Checked baggage through on separate bookings

[MEL_Traveller]

I had a special request so I wasn't able to -

Not clear what you mean by this?

 

[he3at]

Hi all,
Would I be able to have luggage checked through with these bookings (on separate PNRs)?

• QF436 MEL-SYD, booked as QFF economy classic reward, arriving 1230
• BA16 SYD-SIN, booked as QFF business classic reward, departing 1620 same day

QF's interline webpage seems to say I can't, but what have others' experiences been?
Is there any point calling Qantas to ask?
Should I ask Qantas at MEL domestic before bag drop (assuming I can find someone)?
Should I hold-off online check in for the SYD-SIN leg?

All advice and anecdotes welcome!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all,
Would I be able to have luggage checked through with these bookings (on separate PNRs)?

• QF436 MEL-SYD, booked as QFF economy classic reward, arriving 1230
• BA16 SYD-SIN, booked as QFF business classic reward, departing 1620 same day

QF's interline webpage seems to say I can't, but what have others' experiences been?
Is there any point calling Qantas to ask?
Should I ask Qantas at MEL domestic before bag drop (assuming I can find someone)?
Should I hold-off online check in for the SYD-SIN leg?

All advice and anecdotes welcome!

No point calling Qantas.

I think the best option is to go to an assisted service desk at MEL domestic and ask there. That’s the desk that handles domestic->international connections, so if anyone can do anything, they will. But don’t be disappointed if the answer is a ‘no’.

 

[he3at]

Thanks for the tips. I'll check out the service desk at Mel domestic. Fortunately there's plenty of time between flights to grab bags if I have to.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Would I be able to have luggage checked through with these bookings (on separate PNRs)?

• QF436 MEL-SYD, booked as QFF economy classic reward, arriving 1230
• BA16 SYD-SIN, booked as QFF business classic reward, departing 1620 same day

QF's interline webpage seems to say I can't, but what have others' experiences been?
Is there any point calling Qantas to ask?
Should I ask Qantas at MEL domestic before bag drop (assuming I can find someone)?
Should I hold-off online check in for the SYD-SIN leg?

All advice and anecdotes welcome!

You need to read the exception

Interline and Through Checked Baggage

Checked baggage allowances are determined according to the itinerary and provided at the time of booking. Different baggage allowances may apply each time baggage is checked in. This page contains information on Interline - International Journeys and Through Checked Baggage.

www.qantas.com

^ Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel. Note: This is a Qantas exemption and may not be supported by all oneworld airlines.

Will be a lot easier at SYD if you can interline bags and get boarding pass/document check at MEL. Then just the gate 15 transit bus to T1

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You need to read the exception

Interline and Through Checked Baggage

Checked baggage allowances are determined according to the itinerary and provided at the time of booking. Different baggage allowances may apply each time baggage is checked in. This page contains information on Interline - International Journeys and Through Checked Baggage.

www.qantas.com

Will be a lot easier at SYD if you can interline bags and get boarding pass/document check at MEL. Then just the gate 15 transit bus to T1

The exception supports the OP’s assumption bags won’t be checked through.

 

[he3at]

You need to read the exception

Interline and Through Checked Baggage

Checked baggage allowances are determined according to the itinerary and provided at the time of booking. Different baggage allowances may apply each time baggage is checked in. This page contains information on Interline - International Journeys and Through Checked Baggage.

www.qantas.com

Will be a lot easier at SYD if you can interline bags and get boarding pass/document check at MEL. Then just the gate 15 transit bus to T1

Yeah, unfortunately my reading of this is that because my flights are both award tickets, that exemption doesn't apply to me.

Taking the gate 15 transit bus is the outcome I'm hoping for. But it looks like there's not much I can do ahead of time - just turn up at Mel domestic and ask if my bags can be checked through.

 

[jbmemories]

I have an upcoming flight that's a mix of QF award and revenue flights to LHR (separate QF PNRs), followed by a revenue fare with BA flying out of the same terminal (different PNR, QFF added), with a 4-hour layover, within the same Terminal.

QF has added that BA PNR to my overall ticket (and it shows up in my QF app), but has advised me to try my luck at the Aus airport to see if they can interline it through to my final BA flight. Not the end of the world if it can't, but it will undoubtedly be a hassle to exit, do customs, and then re-enter/re-check everything for the BA flight.

 

[justinbrett]

I have an upcoming flight that's a mix of QF award and revenue flights to LHR (separate QF PNRs), followed by a revenue fare with BA flying out of the same terminal (different PNR, QFF added), with a 4-hour layover, within the same Terminal.

Yes, the policy quoted above covers your situation exactly. However if you are doing a return journey in reverse, BA won’t connect to a separate PNR (even BA to BA). But for outbound it’s just a matter of getting staff who know how to do it, so don’t be afraid to ask for a supervisor if you are told it can’t be done. Have the interline policy page handy if you can, though I doubt you will need it.

Edit - are you trying to through check 3 PNRs? That might be pushing it. Doesn’t stop you asking.

QF has added that BA PNR to my overall ticket (and it shows up in my QF app), but has advised me to try my luck at the Aus airport to see if they can interline it through to my final BA flight. Not the end of the world if it can't, but it will undoubtedly be a hassle to exit, do customs, and then re-enter/re-check everything for the BA flight.

Not that it matters but this is not possible, a PNR can hold multiple tickets, a ticket can’t hold multiple PNRs. As QF and BA use the same system, and due to some relics of the old joint venture, any BA booking with your QFF number will automatically show up in your QF app. If QF said they were linking your bookings that’s nice but it does absolutely nothing.

 

[AuSammy]

Have the rules changed in recent years?

I’ve almost always had my luggage checked through to my destination.)

Previously over the years on various occasions I have had a CR redemption tickets on one PNR on QF ticket stock and luggage checked through without question. A few examples:

(QF) Mel-Hkg (BA) Hkg-Lhr (BA) Lhr-Fco

(EK) Mel-Kul (EK) Kul-Dub (EK) Dub-Ist

(QF) Mel-Hkg (QR) Hkg-Doh (AT) Doh-Cmn

(QF) Mel-Bne (QF) Bne-Hnd

(CA) Bne-Tpe (CA) Tpe-Yvr

(RJ) Amm-Doh (QR) Doh-Cmn

[On other tickets via Lax and Yvr luggage was checked through but had to collect and relodge like everyone else]

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have the rules changed in recent years?

I’ve almost always had my luggage checked through to my destination.)

Previously over the years on various occasions I have had a CR redemption tickets on one PNR on QF ticket stock and luggage checked through without question. A few examples:

(QF) Mel-Hkg (BA) Hkg-Lhr (BA) Lhr-Fco

(EK) Mel-Kul (EK) Kul-Dub (EK) Dub-Ist

(QF) Mel-Hkg (QR) Hkg-Doh (AT) Doh-Cmn

(QF) Mel-Bne (QF) Bne-Hnd

(CA) Bne-Tpe (CA) Tpe-Yvr

(RJ) Amm-Doh (QR) Doh-Cmn

[On other tickets via Lax and Yvr luggage was checked through but had to collect and relodge like everyone else]

Through checked baggage on *one* PNR isnt an issue.

It’s where you have separate PNRs, which is what’s being discusssed here.

 

[AuSammy]

Through checked baggage on *one* PNR isnt an issue.

It’s where you have separate PNRs, which is what’s being discusssed here.

Not single QF but I have had 2 PNRs recently

(SQ - SQ revenue) Bne-Sin-Bkk
(QR -QF redemption) Bkk-Doh-Zhr

…where I had no pushback at checkin but they had to call over a senior because “its complicated with three transits”

 

[vbroucek]

Excuse my ignorance. Have not been flying for few years and my terminology got bit rusty. So can someone confirm that QF can/will check my luggage through in this scenario:
Ticket/PNR 1: DPO-MEL (QF2052)
Ticket/PNR 2: MEL-DXB (EK407) - LHR (EK029)
Both revenue tickets domestic QF ticketed, international EK ticketed.
Not too fussy about it as I have heaps of time in MEL anyway, but would help not to have luggage with me...

 

[SYD]

Not QF but I have had 2 PNRs recently

(SQ - SQ revenue) Bne-Sin-Bkk
(QR -QF redemption) Bkk-Doh-Zhr

…where I had no pushback at checkin but they had to call over a senior because “its complicated with three transits”

SQ is one of exceptions and generally pretty good.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not single QF but I have had 2 PNRs recently

(SQ - SQ revenue) Bne-Sin-Bkk
(QR -QF redemption) Bkk-Doh-Zhr

…where I had no pushback at checkin but they had to call over a senior because “its complicated with three transits”

Yes, and shows what airlines can and should do to offer service.

But QF and all other Oneworld airlines have decided they don’t want to provide that service, unless all on the one ticket, or in the case of qantas, award to revenue,

Excuse my ignorance. Have not been flying for few years and my terminology got bit rusty. So can someone confirm that QF can/will check my luggage through in this scenario:
Ticket/PNR 1: DPO-MEL (QF2052)
Ticket/PNR 2: MEL-DXB (EK407) - LHR (EK029)
Both revenue tickets domestic QF ticketed, international EK ticketed.
Not too fussy about it as I have heaps of time in MEL anyway, but would help not to have luggage with me...

the chart was posted just a couple of posts up: https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...when-can-my-customers-bags-be-through-checked

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Unlinked PNR is the hiccup tho.
As you would need time to get passport data page swiped by BAs contract staff at check in in SYD, even with BA OLCI.

 

[elanshin]

Yes, and shows what airlines can and should do to offer service.

But QF and all other Oneworld airlines have decided they don’t want to provide that service, unless all on the one ticket, or in the case of qantas, award to revenue,

the chart was posted just a couple of posts up: https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...when-can-my-customers-bags-be-through-checked

Not quite true CX will check through in a lot of circumstances. Separate PNR + OW airline at an outpost - doable.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not quite true CX will check through in a lot of circumstances. Separate PNR + OW airline at an outpost - doable.

They’ve actually published an official guide too! https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en...my-itinerary-includes-connecting-flights.html

 

[justinbrett]

Yes, and shows what airlines can and should do to offer service.

But QF and all other Oneworld airlines have decided they don’t want to provide that service, unless all on the one ticket, or in the case of qantas, award to revenue,

But in that example QF would also through check as it’s a combination of reward and revenue.

Unlinked PNR is the hiccup tho.

As I mentioned above, linking PNRs is useless for solving this issue. Any offer by the call centre to do this won’t achieve squat.

What you need is multiple tickets on a single PNR, which is something a good travel agent can do, or have an airline policy that will allow through check on multiple PNRs.

Sometimes when it’s not policy, the staff will check your bags through but ask you to check in online for the second flight. I’ve had AA do this flying AUS-DFW with a separate QF flight DFW-SYD. I’d planned on self connecting but the AA agent proactively offered to connect my bags, but asked me to check in online with QF first.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But in that example QF would also through check as it’s a combination of reward and revenue.

The QF exception covers reward and revenue for oneworld flights.

The SQ/QR-QF example goes across airline alliances.

So if the SQ policy was the same as QF’s it would only cover star alliance reward/revenue, not from star to oneworld (QR/QF).