Check baggage, different PNRs: VA Dom to VA Intl and DL to VA

[777]

Hi Everyone,

I haven't done this in a while so thought i'd check in to see if anything had changed. We (Mrs 777, 3yo Mr 7.77 and a few month old Mr .777) are looking at making two trips in the next few months. Both are a mix of revenue and points tix hence the lack of connections.

1. We are flying MEL-BNE and then on to BNE-PVI on separate VA tickets/ PNRs. We were wondering if we can check our luggage through from MEL?

2. Separate trip: We are likely flying PDX or SEA on either DL or VX to LAX connecting to VA and wondering the same thing. Can either airline check the luggage through to the international leg or do i need to connect and recheck?

Last time i looked the answer was no but that was a few years ago. Anything changed?

I haven't booked the tickets yet as i wanted to know how long to allow for baggage and transfers.

 

[notzac]

Hi Everyone,

Hi!

1. We are flying MEL-BNE and then on to BNE-PVI on separate VA tickets/ PNRs. We were wondering if we can check our luggage through from MEL?

You can try, but it almost certainly won't happen. VA are quite strict about not checking luggage across multiple PNRs, even if it's VA -> VA. The only thing that may be worth a shot (and it's a long one at that) is to call the Platinum line and ask them to put info segments for BNE-PVI in to your MEL-BNE bookings .. if you can actually convince someone to do that, the staff at MEL check-in should be able to check bags all the way through.

2. Separate trip: We are likely flying PDX or SEA on either DL or VX to LAX connecting to VA and wondering the same thing. Can either airline check the luggage through to the international leg or do i need to connect and recheck?

DL are pretty good about checking luggage across to a separate PNR; you'll just need a print out of your VA ticket. No idea whether VX does the same.

As for connections, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours in BNE and LAX for the connection, possibly longer. With the new lounge, LAX could be quite comfortably pushed out to 3 hours.

 

[777]

You can try, but it almost certainly won't happen. VA are quite strict about not checking luggage across multiple PNRs, even if it's VA -> VA. The only thing that may be worth a shot (and it's a long one at that) is to call the Platinum line and ask them to put info segments for BNE-PVI in to your MEL-BNE bookings .. if you can actually convince someone to do that, the staff at MEL check-in should be able to check bags all the way through.

Thanks for the info. Has anyone successfully done this?

 

[vantage03]

Flew VX JFK-LAX (F) then VA LAX-SYD (J), and VX were unable to check my bags through to Sydney on separate PNRs. Connection was tight too so I was pretty annoyed, all worked out in the end though.

 

[notzac]

Thanks for the info. Has anyone successfully done this?

In case it helps, I think the correct Sabre terminology is a "Passive Segment" and the code to use for it is YK*

[size=-2]* ..assuming a 5 minute Googling gave me the correct results - this may be totally wrong [/size]

 

[MandM]

Thanks for the info. Has anyone successfully done this?

My recent experience:
- mid-April - PNR1 VA MEL-SYD-LAX, PNR2 VX (booked directly with VX) LAX-SEA. Enquired at MEL premium check in if bags could be checked through to SEA. Agent asked neighbouring agent who gave her the Virgin Atlantic code! I asked her to try VX and she said that the computer says that VA and VX are friends so not only checked bags through but also gave me the boarding pass for LAX-SEA (for the record, I went to the VX check-in to have the boarding pass reissued to make sure all was ok and to get the all important 'priority' to help expedite LAX security).

- early May - PNR1 DL PDX-LAX (booked directly with DL), PNR2 VA LAX-BNE-MEL. Enquired at PDX DL check in if could check bags all the way through. The puzzled looks as the check in agent furiously tapped away at the computer was enough for me to put a halt to the whole thing! Navigating the LAX pedestrian traffic with a trolley full of bags is not my most favourite thing, but it wasn't too bad. However if I had two littlies in-tow then I might have given the guy in PDX a bit more of a chance at working things out (making sure that there was nothing in the checked luggage that was needed urgently upon returning home!)

 

[Quickstatus]

DL: DEN-SLC-LAX then VA : LAX-SYD
Luggage checked thru to sydney. NO DL bag fees

AS: YVR-LAX then VA: LAX-SYD
Luggage checked thru to Sydney

Both different PNR. DL and AS booked through AS direct

Also used qantas frequent flyer number to get QF points on AS flight, and no fees was paid for AS flight even though the charges were payable at checkin normally.

My impression is that VA is less inclined to interline bags than other airlines to VA

 

[777]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the feedback. Seems the airline that can't check bags through to VA is... VA.

Sigh.