re: Using two different airlines for a trip

quote:

---

If I book Southwest and then want to get on Alaska Air, will I have to get my bags at baggage claim in Seattle and go back through security? Is there a way to have bags transferred from Southwest to Alaska Air after arrival in Seattle. Any experiences doing this type of travel? Suggestions? I planned on allowing ample time between the flights as I know Alaska Air will not hold plane if Southwest is delayed.

---

No, you will have to collect your luggage then head to the Alaska Air desk to get your new boarding pass and drop off bags again. Not a big deal and potentially worth the hassle / risk if you are saving a few hundred. But if the Southwest flight is delayed you will probably miss the next flight. Alaska Air will consider you a no-show since they will not know about your Southwest flight or it's delay. I would only try this if the layover is 3 hours or more, if the first flight is almost always on-time statistically, and if the savings are substantial.

I missed a flight from Frankfurt to Venice on Lufthansa because my New Orleans to Frankfurt flight on Condor was delayed. Lufthansa gave me a red-eye flight later that day but I got the feeling that they didn't have to since I was technically a no-show.