Frequent flyer ticket on AA (USA domestic) baggage

[ozfflyer]

Just flew a domestic USA sector on AA with Qantas ff tickets.

The ticket clearly states that one 50lb/23kg checked bag is included (showed printout at check in), but at LAX no one at AA check in would allow it. Was told to go to a supervisor & he would do nothing.

This must happen all the time. Why are AA staff so ignorant ?

So, now I have to go to Qantas for a refund of baggage fees. It’s only US$30, but multiply that by 7 & it’s over AU$310.

Any suggestions for the future.

 

[I love to travel]

I have heard that people have got AA to phone Qantas to sort out but this is dependent on the AA person being willing.

 

[ozfflyer]

I have heard that people have got AA to phone Qantas to sort out but this is dependent on the AA person being willing.

at AA check in at LAX they didn't want to know. Can't be the only people this happens to every hour.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just flew a domestic USA sector on AA with Qantas ff tickets.

The ticket clearly states that one 50lb/23kg checked bag is included (showed printout at check in), but at LAX no one at AA check in would allow it. Was told to go to a supervisor & he would do nothing.

This must happen all the time. Why are AA staff so ignorant ?

So, now I have to go to Qantas for a refund of baggage fees. It’s only US$30, but multiply that by 7 & it’s over AU$310.

Any suggestions for the future.

AFAIK QF awards on AA don't come with baggage, unless you hold OW status. It's possible it's a QF mistake (in showing 23kg), and so you could go back through them for a refund.

Were these flights in conjunction with international travel on the same ticket?

 

[aus_flyer]

The booking page on the Qantas website says in very small print that the baggage allowance is for QF flights.

 

[ozfflyer]

The booking page on the Qantas website says in very small print that the baggage allowance is for QF flights.

no, definitely 50lb/23kgs checked included & is very clear on page 2 of print out of ff tix.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

no, definitely 50lb/23kgs checked included & is very clear on page 2 of print out of ff tix.

If these tickets were pure AA flights - not connected to QF international connections, or on the same QF international ticket, then AA's baggage rules will apply. AA doesn't have free bags unless you have status, or are travelling in a premium cabin.

Would you have cancelled your AA flights if QF had listed the bag fee?

 

[ozfflyer]

AFAIK QF awards on AA don't come with baggage, unless you hold OW status. It's possible it's a QF mistake (in showing 23kg), and so you could go back through them for a refund.

Were these flights in conjunction with international travel on the same ticket?

no don't need status & we had separate int tix, but this is not relevant. see copy of page 2 of ff tix

Post automatically merged: Jan 30, 2020

If these tickets were pure AA flights - not connected to QF international connections, or on the same QF international ticket, then AA's baggage rules will apply. AA doesn't have free bags unless you have status, or are travelling in a premium cabin.

Would you have cancelled your AA flights if QF had listed the bag fee?

you are not correct. See post from minute ago

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The point is, QF has made an error. QF FF redemptions don't include baggage for free.

So the question is, if you had known qantas was in error, would you have cancelled you tickets, or still flown and paid the bag fee?

Still, worth a shot asking QF for compensation.

 

[ozfflyer]

The point is, QF has made an error. QF FF redemptions don't include baggage for free.

So the question is, if you had known qantas was in error, would you have cancelled you tickets, or still flown and paid the bag fee?

Still, worth a shot asking QF for compensation.

QF FF redemptions DO include baggage for free !!!! AS PER COPY OF TIX.

We often get these tix, but have not had to deal with idiots at AA before who can't read the ticket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

QF FF redemptions DO include baggage for free !!!! AS PER COPY OF TIX.

We often get these tix, but have not had to deal with idiots at AA before who can't read the ticket.

And if the ticket is wrong??

I've bought plenty of AA domestic flight awards through QF and never had free baggage by virtue of the ticket alone.

The AA agent is correct here - any airline could incorrectly add a baggage allowance on a ticket. your claim would be against the issuer not the carrier.

 

[ozfflyer]

And if the ticket is wrong??

I've bought plenty of AA domestic flight awards through QF and never had free baggage by virtue of the ticket alone.

