Additional bags on AA past the OW allowance in Main cabin?

[bussyboy]

My friend is booking USA domestic fares through QF on AA for next month and has QF Gold status: I can work out from AA Website that she'll have two checked bags included when booked in the "Main Cabin" - however does anyone know how a third bag would be priced? Is is seriously going to be $150 per sector?!?!

 

[SYD]

My friend is booking USA domestic fares through QF on AA for next month and has QF Gold status: I can work out from AA Website that she'll have two checked bags included when booked in the "Main Cabin" - however does anyone know how a third bag would be priced? Is is seriously going to be $150 per sector?!?!

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You’d hope that would be US$30 for the 1st bag over your free allowance and so on? Maybe someone with real experience can confirm.

I personally would be aiming to limit my stuff to 2x checked and 1x carryon item.

 

[justinbrett]

My friend is booking USA domestic fares through QF on AA for next month and has QF Gold status: I can work out from AA Website that she'll have two checked bags included when booked in the "Main Cabin" - however does anyone know how a third bag would be priced? Is is seriously going to be $150 per sector?!?!

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No, you pay the bag 3 price.

 

[justinbrett]

There are services in the US where you can ship your bags between cities, if there's a bag they don't need until the longhaul flight home, it might be cheaper to do that. Plus saves the hassle of carting it around.

I've used it a couple of times, works fine if you're staying in hotels. If you're in a home or airbnb just allocate a few hours for pick up & drop off.

 

[bussyboy]

Thanks for the confirmation, unfortunately my friend loves gift giving, so the bags are progressively emptied and filled throughout the tour.

 

[Happy Dude]

Sorry for the hijack but on a similar note, does a QF NB (OW nothing) get any baggage when on a QF reward ticket on domestic AA metal?

 

[Rich]

Sorry for the hijack but on a similar note, does a QF NB (OW nothing) get any baggage when on a QF reward ticket on domestic AA metal?

It depends. If you book a standalone award booking then no. If it is part If an international itinerary then probably yes.
Either case, it will be whatever is on your Qantas itinerary and nothing extra.

 

[Happy Dude]

Thanks @Rich. Standalone booking and the QF ticket will say 0 bags (I thought that might have been a glitch or something). So USD $30 1st bag pp.

 

[justinbrett]

It depends. If you book a standalone award booking then no. If it is part If an international itinerary then probably yes.
Either case, it will be whatever is on your Qantas itinerary and nothing extra.

If it’s an international itinerary then you get the ticket international allowance on all flights. If you fly QF international then it’s the QF amount on all flights, if you fly AA then it’s theirs. (QF is 1x 32Kg, AA is 1x 23Kg)

 

[exceladdict]

If it’s an international itinerary then you get the ticket international allowance on all flights. If you fly QF international then it’s the QF amount on all flights, if you fly AA then it’s theirs. (QF is 1x 32Kg, AA is 1x 23Kg)

I had an issue checking into an AA V class flight connecting to a QF international. System wanted to charge me $200 despite QF Gold / Oneworld sapphire, the staff at the check in desk weren't interested in the QF website showing three bags (no bites on the claim the international allowance overrules). For added confusion, AA website shows two bags, oneworld shows one in addition to ticketed allowance.

Took about half an hour for the staff to override, it's the first time the AA system hasn't automatically given the free bag allowance. But also the first time I've had a combined aa to qf ticket, I've only ever done AA domestic on seperate tickets previously.

 

[Quickstatus]

however does anyone know how a third bag would be priced

When in Rome....

Have you seen the locals at the gate and the massive amount of carry on luggage they have?
The workaround is to do what the locals do - bring it in as carry on. Then ask for a gate check at the gate

I have done this before several times without additional cost. Pick up the offending bag with the rest of the luggage at the carousel at the other end if they put a checkin luggage tag on it, or else at the gate if they don't - say for smaller aircraft (AAEagle).
However make sure that the bag you want to gate check is not a massive 32kg Samsonite. Something like a soft duffle is ideal
I have not done this post Rona, but I can't imagine the locals changing their travel habits anytime soon.
The only problem with this is a gate check generally only is for that single flight. If you have connecting flights, they wont gate check to your final destination - just for that flight.

 

[justinbrett]

The only problem with this is a gate check generally only is for that single flight. If you have connecting flights, they wont gate check to your final destination - just for that flight.

Every time I’ve heard this offered, and the few times I took them up on it, it was checked to final destination.

I don’t know if it’s different when you proactively request it to be checked vs the airline asking for volunteers.

If using your method and still having a carryon, I’d be damn sure to board early in case they start mandatory checking of all carryon. It might get interesting if they see a bag has already been gate checked.

 

[justinbrett]

I had an issue checking into an AA V class flight connecting to a QF international. System wanted to charge me $200 despite QF Gold / Oneworld sapphire, the staff at the check in desk weren't interested in the QF website showing three bags (no bites on the claim the international allowance overrules). For added confusion, AA website shows two bags, oneworld shows one in addition to ticketed allowance.

Took about half an hour for the staff to override, it's the first time the AA system hasn't automatically given the free bag allowance. But also the first time I've had a combined aa to qf ticket, I've only ever done AA domestic on seperate tickets previously.

