Air NZ/ United Question

[Ben W]

I'm traveling ORD-SFO-AKL-MEL next week on United/Air NZ and was wondering if anyone knew if we need to collect luggage in SFO and recheck it with Air NZ or if United can check it all the way to MEL? Same question for the boarding passes as well?

Thank you for any responses.

Cheers,

Ben

[Montague S]

yes...that is the short answer. you need to get it re-screened before anything else.

[David Ramsay]

UA can check your bags right through.

If all the flights are on the same PNR, they can give you BPs certainly as far as AKL. Not sure about the final leg as I've only ever done it as far as AKL.

[Michael Morrison]

Originally Posted by David Ramsay

UA can check your bags right through.

If all the flights are on the same PNR, they can give you BPs certainly as far as AKL. Not sure about the final leg as I've only ever done it as far as AKL.

That is correct. If you have a domestic to international connection they will check the bags through..... HOWEVER on the return they will not check International- domestic all the way through and it will need to be screened. (Presumably ebcause they think their creening is better?)

Not sure about the AKL-AUS leg though.

[DavidD]

United will check your bags all the way through to Melbourne.

My regular commute is SYD-LAX-ORD-ATL-ORD-LAX-AKL-SYD

Leaving Australia you have to collect your bags in LAX and rescreen but on the return you wont see your bag again until Melbourne.

UA/NZ seem to have a fantastic interline and in 80+ trips across the pond they have never lost my bags.

Dave

[D Chan]

Originally Posted by Michael Morrison

That is correct. If you have a domestic to international connection they will check the bags through..... HOWEVER on the return they will not check International- domestic all the way through and it will need to be screened. (Presumably ebcause they think their creening is better?)

Not sure about the AKL-AUS leg though.

I believe the reason is it is their requirement to screen all pax travelling in their domestic flights. That's why they need to screen inbound pax into US.

No need to collect bags, it should go all the way through. Boarding pass as stated depends on PNR. You can provide the flight details for the last leg and see if they can check all the way through. There's a chance it can print all the way.

[David Ramsay]

I believe the reason is it is their requirement to screen all pax travelling in their domestic flights. That's why they need to screen inbound pax into US.

It's a US Customs thing, more so than security. You have to clear your luggage through Customs at the port of entry.

[Ben W]

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated!