AA/Qantas flight in USA

[branners]

Maybe someone can help me with this one.
Wife and I just flew JFK-SFO on an AA flight in coach, but booked through Qantas and with a codeshared QF flight number. When we were checking in, they told me we had to pay for all 3 checked bags, which worked out to US$85.
I had checked the reservation online earlier in the day and we both had allowance for 2 bags. I tried to argue the case, and flashed the QC card to try to get my point across, but the flight was overbooked so there was no wriggle room.
OK, I concede it was an AA flight, and they have rules for their passengers, but I feel like I have been ripped off with this. If we had stopped off in LA, we would have had a 'real' QF flight and there would have been no drama.
Comments and advice welcome.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

As far as I'm aware you are subject to the carriers baggage policy of the flight number you are booked on. At least that has been my experience.

If you were booked on an AA flight#, then yes it makes sense you would have to pay since you're not a oneworld elite.

 

[dfcatch]

As trippin_the_rift says.

AA flights are subject to baggage fees unless connecting to an international flight within 24 hours (although this has been tightened to wanting the international flight on the same booking reference), or you hold elite status.

 

[drron]

If it was part of a LONE4 then the bags should be free.If a stand alone flight then only if you have status in Aadvantage.
Though not all Aagents know their rules.They tried to charge us in BNA for our bags as was a QF DONE and I do have status in Aadvantage.Needed a supervisor.

 

[fjc]

I recently booked Y - SYD-ATL returning x JFK with a stop over in LAX. As I particularly wanted to be on QF108, I booked via telephone sales. They told me that if I booked all internal USA flights via Qantas, then I would be entitled to Q's international baggage allowance of 2 bags. Reciprocal agreement with AA.

 

[airbound]

I'm with branners on this issue, and recently had a similar issue with an AS-operated QF flight. I held my ground, and eventually won.

In my view, if the Qantas Manage Your Booking page shows that 2 pieces of checked baggage are included, Qantas is making a clear representation that the passenger is entitled to that allowance, and the passenger must be given that allowance, regardless of the carrier. How is the passenger to know that QF, as part of whatever it pays the airline operating the flight, has not already paid a component for the baggage that QF is representing the passenger as entitled to check?

At a minimum, the information is apt to confuse. Potentially, it is a serious misrepresentation.

The information on the QF checked baggage allowance webpage is also unhelpful in parts. Admitedly, it does say:

For travel on other airlines, check the baggage allowances with the applicable carrier before you travel.
​

However, under the "International to/from The Americas" heading, it also says:

^ The Americas means North and South America.
International Travel is defined as travel between two or more countries including any flights within those countries when they are combined with international travel on the same ticket.
​

Things could be made a lot clearer both on the general checked baggage webpage, and also in the Manage Your Booking section. For instance, if the baggage allowance on a non-QF-operated flight is something other than what it would be on a QF-operated flight, the flight details in Manage Your Booking should say "Check with operating carrier" rather than the standard (in this instance) "2 included".

 

[blackcat20]

I flew AA LAX-JFK (QF flight number) two weeks after arriving at LAX on QF93. No issues getting my two suitcases checked in for free, and the same again flying JFK-LAX a week later. I spoke to QF before I left, and they assured me that as it was all on a single, international ticket, then the luggage allowance was for all flights.

When I checked it I told the AA woman that QF had said my luggage was included, so I had no problems. However, my sister flew out of JFK only two days before me and had to argue for her luggage to go through free of charge.

So I think it can depend on who you deal with, but the official line from QF is that baggage is included for all flights if part of an international itinery, regardless of how long youve been in the US.

 

[dfcatch]

I flew AA LAX-JFK (QF flight number) two weeks after arriving at LAX on QF93. No issues getting my two suitcases checked in for free, and the same again flying JFK-LAX a week later. I spoke to QF before I left, and they assured me that as it was all on a single, international ticket, then the luggage allowance was for all flights.

When I checked it I told the AA woman that QF had said my luggage was included, so I had no problems. However, my sister flew out of JFK only two days before me and had to argue for her luggage to go through free of charge.

So I think it can depend on who you deal with, but the official line from QF is that baggage is included for all flights if part of an international itinery, regardless of how long youve been in the US.

Yes - IF the international flights are on the same booking.

 

[branners]

Thanks for the input folks.
My beef, or a part of it, is that my QF booking notification said 2 BAGS. If it said, 'Sorry Ace, this is an AA flight and you will have to pay for each bag, and if you try to argue about it, you are screwed', I would have understood.
I just want some consistency.
And, having paid top buck to get the damn bags on the flight, I might have expected them to end up on a carousel that had JFK baggage on it, not on the one next door that featured recent arrivals from O'Hare. At least that made my mind up about any ideas of AA in the future.