claim my bags at Dallas, even though I am not leaving the airport?

 

[serfty]

I don't think they can check your bags through to SFO, I'm pretty sure it's a US security requirement that you collect them and go through customs at the first US port you arrive in.

The OP indeed cllect their bags on arrval into LAX, however was able to check them through from ADL to SFO before departure:

well, it all went well.
Bags checked through in ADL to SFO, collected in LAX after customs, and put back in the system at LAX....

 

[serfty]

I rang AA this morning, I am flying from Manchester UK, to Heathrow on BA, and then onto Dallas as part of a round the world ticket ( booked with Qantas) .I then had to book an internal flight with AA to Houston as there were no flights available for my arrangements
) AA told me that I will be able to check my bags in at Manchester if I show my round the world itinerary,plus my internal booking via AA, so will I have to claim my bags at Dallas, even though I am not leaving the airport?

You have to collect you bags at DFW after immigration no matter what - you simply redeposit them after customs before you head Airside again for your flight to IAH.

Just what the OP did at LAX:

well, it all went well.
Bags checked through in ADL to SFO, collected in LAX after customs, and put back in the system at LAX....

 

[auspal]

Thanks. Good to know I still get my baggage allowance as well.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

you are correct that you have to claim your bags at the first international entry, however they can still be tagged all the way to your final destination.

Once you depart the customs hall there is a bag drop... makes it very easy if the tag is already done! (otherwise you need to approach an agent to have them printed)

It's a fact lost on a lot of airport staff particularly overseas, that just because you have to clear customs eg at LAX, doesn't mean your bags can't be tagged through to DEN as the bag will still come off on the baggage carousel at LAX.

Once customs & immigration formalities are completed there is usually a central bag drop area to relodge bags that are already tagged through to their final destination ie not LAX.

There are not always checkin counters or airline staff to facilitate checkin so if your bags were only tagged to the gateway city where you cleared customs you won't be able to drop the bag off or checkin there but have to go landside and often lug your bag to another terminal to checkin again from scratch.

At least if your bag can be dropped off after customs you can make your way to the next terminal with your hand luggage & easily obtain a boarding pass from a kiosk if you haven't got one already before proceeding through the TSA screening point.

 

[serfty]

...
There are not always checkin counters or airline staff to facilitate checkin so if your bags were only tagged to the gateway city where you cleared customs you won't be able to drop the bag off or checkin there but have to go landside and often lug your bag to another terminal to checkin again from scratch. ...

These counters now exist for most major airlines at TBIT in LAX and at DFW D.

... the next terminal with your hand luggage & easily obtain a boarding pass from a kiosk if you haven't got one already before proceeding through the TSA screening point.

Certainly - it's always better to have your bags tagged to the final destination.