VA - VX check-through baggage

[MandM]

After having tried unsuccessfully to get my bags checked through MEL-LAX-SEA on several occasions when I had two separate tickets MEL-LAX on VA and LAX-SEA (VX) I finally had success on my recent trip in late Dec 2012. It worked well. Don't know if there were changes to the system or I just got lucky with the person who looked after me at check-in. Whatever it was I was happy not having to fight the crowds with a trolley of bags getting from T5 to T3.

 

[Saab34]

Yes I had the same thing happen in May of 2012. She asked us if we had any onward connections and I said yes but on a seperate ticket, but she didn't even hesitate when I said it was VX. And I was only a Silver back then.

The only thing that got me was I prepaid $75 of VX baggage fees for 3 people. So my advice is for those not to prepay baggage with VX until checkin in case you get lucky.

 

[overall]

I have a question about the reverse: checking baggage through from VX to VA. A few months ago I tried to book flights to the US with BNE-LAX going over, and JFK-LAX-BNE coming back. Since the website wasn't able to book a multi city itinerary like that, I had to call the call centre. I asked if I booked the VX JFK-LAX flight separately, would I be able to check luggage straight through from JFK to BNE. The operator said that even if it was on the same ticket I would have to collect and re-check my luggage in LAX anyway. I'm not sure if there was a miscommunication and the operator thought I was talking about arriving in LAX from Australia and then connecting to a domestic US flight, or if it really is (was?) a thing that VX and VA don't join up all that well.

So is that actually the case? Is it something that will be fixed up with the Sabre transition? It's kind of a moot point for me now, since I ended up booking the JFK-LAX flight as a separate ticket with a long enough layover that it won't be a huge hassle to check in again at LAX. But anyway, I was just curious. This will be the first time I've flown VA to the US, and it seemed a little odd.

 

[notzac]

I've flown SFO-LAX-MEL VX to VA and it worked just fine - bags were tagged / checked all the way through. Don't know why the call centre operator told you otherwise.

 

[overall]

Okay, thanks. Good to know for future reference. I don't know why they told me that either!

 

[MandM]

I've flown SFO-LAX-MEL VX to VA and it worked just fine - bags were tagged / checked all the way through. Don't know why the call centre operator told you otherwise.

All on one ticket they have done it, but last time I tried with separate tickets I didn't have any luck. That was about 8 months ago. But that connection isn't so bad as it is all one terminal and gives a chance to get a little bit of 'fresh' air without having to fight past too many people.