Bkk To Lax To Mco // Checking Thru Baggage

[farang000999]

We are flying Thai Air from BKK to LAX and then we have a domestic flight that we booked seperately with American Airlines. My understanding is that we should not have to pay any extra baggage fees for American Airline because we are also flying Thai Air and we will only be subjected to Thai Airs baggage policy which allows us 2 pieces of luggage each at a limit of 24kilo/piece. This is what happened on our way to Thailand.

We have an 8 hour stop over in LAX where we will be headed to an airport hotel.

My understanding is that all of our bags will need to be picked up in LAX and searched because it is our first place of entrance into the USA... And after this, will we be able to recheck our bags as they will already be tagged onwards, despite that this flight will not be leaving for a quite a while? Or will we be forced to drag what will probably be 6 pieces of luggage with us to the hotel, which would be quite a drag.

Thanks.

[craigt3365]

If you are saying you have 2 separate tickets, then you are in trouble. If all the flights are on one ticket, you are fine and your bags will be checked all the way through to MCO.

AA will not honor your flight with Thai as it's a separate flight. Not connected. Your bags will only be checked through to LAX where you will have to clear customs and then head over to AA to check in your other flight schedule. A mess for sure...

[Sam Drucker]

If you are saying you have 2 separate tickets, then you are in trouble. If all the flights are on one ticket, you are fine and your bags will be checked all the way through to MCO.

AA will not honor your flight with Thai as it's a separate flight. Not connected. Your bags will only be checked through to LAX where you will have to clear customs and then head over to AA to check in your other flight schedule. A mess for sure...

Not true. I've done this type of itinerary numerous times with THAI Airways and US Airways, Continental, and United. And always on separate tickets. (I wanted it all on one ticket, but could never get that from THAI.) Separate tickets is a non-issue.

farang000999: For sure, it is more desirable to get the baggage checked through to your destination (MCO), and usually THAI can do this for you. Just show the ongoing domestic itinerary to the THAI check-in agent in BKK. They might even be able to give you boarding passes for American if the flights are opened. They have done so for me in the past when I connected to United, Continental, or US Airways. But they are all Star Alliance, and I'm not sure if THAI can do check-in and boarding passes for American also? Just ask.

The advantage of getting the bags checked and tagged (in BKK) through to destination (MCO) is that you won't have to wait in line again at LAX to get them re-tagged; you can just drop the bags at baggage re-check (just after exiting Customs, turn to the right.) Otherwise, it's like "checking in" again with your bags at baggage re-check. Even doing that, it still should not be an issue about paying for checked bags. I've never seen or heard of that coming in on an international flight and using baggage re-check. On the other hand, if you did take them over to American to check them in, it would be more likely that you might have to pay (or try to argue your way out of it.)

I have successfully re-checked baggage for a departure the next morning (when the old non-stop THAI flight arrived in the mid-evening hours.) However, that is now a one-stop through Seoul, and you should be arriving to LAX in the late morning hours, and going out on American in the evening. There should be no problems with an 8 hour bag re-check for a flight that goes out that evening. Pack a change of clothes in a carry-on, and just take that to the hotel in LAX.

The only snag I see for you is that you may have to pay American to check your bags in Orlando to go back to LAX. They should be able to check them through to THAI and BKK for you, but I'm not sure if they will charge you or not their domestic bag fees? This part I have avoided in the past as a Royal Orchid Gold, flying on Star Alliance carriers in the States. It gets me exempted from baggage charges, so I haven't had to deal with it.

By the way, the limit is 23 kg, not 24.

Have a good trip!

[craigt3365]

So what you are saying is the entire route has been purchased via Thai, but separate ticket packages have been given out? If so, that makes sense. If not, I'm blown away they can do this. I travel a lot and have never seen an airline able to deal with tickets from other airlines that have not been purchased via their system. Especially seat assignments and boarding passes. If this is the case, Thai Air truly has something special.

[farang000999]

When I went to Thailand for this trip I was able to check my bags thru at MCO to BKK. I did not have to pick them up in LAX. They were waiting for me in Thailand. I also did not have to pay any domestic baggage fees. And these were two totally seperate bookings. I will post a follow up to what happens.

[Sam Drucker]

So what you are saying is the entire route has been purchased via Thai, but separate ticket packages have been given out? No.

If not, I'm blown away they can do this. I travel a lot and have never seen an airline able to deal with tickets from other airlines that have not been purchased via their system. Especially seat assignments and boarding passes. If this is the case, Thai Air truly has something special.

As for THAI's ability to generate boarding passes for other carriers, I'm not sure if that is limited to other Star Alliance partners, or not? My experiences are limited to having been connecting to other Star Alliance partners.

The biggest danger of buying the domestic (AA) tickets separately from the THAI tickets (which he has no choice but to do that) is if he had a late or canceled THAI flight into LAX. In that case, AA would not have to rebook him at no charge. He could get hit with change fees, etc. in that case. But with the 8 hour connection, he should see little chance of that.

[farang000999]

When I flew from MCO they were not able to create boarding passes for me but they were able to check thru my bags even though it was AA and not a partner airline and a totally seperate booking. We arrived in LAX and did not have to get our bags. They were forwarded to Bangkok.

