What determines which flights from different airlines can be combined on one ticket?

[Daver6]

It's come up that I need to fly Qantas connecting to a Vistara flight. Amex Travel tell me they can't issue this on a single ticket. This got my wondering what the rules are around combining different airlines into a single ticket.

The obvious reason I want my flights on a single ticket is missed connection protection.

In the past I've even had hassles with our corporate travel agent saying I couldn't combined QF and BA flights onto the same PNR. The flights in question were PER - LHR (QF) connecting to LHR - TLV (BA). Eventually the managed to do it by combining two tickets into one PNR.

So for those in the know, that's the background here on combining flights into one ticket? When can and can't it be done?

Edit: Got the tickets and PNR the wrong way around originally.

 

[AIRwin]

Interline agreements?

 

[Daver6]

I think you’ve got this one the wrong way around. Very easy to combine two tickets in the one PNR. I’d be surprised if two PNRs were combined in the one ticket.

Good catch. You're correct. I'll edit my original post.

So it's the single PNR that gives one the missed connection protection, correct?

If talking tickets probably fare rules are the overriding reason why you can’t combine carriers into one ticket. Many such rules (particularly for non full fare ) have restrictions on which carriers can be used.

For not being able to combine tickets in the one PNR perhaps it’s interline agreements?

I do note QF have interline agreements with UK (Vistara), and UK also use GDS so would have thought possible to shoehorn into same PNR.

 

[dajop]

Good catch. You're correct. I'll edit my original post.

So it's the single PNR that gives one the missed connection protection, correct?

Oops was trying to edit my post as some things were wrong and deleted the lot.

Single ticket is the only thing that gives protection I believe. Even if in same PNR. But at least for QF if on same PNR (even if different ticket numbers) you can through check luggage to UK (well if intl->intl, for intl->domestic, customs rules may prevent this), but may not be protected if QF is late.

It’s all very confusing. But the bit in my original post about fare rules dictating which carriers can be used in the one ticket does stand.

 

[dajop]

Just looked at ExpertFlyer there seem to be two sets of fare rules for India, one involving the old flights connecting in SIN,, HKG and BKK that allow CX, MH, 3K and UL. The ones involving the India direct flights show this:

THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY QF FLIGHT
ANY JQ FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ
ANY AI FLIGHT OPERATED BY AI
ANY UL FLIGHT OPERATED BY UL.

 

[jpp42]

Vistara is part owned by Singapore Airlines, and Qantas has historically not interlined with SQ either, so I guess this is no surprise. Too bad though as Vistara is miles better than AI for domestic India flights, and as Delhi is their hub there could be good connections to/from the QF flights.

 

[Daver6]

Just looked at ExpertFlyer there seem to be two sets of fare rules for India, one involving the old flights connecting in SIN,, HKG and BKK that allow CX, MH, 3K and UL. The ones involving the India direct flights show this:
THE FARE COMPONENT MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
ANY QF FLIGHT
ANY JQ FLIGHT OPERATED BY JQ
ANY AI FLIGHT OPERATED BY AI
ANY UL FLIGHT OPERATED BY UL.

Im not sure I fully understand your post. Does that mean and QF flight inbound can be on the same ticket then?

 

[jpp42]

Im not sure I fully understand your post. Does that mean and QF flight inbound can be on the same ticket then?

What it means is that the Qantas flights to India can only be combined on the same ticket with flights sold by the listed airlines, which are those which Qantas has an interline agreement with. It's using the two letter IATA codes for each airline, Qantas (QF), Jetstar (JQ), Air India (AI), and Sri Lankan(UL).

 

[dajop]

What it means is that the Qantas flights to India can only be combined on the same ticket with flights sold by the listed airlines, which are those which Qantas has an interline agreement with.

In this instance it is only those listed in the fare rules. According to ExpertFlyer QF does have an interline agreement with Vistara (as it does with SQ) but that doesn’t mean it is in QF’s commercial interest to sell fares on UK, it may get a better deal moving pax across to AI instead, so I presume this is why fare rules don’t permit it. If OP has QF and UK tickets in the same PNR (and for example it was a UK international flight, no customs clearance, QF should be able to through check luggage).

 

[justinbrett]

Put it on expedia using the multi city tool, if it works you can put it on a single PNR.

 

[HS-TQE]

Vistara is part owned by Singapore Airlines, and Qantas has historically not interlined with SQ either, so I guess this is no surprise. Too bad though as Vistara is miles better than AI for domestic India flights, and as Delhi is their hub there could be good connections to/from the QF flights.

QF and SQ had interlined in recent times on Australia-Indian flights, with flights appearing through either travel agents or even the QF websites (although not listed on the top of results) however there's no FF benefits on the SIN-Indian leg on the QF ticket as QF/SQ doesn't have a FF relationship.