Checked baggage through on separate bookings

[MelbFlyer]

Last year I booked 2 separate itineraries (same trip though) via QFF points as I couldn't book it on the one due to a system issue.

PNR #1
CX and CI

PNR #2
CX

The CX flight on PNR #2 was directly after the CX flight on PNR #1, with a 3hr transit (I tried to book it as a divorced segment as it wouldn't come up as a married one for some reason - this was possibly why it wasn't able to be booked all in the one booking).

Upon check-in to the first CX flight, I asked at the counter if they could through-check my baggage to my final destination, they checked something on the system first but they ended up being able to with no issues.

 

[Aggi]

I was traveling back to Melbourne from Anchorage yesterday, first 2 flights with Alaska Air and a 3rd flight on QF from LAX on a separate booking
I asked in Anchorage if my bag could be checked through to Melbourne and was told Alaska Air stopped checking bags through on separate bookings in March 2025.

 

[Beasley]

Thanks for the responses to my question. I am expecting that we will be unable to get the baggage checked through because they are two separate bookings and the connecting flight in Tokyo is Jetstar.
We will have to collect our luggage after the JAL flight, clear customs and then recheck for the Jetstar flight. We have 4 hours and 40 minutes between flights (if our inbound is on time) so we should be OK.
I must say though, I cannot understand why Qantas cannot merge separate bookings into one booking because it is their system that virtually forces members to make separate bookings. Additionally, we shouldn't be disadvantaged for travelling on an international Jetstar flight when booking through the Qantas booking system.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the responses to my question. I am expecting that we will be unable to get the baggage checked through because they are two separate bookings and the connecting flight in Tokyo is Jetstar.
We will have to collect our luggage after the JAL flight, clear customs and then recheck for the Jetstar flight. We have 4 hours and 40 minutes between flights (if our inbound is on time) so we should be OK.
I must say though, I cannot understand why Qantas cannot merge separate bookings into one booking because it is their system that virtually forces members to make separate bookings. Additionally, we shouldn't be disadvantaged for travelling on an international Jetstar flight when booking through the Qantas booking system.

No airline merges PNRs, although they can link them. Once separate bookings have been created that’s the way they stay.

There are reasons why airlines won’t, for example married segment control.

Jetstar does interline and through check bags with their partners… and there’s a long list of those including Japan Airpines… if you can get it all on the one ticket.

 

[Beasley]

No airline merges PNRs, although they can link them. Once separate bookings have been created that’s the way they stay.

There are reasons why airlines won’t, for example married segment control.

Jetstar does interline and through check bags with their partners… and there’s a long list of those including Japan Airpines… if you can get it all on the one ticket.

But I cannot get it on the one ticket Mel_Traveller ….. or can I?
Although we would be coming from a JAL flight to a Jetstar flight, therefore your mention of the Jetstar doing interline wouldn’t work for us as we would need JAL to do interline with Jetstar.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But I cannot get it on the one ticket Mel_Traveller ….. or can I?
Although we would be coming from a JAL flight to a Jetstar flight, therefore your mention of the Jetstar doing interline wouldn’t work for us as we would need JAL to do interline with Jetstar.

I assume it works both ways. The only way to get it on to one ticket now would be to cancel one of the bookings and do a new booking, or change the existing one to include the Jetstar leg.

Failing that, you can certainly ask JAL if they will through check when you’re at the check in desk. No harm in asking.

 

[Beasley]

I assume it works both ways. The only way to get it on to one ticket now would be to cancel one of the bookings and do a new booking, or change the existing one to include the Jetstar leg.

Failing that, you can certainly ask JAL if they will through check when you’re at the check in desk. No harm in asking.

Yes agreed. It would be very beneficial if it can happen.
Otherwise I guess we will need to go through arrivals at Narita (instead of transfer) collect the bags and then go to the check in for the Jetstar flight.

 

[DAC1]

Upon check-in to the first CX flight, I asked at the counter if they could through-check my baggage to my final destination, they checked something on the system first but they ended up being able to with no issues.

It is CX policy to through check to itself and other OW partners on separate tickets. Some other OW airlines still allow it (including MH and QR).

 

[Mwenenzi]

Thanks for the responses to my question. I am expecting that we will be unable to get the baggage checked through because they are two separate bookings and the connecting flight in Tokyo is Jetstar.
We will have to collect our luggage after the JAL flight, clear customs and then recheck for the Jetstar flight. We have 4 hours and 40 minutes between flights (if our inbound is on time) so we should be OK.
I must say though, I cannot understand why Qantas cannot merge separate bookings into one booking because it is their system that virtually forces members to make separate bookings. Additionally, we shouldn't be disadvantaged for travelling on an international Jetstar flight when booking through the Qantas booking system.

Following the 2016 OW bag interline changes JAL continued to interline to OW airlines on separate. tickets. If to Jetstar is another question.
FT thread.. JAL will continue to interline to other oneworld carriers on separate PNRs - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[AuSammy]

But I cannot get it on the one ticket Mel_Traveller ….. or can I?
Although we would be coming from a JAL flight to a Jetstar flight, therefore your mention of the Jetstar doing interline wouldn’t work for us as we would need JAL to do interline with Jetstar.

Remember Jetstar is not OneWorld and not a member of any alliance so separate agreements would need to be made and paid for between individual airlines

 

[DejaBrew]

Wondering if anyone might be able to help clear up an interlining query please?

I have multiple PNRs on which Trip/PNR 1 is QF and Trip/PNR 2 is CX. Reading the Qantas Interline and Through Checked Baggage article, it clearly states -:

If travelling on a oneworld flight booked on separate tickets in separate bookings, the baggage will not be checked through and the customers will not receive the boarding pass for their onward flight.

However there also appears to be a caveat -:

Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel.

In my case, Trip/PNR 1 is a Qantas Classic Award flight (SYD>SIN), whereas Trip/PNR 2 is a CX Revenue fare (SIN>HKG>HND). Does this mean that there's a chance baggage will be checked through to the final destination?

Finally, I note the same article indicates that "...baggage can only be checked though within the same calendar day." In my case, the QF flight sees me arriving in SIN in the evening (day 1), whereas the onward CX flights depart around 1am (day2). Is this likely to impact any ability to have baggage checked through?

Appreciate any wisdom from the community.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wondering if anyone might be able to help clear up an interlining query please?

I have multiple PNRs on which Trip/PNR 1 is QF and Trip/PNR 2 is CX. Reading the Qantas Interline and Through Checked Baggage article, it clearly states -:



However there also appears to be a caveat -:



In my case, Trip/PNR 1 is a Qantas Classic Award flight (SYD>SIN), whereas Trip/PNR 2 is a CX Revenue fare (SIN>HKG>HND). Does this mean that there's a chance baggage will be checked through to the final destination?

Finally, I note the same article indicates that "...baggage can only be checked though within the same calendar day." In my case, the QF flight sees me arriving in SIN in the evening (day 1), whereas the onward CX flights depart around 1am (day2). Is this likely to impact any ability to have baggage checked through?

Appreciate any wisdom from the community.

My understanding is that the exception applies for award->revenue, so you should be good to go. Provided you can find a check-in agent who can still do it!

Same calendar day… AFAIK the ‘calendar day’ ends at like 3am for airlines and airports. So that too, you’d hope, is fine!

 

[exLXCXFF]

Wondering if anyone might be able to help clear up an interlining query please?

I have multiple PNRs on which Trip/PNR 1 is QF and Trip/PNR 2 is CX. Reading the Qantas Interline and Through Checked Baggage article, it clearly states -:



However there also appears to be a caveat -:



In my case, Trip/PNR 1 is a Qantas Classic Award flight (SYD>SIN), whereas Trip/PNR 2 is a CX Revenue fare (SIN>HKG>HND). Does this mean that there's a chance baggage will be checked through to the final destination?

Finally, I note the same article indicates that "...baggage can only be checked though within the same calendar day." In my case, the QF flight sees me arriving in SIN in the evening (day 1), whereas the onward CX flights depart around 1am (day2). Is this likely to impact any ability to have baggage checked through?

Appreciate any wisdom from the community.

Yes in short but be prepared to defend your stance, and have the reference on Qantas handy and stay firm.

As another member said, you also need luck that the person actually knows how to do it in practice.

 

[DejaBrew]

My understanding is that the exception applies for award->revenue, so you should be good to go. Provided you can find a check-in agent who can still do it!

Same calendar day… AFAIK the ‘calendar day’ ends at like 3am for airlines and airports. So that too, you’d hope, is fine!

