Can I check through my bags on two different flight tickets?

If you purchased two different flight reservations and pieced them together to form a single journey, you should assume the worst in terms of checking your bags through across both reservations unfortunately, even if the two tickets are on the same airline. There are exceptions and tips & hints that might help you make this happen though, so read on!

Assume the Worst

The best way to ensure you have a stress free trip is to assume the worst when you make your plans. But that doesn’t mean getting depressed! It just means making sure you’re prepared:

• Where possible, book your journey on a single ticket. This means the airline is responsible for getting you and your luggage from A to B. The reason for booking two separate tickets needs to be very compelling for you to consider that option.
• If you must book two separate tickets for some reason, make allowance for time to pick up and recheck your baggage (which may also mean going through immigration and customs where you normally would not have) – ideally, plan to stop over for a day or two to create a comfortable buffer between your two tickets.
• Even if there is an exception allowing you to check through bags between two separate tickets, be prepared for the above as not every agent will be well versed on the rules, meaning there’s still a chance that they won’t do this for you!
• If possible, call the airline you’ll be checking in with and ask! If you’re lucky and get a knowledgeable agent, they will be able to check this up for you.

Speak Their Lingo

To help you maximise your chances of getting your bags checked through, here’s some terminology that might help you:

• Each set of flight reservations on a single ticket is commonly referred to as a “PNR”, or “Passenger Name Record”. If you have two separate flight reservations on two different tickets, you have two “PNRs”. PNRs are typically 5 or 6 character alphanumeric codes, such as “G8LMM6”, and will typically be written on your eticket or booking confirmation.
• When you request a bag to be checked through on two different reservations, you are asking for the bag to be “interlined” or “through checked” to your final destination.

Therefore, if you need your bag to be checked through from your origin on one ticket to your destination on another ticket, tell the check in agent that you would like to “through check bags on two separate PNRs”.

Luggage Limits

If you’re lucky enough to be able to check bags through to your final destination on two separate tickets, be aware that your luggage allowance can be calculated in a number of different ways. The most common are:

• Luggage allowance is based on what is specified for the longest portion of your journey
• Luggage allowance is based on the limit of your first flight
• Luggage allowance is based on the policy that’s most restrictive

Again, it’s best to be prepared for the worst!

Airline Policies

If the airline you are checking in with is:

• Qantas, then it will only be possible to check bags through on two different tickets if the second ticket is operated by Qantas or Emirates, or if one of your tickets is a reward flight and the other ticket is purchased with money. More details available here.
• Virgin Australia, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.
• Rex, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.
• Jetstar, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets
• Qatar Airways, then the unofficial policy is that your bag will be checked through onto another Qatar Airways flight, even if it’s on a different ticket.
• Etihad, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.
• Singapore Airlines, then the unofficial policy is that your bag will be checked through onto another flight operated by Singapore Airlines or a Star Alliance partner, even if the second flight is on a different ticket.
• Cathay Pacific, then the official policy is that your bags will be checked through to your connecting flight so long as Cathay has an “interlining agreement” with the second airline, even if it’s on a separate ticket. More details available here.
• Malaysia Airlines, then the official policy is that your bags will be checked through to your connecting flight so long as that second flight is operated by an airline in the oneworld alliance. More details available here.
• JAL, then the official policy is that your bags will be checked through to your connecting flight so long as that second flight is operated by an airline in the oneworld alliance. More details available here.
• Virgin Atlantic, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.
• Finnair, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.
• American Airlines, then the official policy is that your bags will only be checked through if all of your flights are in the one PNR (effectively meaning the flights must be on the same ticket, but there are some very nuanced exceptions).
• United Airlines, then the official policy is that your bags will be checked through to your connecting flight if that second flight is on a Star Alliance airline. This benefit may not apply if you’re flying on a Basic Economy ticket.
• Delta Air Lines, then the official policy is that your bags will be checked through to your connecting flight if:
  • the entire journey is operated by Delta
  • if you present a SkyMiles award ticket plus a cash ticket that includes Delta operated flights
  • the next flight is operated by Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, ITA Airways, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, Virgin Atlantic, or Westjet
  • the second ticket is a SkyTeam Round the World Ticket
  • the second ticket is on a Delta charter flight
• Southwest Airlines, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.
• Hawaiian Airlines, then the officially policy is that your baggage will not be checked through if you hold two separate tickets.

Airline not in the list above? Shoot us a message and we’ll do our best to help!

Are any of the details above out of date? If so, get in touch and let us know, so all travellers can benefit!

The PSSTT Insider KnowHow pages contain knowledge about airlines, hotels, airports, restaurants and cities that we’ve collected over many years. We regularly review this to keep things up to date but information can sometimes become obsolete. If you need definitive information, please always get in touch with your travel service provider!