You weren’t entitled to three bags on that flight. Base QF allowance is 1 bag, AA oneworld allowance for sapphire is 2 bags, so you get the higher amount of 2 bags.

You’re not entitled to the extra QF allowance on AA metal.

I‘ve had success in the past with your line of argument and getting AA to override but technically they are correct and had no obligation to waive the fee.

 

[Quickstatus]

Every time I’ve heard this offered

All my experiences have been boarding towards the end of the queue and gate check at my request. Im not sure if front of queue or rear actually makes any difference with gate check success.
Have not taken up airline offer to gate check, and the times it was allowed (not offered) it was gate checked to the aircraft (not my final) destination. I was caught on the one occasion where I had to exit airside and pick up gatechecked bag and re-enter.
On one occasion, Ive been told to try to stow it in the cabin first, if unable they will gate check. I was not sure if that meant gate check pick up at aircraft door same as wheelchairs or gate check pick up at carousel.

 

[justinbrett]

All my experiences have been boarding towards the end of the queue and gate check at my request.
Have not taken up airline offer to gate check, and the times it was allowed (not offered) it was gate checked to the aircraft destination.
On one occasion, Ive been told to try to stow it in the cabin first, if unable they will gate check. I was not sure if that meant gate check pick up at aircraft door same as wheelchairs or gate check pick up at carousel.

Maybe that is the difference, don’t want to make it too easy for you.

I‘ve probably seen them request volunteers for gate check 50% of the flights I’ve taken (more since covid) and it’s definitely to destination. (A lot of AA connections wouldn’t allow enough time to collect bags and go through TSA again). In fact that was my only motivation as during a quick turnaround at DFW it’s a lot easier if you don’t have to wheel a bag. Waiting for checked bags anyway.

But I can understand why they’d restrict this convenience to when it suits the airline, not the passenger.

 

[Quickstatus]

Maybe that is the difference, don’t want to make it too easy for you.

Thats my understanding.
The times where gate check volunteers were requested I did not have any extras to gate check. Even then I observed some people with obviously large amounts of carry on did not take up the offer at the first instance. Possibly they think that their bags will go missing or they will have to wait to pick up at the carousel. Both reasonable scenarios.

My experiences are limited to AA, AAEagle, DL

I have not flown with WN and wonder what happens there.

 

[SYD]

AS flying LAX-SFO on the E190s we’re actively requesting gate check and then forced gate check after 20 odd carry ons boarded!

Granted, there’s not a lot of room on board - especially with locals insisting on travelling with all their worldly possessions as HLO…

 

[exceladdict]

You weren’t entitled to three bags on that flight. Base QF allowance is 1 bag, AA oneworld allowance for sapphire is 2 bags, so you get the higher amount of 2 bags.

You’re not entitled to the extra QF allowance on AA metal.

I‘ve had success in the past with your line of argument and getting AA to override but technically they are correct and had no obligation to waive the fee.

Sorry for my lack of clarity, I was only asking for two, they were trying to charge $200 for the second bag.

Just noticed this section on the QF page where I'd previously seen the three for gold policy. So yes, the "AA flight number being first" for the return leg may mean their policy applies (ignoring the fact I had earlier QF flights on my OB ticket) but even then, as you say, the checked baggage policy shows of 1st and 2nd bags complimentary for Sapphire, so I'm still confused.

Just grateful I didn't have to part with $200 US, with no guarantee it would be refunded.

Note for USA and Canada: Under USA and Canadian regulations, if your final ticketed origin or destination is within the USA or Canada, the airline whose flight number appears for the first flight on your ticket will determine whether its baggage rules or another airline's baggage rules will apply to all the flights in your itinerary. For travel between Australia and the USA, usually (but not always) Qantas' baggage rules will apply. However, note that any additional allowance for Qantas Frequent Flyers or Qantas Club members applies only to the flights specified above.

 

[justinbrett]

Sorry for my lack of clarity, I was only asking for two, they were trying to charge $200 for the second bag.

Just noticed this section on the QF page where I'd previously seen the three for gold policy. So yes, the "AA flight number being first" for the return leg may mean their policy applies (ignoring the fact I had earlier QF flights on my OB ticket) but even then, as you say, the checked baggage policy shows of 1st and 2nd bags complimentary for Sapphire, so I'm still confused.

Just grateful I didn't have to part with $200 US, with no guarantee it would be refunded.

Now you mention it last year I was flying LAX-DFW-LIT with 3 bags (separate AA ticket) and he was going to charge me for the third bag.

I had given him my QF WP card already so pointed to it - he apologised and did something on the computer and it was all good. I wonder if it's just a case of oneworld FF numbers not being in the right place, or just a technical glitch (I was in First so would have had 2 bags with no status).

First and only time that's happened to me though.

 

[Quickstatus]

forced gate check

Do gate agents have visibility into a passenger's number of checked luggage?
If so they could charge for a 3rd bag if it's gate checked. But do gate agents in the US ever ask for payment for excess baggage?. I've never come across it which is possibly why the locals always have massive carry on

Not sure how the pilots ever get their weights right...