Weird situation, but I had to book 2 different tickets, one on United from Charleston to DC, then another on SAA to JNB, then on to hunt camp from there. Anyone ever had problems switching airlines like this mid-travel with their guns. Just trying to anticipate the problems to come. Maybe United and SAA will be so kind to check my bags all the way through. Maybe not. Just never done it like this before, so any imput would be appreciated.

Expect to claim and recheck. You can always ask, but on an International flight I doubt the domestic carrier will accept the liability of the international paperwork checks(passport, visa, etc.)

UA and SAA are codeshare partners and they also have a baggage agreement. As long as you show both tickets on checkin, they will check your bags all the way to JNB. That doesn't guarantee they will get there when you do, though. Avoid tight connections!

Using UAL and SAA has worked well for me.

Not sure why you had to purchase a seperate domestic ticket. As Russ mentioned UA and SA are partners and SA has special "add-on" rates with UA.

If the airlines follow their own rules you have two contracts. One with United and one with SAA. United could stick to his and you could fall within the domestic regulation where they will only check your baggage to DC and you would have to pay the necessary domestic baggage fees.

Having said this, in most cases United should through-check your baggage without any question provided you follow Russ' recommendtions of showing both tickets and making sure the bag tags have JNB as the final destination. If they do through-check you should then avoid having to pay the domestic baggage fees!

Have a great trip!

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
UA and SAA are codeshare partners and they also have a baggage agreement. As long as you show both tickets on checkin, they will check your bags all the way to JNB. That doesn't guarantee they will get there when you do, though. Avoid tight connections!

I am no expert but I did the exact flights except I flew from Greenville. No issues.
That said Steve Turner is the expert.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP