DJ AR interline at SYD

[bnebased]

We plan on flying BNE-SYD on DJ connecting to AR SYD-EZE. We are having trouble getting the two bookings onto one PNR (perhaps impossible). Details are long-winded.

Any ideas whether DJ will interline our bags? Their website says they do interline (in spite of their hopeless call centre denying this; another off-shore travesty). I have tried their online support, but no answer yet.

They say we have to make our own way between terminals at SYD if on separate PNRs, but what about the bags? If they do interline, do we get the interline baggage allowance
(ie, free bags on DJ)?

Is it even worth trying to interline the bags? Our success rate for QF to UA interlining of bags (even on the one PNR) is pretty woeful.

 

[serfty]

Are the bookings already made - if so you cannot "join" the PNR's

 

[bnebased]

Are the bookings already made - if so you cannot "join" the PNR's

One booking made but not ticketed (currently via Flight Centre). Dealing with AR itself is impossible, and to my pleasant surprise Flight Centre seems to be able to handle it. However Flight Centre seems unable (as yet) to incorporate DJ flights into the PNR. The AR fare rules seem to allow it, but FC seems "unwilling".

That means we might have to book the DJ flights separately.

The joys of living in BNE!!!

FWIW, the AR fare code is CRT3MAU which has some great business class fares. (Mind you, AR business class, and AR in general, seems to get very dubious ratings. Always willing to try an adventure.)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

We plan on flying BNE-SYD on DJ connecting to AR SYD-EZE. We are having trouble getting the two bookings onto one PNR (perhaps impossible). Details are long-winded.

Any ideas whether DJ will interline our bags? Their website says they do interline (in spite of their hopeless call centre denying this; another off-shore travesty). I have tried their online support, but no answer yet.

They say we have to make our own way between terminals at SYD if on separate PNRs, but what about the bags? If they do interline, do we get the interline baggage allowance (ie, free bags on DJ)?

Is it even worth trying to interline the bags? Our success rate for QF to UA interlining of bags (even on the one PNR) is pretty woeful.

If your QF & UA flights are on the same pnr then your baggage can be checked from a QF dom flight to the UA international flight which would be done automatically without having to ask the checkin agent. If there are not doing this then they mustn't be able to see your connecting UA flight which means the flights are not in the same booking.

I don't know whether LAN Chile have any deals to your destination because even if that was booked separately from your QF flight BNE/SYD as LAN are a One World member QF can still interline your bags onto the LAN flight.

One booking made but not ticketed (currently via Flight Centre). Dealing with AR itself is impossible, and to my pleasant surprise Flight Centre seems to be able to handle it. However Flight Centre seems unable (as yet) to incorporate DJ flights into the PNR. The AR fare rules seem to allow it, but FC seems "unwilling".

That means we might have to book the DJ flights separately.

It would depend how FC would book the DJ flight. If they can book it via their GDS (Galileo) along with the AR flight & the fare rules permit both flights to be on the one ticket then you may be okay as long as DJ have a baggage agreement with AR. I didn't think DJ flights were able to be booked via any GDS at this stage until they change to Sabre next year.

AFAIK FC still need to book DJ flights via the DJ website in which case your flights won't be on the same booking so your bags will only be checked to SYD & you will need to collect them at T2 then make your own way around to T1 international terminal & checkin with AR.

Due to current delays into/out of BNE at the moment I would allow at least 3 hours between your DJ flight arriving and your AR flight departing to ensure you'll have sufficient time to checkin with AR.

I'm fairly certain AR allow 2 pieces of checked luggage at 23 kgs however make sure you check the allowance which will appear on your eticket receipt. If you bags are checked through from DJ to AR I would think DJ would observe this allowance however if they only check your bags to SYD you would have to be DJ Silver or above to get free baggage otherwise you would need to prepay the additional cost to DJ to have checked luggage.

 

[bnebased]

If your QF & UA flights are on the same pnr then your baggage can be checked from a QF dom flight to the UA international flight ...

It would depend how FC would book the DJ flight. If they can book it via their GDS (Galileo) along with the AR flight & the fare rules permit both flights to be on the one ticket then you may be okay as long as DJ have a baggage agreement with AR. I didn't think DJ flights were able to be booked via any GDS at this stage until they change to Sabre next year.