The AA agent is correct here - any airline could incorrectly add a baggage allowance on a ticket. your claim would be against the issuer not the carrier.

we've got dozens of QF ff tix domestic USA or USA to Canada & never before has AA staff refused to include what's on ticket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

we've got dozens of QF ff tix domestic USA or USA to Canada & never before has AA staff refused to include what's on ticket.

I can't explain - I just did a dummy booking for an AA flight ORD-JFK in July and the flight details page says 'baggage - 0 pieces'. There's a '?' symbol which opens a pop-up which states:

Adult 1

Economy

First Baggage$30.00 USD ASSISTIVE DEVICES Second Baggage$40.00 USD UPTO50LB 23KG AND62LI 158LCM Carry On Baggage FREE OF CHARGE CARRY ON UP TO 40 LI 101 LCM Second Carry On BaggageFREE OF CHARGE

 

[jpp42]

Maybe OP edited their PDF to show a checked bag and has gotten away with this in the past? They seem oddly defensive...
I've also never heard of AA including checked bags (in recent times) for tickets that aren't part of international itineraries.

 

[ozfflyer]

Maybe OP edited their PDF to show a checked bag and has gotten away with this in the past? They seem oddly defensive...
I've also never heard of AA including checked bags (in recent times) for tickets that aren't part of international itineraries.

no not edited. I can email you the long hand 7 or 8 pages of tix & terms & conditions if you want.

Think a while back, QF ff tix on AA didn't include any checked bag, but noticed must be 4 or 5 years ago, the bag was included.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

no not edited. I can email you the long hand 7 or 8 pages of tix & terms & conditions if you want.

Think a while back, QF ff tix on AA didn't include any checked bag, but noticed must be 4 or 5 years ago, the bag was included.

I think it’s an error on QF’s part if this showed up. When you presented yourself at checkin, the AA agents wouldn’t have had any basis to override their system which wanted to charge you for the bag (not part of an international itinerary, no AA or one world status, not in a premium cabin, not the holder of an AA partner credit card, etc).

It’s strange that your ticket listed the baggage allowance, but the website and booking clearly shows bags are not included.

 

[kyrah96]

We also had the exact same issue on our recent USA trip in December 2019. We had several Qantas award bookings on AA and it clearly says on page 2 of the ticket that 23kgs baggage is included. We had 3 flights for 5 people each flight so that $30 per bag really adds up. This is specifically why we booked award flights as they come with baggage. AA check in agents at New Orleans, Miami and Washington DC all tried to deny that baggage was included. After giving them a copy of the ticket showing where it said baggage was included they went and got a supervisor and overrided the baggage charge. Had to be the supervisor that did this and it took quite some time and mucking around each time. It appears this issue really needs to be sorted out.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well no, awards tickets *don’t* automatically come with free bags where an airline has a policy to charge for them. QF’s website is clear, AA’s baggage policy is clear. But QF’s ticketing system is incorrectly pulling across a baggage allowance.

If baggage hadn’t been free, would you have made alternative arrangements? For example another carrier?

That would be key in making a claim against Qantas to refund the charges.

 

[kyrah96]

When booking the award flights on the Qantas website it clearly said baggage was included and the printed tickets stated a 23kg baggage allowance. Thats enough for me. I didnt feel the need to delve deeper into the T and Cs of baggage for each carrier. And yes if baggage hadnt been free I would have looked at alternate arrangements like booking on Southwest who doesnt have baggage fees. 5 people on 3 flights would have been baggage charges of US$450. That is the reason I booked award flights to aviod this astronomical fee. As I stated a supervisor came and overrode the baggage charges so I didnt have to pay them. For the OP he should definitely claim a refund of the charges and if this happens to others, make sure you have a printout showing that baggage is included and demand a supervisor to override the charges.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok, but i can’t actually replicate the ‘free bags’ on stand alone AA flights. Do you have an example, or are you able to replicate the free allowance?

In conjunction with international tickets the international baggage allowance may apply.

But as I posted up thread, it doesn’t appear to show any free bags now. And TBH, i’ve never had it on economy AA flights issued via QFF.

I think the option to fly southwest is a good reason for anyone looking to claim back the fees.