United Airlines - Domestic Travel Connection From International Baggage Policy?

[neon_crossing]

Hey all,

Got a question, I understand many US airlines offer international passengers that are connecting from international flights complimentary first bag of luggage without having to pay the luggage fees, if you have been in the USA or connecting flight out of the USA is within 24 hours.

Does anyone know if this is correct (in particular United Airlines) and if so if they have found the policy written anywhere online (I cant find it).

Thanks in advance

 

[Philbyau]

Not sure of the rules, but we flew QF SYD-SFO then AA SFO-JFK-SFO then we flew UA SFO-LAS-SFO when we checked in at UA for LAS flight, the checkin kiosks tried to charge us, so we went to the counter and said we were from Australia, she put our bags through with no charge (same happened at LAS) they didn't check anything, apart from the accent, we didn't even fly UA to the US.

I'd be interested to know what the official rules are though

 

[Philbyau]

Just to add, we spent a week in New York, then 3 days in SFO before UA flight, so well outside the 24 hours you mentioned

 

[NM]

Got a question, I understand many US airlines offer international passengers that are connecting from international flights complimentary first bag of luggage without having to pay the luggage fees, if you have been in the USA or connecting flight out of the USA is within 24 hours.

I expect the domestic flight will need to be on the same itinerary as the international flight. In this case the bags will be tagged to the final destination at the original international check-in, even though you need to collect them at the initial point of entry into the USA to clear customs. Since they are already tagged to the final destination you normally just deposit them at a baggage drop re-screening desk after clearing customs.

If the domestic flight is on a separate ticket/itinerary, then you may not be entitles to any connecting allowances. However, some airlines will waive the fees even if on separate tickets.

Not sure of the rules, but we flew QF SYD-SFO then AA SFO-JFK-SFO then we flew UA SFO-LAS-SFO when we checked in at UA for LAS flight, the checkin kiosks tried to charge us, so we went to the counter and said we were from Australia, she put our bags through with no charge (same happened at LAS) they didn't check anything, apart from the accent, we didn't even fly UA to the US.

Your profile says you are hold Platinum status with Qantas, hence OneWorld Emerald. AA waive fees for the first checked bags for OneWorld high-status members regardless of making an international connection.

 

[docjames]

Your profile says you are hold Platinum status with Qantas, hence OneWorld Emerald. AA waive fees for the first checked bags for OneWorld high-status members regardless of making an international connection.

To be clear, AA will waive TWO bags, for OW Ruby and above. They will also waive the fees for two bags on any international itinerary (on any part of the itinerary). So a sector that is purely domestic, embedded in an international itinerary, will still qualify for the two bag waive. The "international connections" rule does get a bit grey with seperate bookings however.

 

[Philbyau]

Yes sorry for confusion, more interested in the UA flight, where I had no status or flew to the US with, and they didn't check our booking, are there any rules around that? Or just luck?