AFAIK FC still need to book DJ flights via the DJ website in which case your flights won't be on the same booking so your bags will only be checked to SYD & you will need to collect them at T2 then make your own way around to T1 international terminal & checkin with AR.
...
I'm fairly certain AR allow 2 pieces of checked luggage at 23 kgs however make sure you check the allowance which will appear on your eticket receipt. If you bags are checked through from DJ to AR I would think DJ would observe this allowance however if they only check your bags to SYD you would have to be DJ Silver or above to get free baggage otherwise you would need to prepay the additional cost to DJ to have checked luggage.

My comment about QF/UA was not actually about the interlining, sorry. It was about the nondelivery of bags from QF to UA. On several occasions (years ago now) I turned up in US (LAX or SFO) but bag didn't. There was a rumour (perhaps malicious) that QF did it on purpose to discourage BNE fliers using UA transpac. Mind you, I gave up on UA a long time ago (except for * mileage accumulation).

Yes, FC think they can't do the booking in one PNR. Agreed, its a probably a problem with DJ's booking system, but that does not help me.

The big attraction with AR is their business class special fare is very cheap (subject to availabilty of course). The ticketing deadline is 24 hours, so I need to move fast wrt the AR ticket, anyway.

Sadly we have no status with DJ at the moment. If they let us interline the bags, then they should be free, as I read the rules. But I cannot for the life of me confirm or deny that they will (under todays rules).

(When I rang DJ their "help desk" twice denied they had an interline agreement with AR. When I pointed them at their web site they were surprised, but had no idea whether the tickets had to be on the same PNR. I doubt I would have had confidence in any verbal confirmation anyway. The web site makes it reasonably clear they won't give you the free inter-terminal transfer if on separate PNRs, but says nothing about baggage interline in those circumstances. Without baggage interline I might prefer to fly QF (or even JQ), on a price/service value basis. The interline is the only thing which might give DJ a definite edge. I suspect that DJ won't readily do the baggage interline on separate PNRs, but would love a definitive answer.)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes, FC think they can't do the booking in one PNR. Agreed, its a probably a problem with DJ's booking system, but that does not help me.

The big attraction with AR is their business class special fare is very cheap (subject to availabilty of course). The ticketing deadline is 24 hours, so I need to move fast wrt the AR ticket, anyway.

Sadly we have no status with DJ at the moment. If they let us interline the bags, then they should be free, as I read the rules. But I cannot for the life of me confirm or deny that they will (under todays rules).

(When I rang DJ their "help desk" twice denied they had an interline agreement with AR. When I pointed them at their web site they were surprised, but had no idea whether the tickets had to be on the same PNR. I doubt I would have had confidence in any verbal confirmation anyway. The web site makes it reasonably clear they won't give you the free inter-terminal transfer if on separate PNRs, but says nothing about baggage interline in those circumstances. Without baggage interline I might prefer to fly QF (or even JQ), on a price/service value basis. The interline is the only thing which might give DJ a definite edge. I suspect that DJ won't readily do the baggage interline on separate PNRs, but would love a definitive answer.

The only people who will give you the correct answer are the DJ staff at BNE airport who would be doing your checkin.

Do not rely on airline call centres as they know precious little about what happens at an airport. Ditto for FC.

Can you call DJ & ask to be transferred to the checkin supervisor at BNE Domestic who should be able to give you the correct answer?

 

[bnebased]

The only people who will give you the correct answer are the DJ staff at BNE airport who would be doing your checkin.

Do not rely on airline call centres as they know precious little about what happens at an airport. Ditto for FC.

Can you call DJ & ask to be transferred to the checkin supervisor at BNE Domestic who should be able to give you the correct answer?

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree entirely with your sentiments about the offshore support and FC. I have plenty enough experiences with both.

I have already tried what you suggested, but DJ won't let me talk to the check in people at the airport. (Damn, I was there yesterday, before I knew I wanted to do that.) They were willing to transfer me to local support, but after hanging on for 10 minutes the line dropped out.

I will keep trying.