Anyways, I am wondering now how early are you usually allowed to check into a flight. If for some reason we cannot have our bags checked thru and after we pick them up in LAX we cannot immediately drop them off and will need to check-in and have them tagged for our next flight --- how early will they do that? If the flight is in another 6-8 hours will that be too long? Thanks.

[Sam Drucker]

1) I've never had a domestic US Star Alliance carrier generate a boarding pass for my THAI Airways connection. But (as I said earlier) I have had THAI in BKK generate boarding passes for my Star Alliance domestic US connections.

2a) As for checking baggage through to domestic US destination, I have had that done on various non-Star Alliance carriers such as Delta. So I would not worry about not getting your baggage tagged through to destination by THAI in BKK. As i said before, have your ongong travel documents ready, and be proactive. Some agents might just assume LAX and only check them that far, unless you say "I have some connecting flights, and my final destination is MCO."

2b) Even if THAI only tagged them to LAX for you in BKK, you just check them at baggage re-check outside of customs. They are much easier to deal with that the domestic airline checkin counters in my opinion. I've checked bags at 10pm for a 6am flight at baggage recheck, no problem. A lot of airlines hesitate at checking bags the night before, so 8 hours and overnight was pretty good. I don't think I could have done that by going to the airline itself. And since you are flying later the same day, you should have no problem.

[craigt3365]

2b) Even if THAI only tagged them to LAX for you in BKK, you just check them at baggage re-check outside of customs. They are much easier to deal with that the domestic airline checkin counters in my opinion. I've checked bags at 10pm for a 6am flight at baggage recheck, no problem. A lot of airlines hesitate at checking bags the night before, so 8 hours and overnight was pretty good. I don't think I could have done that by going to the airline itself. And since you are flying later the same day, you should have no problem.

You'll need a bag tag to use the baggage recheck, which you'll need to get at the check in desk in either BKK or LAX. Last time I did 2 separate tickets (Delta and Southwest), I got my bags and had to proceed over to their terminal to check in and check my bags.

[Sam Drucker]

2b) Even if THAI only tagged them to LAX for you in BKK, you just check them at baggage re-check outside of customs. They are much easier to deal with that the domestic airline checkin counters in my opinion. I've checked bags at 10pm for a 6am flight at baggage recheck, no problem. A lot of airlines hesitate at checking bags the night before, so 8 hours and overnight was pretty good. I don't think I could have done that by going to the airline itself. And since you are flying later the same day, you should have no problem.

You'll need a bag tag to use the baggage recheck, which you'll need to get at the check in desk in either BKK or LAX. Last time I did 2 separate tickets (Delta and Southwest), I got my bags and had to proceed over to their terminal to check in and check my bags.

Assuming you arrived internationally on Delta, and were connecting to Southwest?

I'm speculating a bit here at this point: I've never heard specifics about how international "Baggage Recheck" is organized, if all airlines participate, who pays for it, etc. But assuming it is somehow tied in with interline agreements airlines have traditionally used for transferring baggage to/from other carriers, this may have been the reason you needed to physically take your bags over to Southwest's terminal and check them directly with Southwest. While all the "Legacy" carriers have interline agreements, many of the low cost carriers do not. I know this has traditionally been the way of Southwest. So that may have had something to do with it.

Read more on interline agreements here: http://en.wikipedia....iki/Interlining (Look at paragraphs 3 & 4 under "Agreements.")

At any rate, none of this should apply to the original poster, as he is connecting to legacy carrier American Airlines, which does have interline agreements.

[craigt3365]

It has to have a bag tag with the final destination on it. Otherwise, it can't be handled at the baggage recheck area. How would they know where to send it? So, OP has to have his bags checked all the way through and that means they need to be tagged here in BKK. If not, he'll have to get his bags on arrival at LAX and head over to the airlines counter to get them checked back in. Right???

I've had this problem several times when I was flying on 2 separate tickets.

[Sam Drucker]

It has to have a bag tag with the final destination on it. Otherwise, it can't be handled at the baggage recheck area. How would they know where to send it? So, OP has to have his bags checked all the way through and that means they need to be tagged here in BKK. If not, he'll have to get his bags on arrival at LAX and head over to the airlines counter to get them checked back in. Right???

I've had this problem several times when I was flying on 2 separate tickets.

Not quite. One of two things will happen:

1) OP gets his bags tagged in BKK through to destination (MCO). He picks his bags up in LAX (all bags regardless of final destination must be claimed at LAX due to passing through Customs at first port of entry in USA.) After clearing customs, he exits, turns right and enters the bagagge recheck area, where he hands over his bags to be passed on to American Airlines. Doesn't need to stand in line to do this; they just look at the bag tag to confirm it is valid, then accept your bags.

2) OP gets his bags tagged in BKK only to LAX. He picks his bags up in LAX, and after clearing customs, he exits, turns right and enters the bagagge recheck area, where he rechecks his bags. They will pull up his reservation, generate baggage tags for MCO, and pass the bags on to American Airlines. Sometimes the line for baggage recheck can be short, sometimes quite long. So the advantage to getting them checked through to destination (in BKK) is that he avoids possibly standing in a long line at LAX to recheck his baggage. He should never need to take the bags himself over to the American Airlines terminal and recheck them there.

