Checked baggage amount on code share flight with Alaska Airlines

[godoftoast]

Hi Team,

I booked flights from EWR to MEL through Qantas. The first leg is with Alaska to LAX (QF codeshare on AS flight). The next two stages LAX - BNE - MEL are with Qantas. All the legs are on a Qantas itinerary.

Now on the baggage section it states 2 x 0kg checked bags from EWR to LAX (then 3 bags from LAX to MEL). It says to check the Alaska Airlines websites. Alaska states on their website its 30 dollars for the first checked bag.

I read previous threads from 2015 that stated that American carriers honor the baggage allowances of later flights (specifically relating to Alaska). However I've read more recent threads (with other airlines - eg UA and Delta) stating they had to pay.

Im wondering if anyone has any recent experience with this? What should I expect.

Thanks.

 

[Himeno]

The IATA has rules that determine this. In most cases, the "most significant carrier" of the ticket (in simple terms, usually the first marketing carrier with the longest flight), determines the baggage rules for the entire ticket. eg, QF SYD-HKG, CX HKG-LHR. CX has the longest flight, so the CX rules apply to the QF flight.

However, because the US is "special", the US DOT has their own rules for trips involving the US and Canada. In this case, the first marketing carrier determines the baggage allowance.

As you are on the QF codeshare for EWR-LAX, and QF is the "most significant carrier", Qantas baggage rules should apply in either case.
If you were on the AS code for the first flight, then you would follow the AS rules, unless AS elected to follow the "most significant carrier" rules.