Connecting flight - luggage + check in

Rum Ham!

Hi, looked through some older threads and couldn't find any great help.

I am flying to San Francisco next week,

Dublin to Manchester to San Francisco. Return is San Fran to London to Dublin.

I'm flying from Dub to Man and Lon to Dub with Aer Lingus and Virgin on long haul flights. I have boarding passes printed for the Aer Lingus flights.

I have 2 questions. Do I check my bags in with Aer Lingus in Dublin and they will go straight threw to San Fran or will I have to pick them up along the way? The same vice versa with checking them in with Virgin in the US.

When I printed the boarding passes on the Aer Lingus website it told me to collect boarding passes in the airports for the other flights.

On the stuff I printed off when I booked the flights it looked as if it was all operated by Aer Lingus but when I go on to the Aer Lingus website it says the Virgin flights are operated by Virgin.

Will I need to check bags in twice and check in myself in for the Virgin flights?

Also I only have 1 hr 25 mins in London for a stopover.

d.pop

Did you book the flights yourself separately for both airlines, online etc or through a travel agent?
I Haven't done that particular route but I would be a bit concerned on your behalf if you don't have a lot of time between flights.
I suspect you will need to collect bags and check them through again at the stopover unless the whole trip was booked as one or with code sharing airlines if you follow me, example would be if the two airlines were partners in one world or some other arrangement and were handling baggage for each other.
You really need to find that out, can you call whoever sold you the tickets?
Yes you can collect boarding passes in the airport but again if you don't have a lot of time you could be under pressure, finding desk, queuing etc in a strange airport.
The typical minimum stopover for London (Heathrow anyway) when booking as one journey, i.e not collecting bags is around 2.5 hrs to allow time to get through in time.
I don't know how you would find out more info but you need to make some calls...
Sorry, couldn't help more and not trying to scare you but if it was me I'd be making some calls when airlines open in morning.

d.pop

Just did some quick googling there. AE and Virgin seem to have an agreement alright but looks as though can be hit and miss, ring both tomorrow I'd suggest.

Rum Ham!

Thanks for your reply. I contacted aerlingus and they told me the flights are being operated by virgin. I am to confirm in Dublin with aerlingus that they are going straight to my final destination and she said it shouldn't be an issue.

As regards the transfer time coming home she said the minimum is 1hr so said I should be fine but I'm a bit concerned myself about that

Rum Ham!

Oh btw, I booked threw an agency so I won't be able to contact them until tomorrow. If I can get the last flight home pushed back for a later one I think I will... Although on their website they state a €55 euro change fee plus whatever the airline charges.