[craigt3365]

Wow....that's great! I haven't been through LAX in quite a few years, but last time I did they didn't have the ability to generate bag tags. They just looked at your tag and either took it or told you to move on!

[farang000999]

Thai air was able to check my bags through despite separate tickets. I picked the bags up after clearing immigration and then dropped them off right around the corner.

Best of Luck

[Sam Drucker]

Glad to hear it went well. Just curious: Was THAI able to give you boarding passes (in Bangkok) for your onward American Airlines connecting flights from LAX? I'm not sure if they can do that only for other Star Alliance airlines, or if they can also do it for carriers outside of Star Alliance (like American.)

[farang000999]

they were not able to give boarding passes but we were able to get our AA boarding passes from the electronic check-in contraption, It took only a minute or so to check in. we also could have checked in online and printed the tickets.. since luggage was already taken care of.

[KED]

It has to have a bag tag with the final destination on it. Otherwise, it can't be handled at the baggage recheck area. How would they know where to send it? So, OP has to have his bags checked all the way through and that means they need to be tagged here in BKK. If not, he'll have to get his bags on arrival at LAX and head over to the airlines counter to get them checked back in. Right???

I've had this problem several times when I was flying on 2 separate tickets.

Not quite. One of two things will happen:

1) OP gets his bags tagged in BKK through to destination (MCO). He picks his bags up in LAX (all bags regardless of final destination must be claimed at LAX due to passing through Customs at first port of entry in USA.) After clearing customs, he exits, turns right and enters the bagagge recheck area, where he hands over his bags to be passed on to American Airlines. Doesn't need to stand in line to do this; they just look at the bag tag to confirm it is valid, then accept your bags.

2) OP gets his bags tagged in BKK only to LAX. He picks his bags up in LAX, and after clearing customs, he exits, turns right and enters the bagagge recheck area, where he rechecks his bags. They will pull up his reservation, generate baggage tags for MCO, and pass the bags on to American Airlines. Sometimes the line for baggage recheck can be short, sometimes quite long. So the advantage to getting them checked through to destination (in BKK) is that he avoids possibly standing in a long line at LAX to recheck his baggage. He should never need to take the bags himself over to the American Airlines terminal and recheck them there.

American Airlines does not staff international re=check 24/7. They only staff it during peak times and when their international flights arrive. If TG arrives at a non-peak time when American doesn't staff re-check and TG only tags his bags to LAX, then he will indeed have to go to their terminal and may indeed incur a charge.

[Sam Drucker]

It has to have a bag tag with the final destination on it. Otherwise, it can't be handled at the baggage recheck area. How would they know where to send it? So, OP has to have his bags checked all the way through and that means they need to be tagged here in BKK. If not, he'll have to get his bags on arrival at LAX and head over to the airlines counter to get them checked back in. Right???

I've had this problem several times when I was flying on 2 separate tickets.

Not quite. One of two things will happen:

1) OP gets his bags tagged in BKK through to destination (MCO). He picks his bags up in LAX (all bags regardless of final destination must be claimed at LAX due to passing through Customs at first port of entry in USA.) After clearing customs, he exits, turns right and enters the bagagge recheck area, where he hands over his bags to be passed on to American Airlines. Doesn't need to stand in line to do this; they just look at the bag tag to confirm it is valid, then accept your bags.

2) OP gets his bags tagged in BKK only to LAX. He picks his bags up in LAX, and after clearing customs, he exits, turns right and enters the bagagge recheck area, where he rechecks his bags. They will pull up his reservation, generate baggage tags for MCO, and pass the bags on to American Airlines. Sometimes the line for baggage recheck can be short, sometimes quite long. So the advantage to getting them checked through to destination (in BKK) is that he avoids possibly standing in a long line at LAX to recheck his baggage. He should never need to take the bags himself over to the American Airlines terminal and recheck them there.

American Airlines does not staff international re=check 24/7. They only staff it during peak times and when their international flights arrive. If TG arrives at a non-peak time when American doesn't staff re-check and TG only tags his bags to LAX, then he will indeed have to go to their terminal and may indeed incur a charge.

As far as I know (and correct me if anybody knows better) none of the airlines staff Baggage Recheck at the Tom Bradley International Terminal of LAX, where the THAI flight arrives. It appears to be staffed by some contracted ground support personnel. And indeed, that would seem to make the most sense, since they accept baggage from all international flights for recheck for all of the legacy domestic airlines (and maybe some of the low cost carriers too?) As for hours of staffing, I assume it is 24/7 because of the nature of flight arrivals and the fact that I have never seen any posting of hours to indicate that they are closed at times (in the T.B. International Terminal.) I have had no problem rechecking bags there at 23:00 (when the old THAI nonstop arrived in the evening), and now that the new one-stop through Seoul arrives in LAX around 11:00 am, there should be absolutely no concern about Baggage Recheck being closed (if in fact it ever closes.)