Flight from Phoenix to London

I think it depends on which group is flying the airplane and who's airplane. Lufthansa is fairly tight with carry size and sometimes weight. I think you still get free luggage check on international flights -- at least one bag. Hope that it is a Lufthansa crew and plane.

It will be LH's rules that you will need to live by since it is their aircraft flying the route and I'm assuming they will have their own staff doing the checkin. In Phx UA operates out of Terminal 2 and in the past year of flying into/out of PHX on UA, I have never seen the LH aircraft - so assuming that the ground staff is contracted and not handled by UA.

The rules that apply are that of the operating carrier, United. Code-sharing simply means that, for your convenience, they are selling you the ticket as if it was their own to make connections easier. For example, I am flying to Asia this fall, and one of my flights is a Northwest code share (my primary carrier) operated by Japan Airlines, so Japan Airline's rules apply on that flight...

The carrier is not UA but LH even though it was sold as a UA ticket based on what Steve wrote. I do not think the flight is actually operated by UA even though their flight # shows up on the ticket.

Steve....please tell us the flight numbers, when you're flying, and where you are scheduled to change planes. Then we call tell you who is actually flying the plane.

My flights are Lufthansa 9073 - operated by United Airlines leaving Phx to Dulles (DC), then Lufthansa 9051 operated by United Airlines to Frankfurt, and finally Lufthansa 4724 to Heathrow. All these flights are on May 9, 2009.

Yes, Steve, you are correct. The first two flights are actually United Airlines flights that Lufthansa is codesharing on. On these flights, you will be under the UAL restrictions.

The flight between FRA and LHR is operated by LUfthansa and you will be under their rules.

So, if you are only carrying on, Lufthansa allow just over 17 pounds while UAL allows 40 pounds.

The entire UAL portion should be conisidered an international flight so if you are checking luggage, there won't be a charge as UAL does not charge for checked baggage on international flights. (Neither does Lufthansa.)

Servicewise, the flight between PHX and IAD will be a regular UAL domestic trip.Whatever UAL's food program is at the time will stand. Meals will be served between IAD and FRA as most carriers still offer free food on international flights.

Now with all that said, remember, your flight isn't for 9monhts. Who knows what will happen between now and then.

I stand corrected - these are UA flights sold under the LH codeshare.

Why trust other travelers to answer your questions. Use the toll free phone number and call your carrier and ask about luggage and meals. You are paying them for travel; so ask them for information.