Bag fee when WP/SG travelling with partner airlines in NAmerica

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Longtoo

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Hi all,
As a QF WP, when i fly economy with Alaska or WestJet within North America, do i have to pay for my checked bag? I could not find any info from either QF or their partner airline website, only the fact that i can get a QF codeshare flight with them (and potentially pay a lot more!).
Cheers
L
 
I just flew Alaska today (SFO-SEA) on an AA flight number, I tried flashing my Qantas card and they still charged me.

So, no to both.

They’re not oneworld airlines, they don’t recognise Qantas status. There are some benifits if you are connecting to a QF international flight, but that’s it.
 
Baggage fee waivers are up to the partner airlines - no oneworld rules apply, as WestJet and Alaska aren't members.

On both airlines you'll have to pay for bags when booking the cheapest fare directly with them.

Alaska list their fees, and scenarios where they don't apply, at Exceptions and waivers for our baggage policies | Alaska Airlines
WestJet list their fees, and scenarios where they don't apply, at Service fees | WestJet

Neither page lists Qantas Frequent Flyer members as being eligible for free bags.
Note that WestJet has some more expensive Economy fares that include bags, while Alaska requires bags be added to all Economy fares.

If you're travelling either carrier on a QF codeshare this all changes, as you're on a "Qantas" flight and North American regulation states that the 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. You could have AS or WS flight numbers for some short legs and have the QF allowance apply if your first flight is on a QF flight number.

Note that, while a QF codeshare should get you free bags, it does not usually get you free seat selection and, like the baggage, you also do not get free seat selection when booking directly with the operating carrier.
 
I just flew Alaska today (SFO-SEA) on an AA flight number, I tried flashing my Qantas card and they still charged me.

So, no to both.

They’re not oneworld airlines, they don’t recognise Qantas status. There are some benifits if you are connecting to a QF international flight, but that’s it.
On an AA coded flight you should get baggage (through OW). I had a similar experience with WS, although I flashed my QF WP card and got asked what level is that equivalent to..?!
 
Yep, you have to pay for checked bags on both Alaskan and Westjet even with Qantas status.

That said, when I flew Westjet last month I asked the check-in guy whether being QF Gold made any difference to the $26.25 bag fee he was about the charge. To my surprise, he offered to waive the fee. I don't think he did this because I was actually entitled to it, but rather because he couldn't be bothered looking up the rules for QF flyers! So I wouldn't count on this happening again. :cool:
 
Many thanks for your info. So "No" is what we should expect. Anything better is just random.
 
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Keep in mind AA just “broke up” with both of them, which further reduces your chance of QF status being recognised
 
If I book a single award ticket using my QF points should I expect to pay for bags on Westjet on this itinerary?

Westjet to LAS then connecting on AA for LAS-LAX-SYD.

Edit: Booking made and the ticket says baggage is included.
 
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On an AA coded flight you should get baggage (through OW). I had a similar experience with WS, although I flashed my QF WP card and got asked what level is that equivalent to..?!
Other then extra allowance for oneworld status (extra KG on a weight based ticket or extra bag on piece based), there is no oneworld bonus for status. ie, bag fees aren't part of status benefits.
AA extends the fee waivers they give to their own status holders to oneworld status holders by their own choice.
 
Other then extra allowance for oneworld status (extra KG on a weight based ticket or extra bag on piece based), there is no oneworld bonus for status. ie, bag fees aren't part of status benefits.
AA extends the fee waivers they give to their own status holders to oneworld status holders by their own choice.

And from first hand experience just a few months ago, Alaska won’t check bags for free on an AA marketed flight to ow status holders.
 
If I book a single award ticket using my QF points should I expect to pay for bags on Westjet on this itinerary?

Westjet to LAS then connecting on AA for LAS-LAX-SYD.

Edit: Booking made and the ticket says baggage is included.

I’d be interested in hearing if they acknowledge the included baggage or try and charge you again
 
If I book a single award ticket using my QF points should I expect to pay for bags on Westjet on this itinerary?

Westjet to LAS then connecting on AA for LAS-LAX-SYD.

Edit: Booking made and the ticket says baggage is included.

WestJet appear to use the MSC rule, which will give you the baggage allowance of the most significant carrier on the itinerary - in this case your LAX-SYD allowance is applicable for the whole journey.
 
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