Yes in short but be prepared to defend your stance, and have the reference on Qantas handy and stay firm.

As another member said, you also need luck that the person actually knows how to do it in practice.

Success with the fantastic assistance of the lovely Michelle at the SYD First Check-in.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Last year I booked 2 separate itineraries (same trip though) via QFF points as I couldn't book it on the one due to a system issue.

PNR #1
CX and CI

PNR #2
CX

The CX flight on PNR #2 was directly after the CX flight on PNR #1, with a 3hr transit (I tried to book it as a divorced segment as it wouldn't come up as a married one for some reason - this was possibly why it wasn't able to be booked all in the one booking).

Upon check-in to the first CX flight, I asked at the counter if they could through-check my baggage to my final destination, they checked something on the system first but they ended up being able to with no issues.

In total contrast to my experience last year with through checked baggage with two different PNRs, I recently had two flights on the 1 PNR and they were unable to through check my bags to my final destination.

This was even despite me asking and re-confirming at check-in that my transit was <24hrs.

Had it been >24hrs, I would have 100% expected to collect my luggage and re-check in for my 2nd flight.

I was also in business as well - even more reason / leverage, or so I thought.

Flight 1 was MEL to HKG (QF)
Flight 2 was HKG to TPE (CX), the next day but <24hrs later

Not a big issue as I stored the luggage at HKG airport (albeit at a cost of HKD$165 per piece/day), but I would have thought that my luggage would have been through checked to TPE due to the below :
- QF and CX are OW partners
- The transit was, even despite being the next day, <24hrs
- I was in business

The check-in agent in MEL, who wasn't really that friendly as well I might add - mentioned that had the transit been the same day, it may have been able to be through checked.

 

[Port Power]

These recent posts has me thinking about a classic reward itinerary I have booked next year. All on the one PNR booked with QF, but I am flying KLM from LIS to AMS, continuing KLM LIS to KUL, then MH KUL to PER. I have always assumed that luggage will be checked through to Perth, but I will certainly be asking on check in.

@MelbFlyer, the <24 hour rule doesn't always seem to apply if it is overnight between flights. (That is, not just an 02:00 or 04:00 departure.) I arrived in Singapore in the early evening on QF and had a JAL flight at 08:30 the next morning, all on the same PNR. I still had to collect my luggage and check it back in the next day. Happily I was booked into Crowne Plaza overnight, so not a problem.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In total contrast to my experience last year with through checked baggage with two different PNRs, I recently had two flights on the 1 PNR and they were unable to through check my bags to my final destination.

This was even despite me asking and re-confirming at check-in that my transit was <24hrs.

Had it been >24hrs, I would have 100% expected to collect my luggage and re-check in for my 2nd flight.

I was also in business as well - even more reason / leverage, or so I thought.

Flight 1 was MEL to HKG (QF)
Flight 2 was HKG to TPE (CX), the next day but <24hrs later

Not a big issue as I stored the luggage at HKG airport (albeit at a cost of HKD$165 per piece/day), but I would have thought that my luggage would have been through checked to TPE due to the below :
- QF and CX are OW partners
- The transit was, even despite being the next day, <24hrs
- I was in business

The check-in agent in MEL, who wasn't really that friendly as well I might add - mentioned that had the transit been the same day, it may have been able to be through checked.

Instead of storing bags, isnt it an option to check them in (drop off) at one of the kiosks? Kiosk check-in opens at HKG for CX flights 24 hours prior to departure.

 

[madrooster]

Flight 1 was MEL to HKG (QF)
Flight 2 was HKG to TPE (CX), the next day but <24hrs later

QF inhibits overnight through-check at SIN and HKG.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Instead of storing bags, isnt it an option to check them in (drop off) at one of the kiosks? Kiosk check-in opens at HKG for CX flights 24 hours prior to departure.

I had a special request so I wasn't able to - but I'll try it next time if I have the same situation in the future.

QF inhibits overnight through-check at SIN and HKG.

Is this written anywhere specifically? I couldn't find anything to advise of this.

 

[LionKing]

My understanding is that the exception applies for award->revenue, so you should be good to go. Provided you can find a check-in agent who can still do it!

Same calendar day… AFAIK the ‘calendar day’ ends at like 3am for airlines and airports. So that too, you’d hope, is fine!

What about revenue --> award?
I have a Qantas revenue then Malaysian Airlines award to KL on the same day.