Help with through check baggage at Heathrow

[LinaLee]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I’m travelling on QF1 (award) to LHR and booked separate pnr cash ticket to Belfast with BA. It will involve a terminal transfer. Have around just over 4 hours for self transfer at this stage.

Will QF through check bags to BA flight? Should have the bookings linked now to facilitate easier process of through check bags?
Or
Should I just bite the bullet and pay change fee and move the Belfast flight later in the day just incase and give myself about 7 hours?

Thanks

 

[burneracc]

Definitely will not check through with 2 separate PNRs. 4 hours is probably enough to self transfer, but you are cutting it close if QF1 gets delayed. See thread on QF A380 reliability issues.

 

[defurax]

Advice above is incorrect. See exemption here:

^ Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel. Note: This is a Qantas exemption and may not be supported by all oneworld airlines.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/gb/en/policy-and-guidelines/baggage-information/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html

 

[SYD]

Advice above is incorrect. See exemption here:

^ Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel. Note: This is a Qantas exemption and may not be supported by all oneworld airlines.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/gb/en/policy-and-guidelines/baggage-information/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html

The catch is a lot of ground staff no longer know how to do it and you can be told "Not possible". Persevere. Probably will help that the OP will be using the QF F checkin and hopefully a competent supervisor is nearby.

 

[LinaLee]

Thanks all for the kind responses. Will report back on linking and through check bags when I checkin in Singapore first.

Have moved my Belfast flight to much later in the day around 9 hours from landing to hedge bets.

 

[SYD]

Thanks all for the kind responses. Will report back on linking and through check bags when I checkin in Singapore first.

Have moved my Belfast flight to much later in the day around 9 hours from landing to hedge bets.

Ah, it wasn’t obvious to me that you’re starting in SIN. Let us know how you go! Hopefully the general helpfulness of SIN ground staff is better than some Oz ports.

 

[jbmemories]

Thanks all for the kind responses. Will report back on linking and through check bags when I checkin in Singapore first.

+1

Want to know how it goes too. Currently have cash fare and award ticket but starting from AU instead of SIN, arriving at LHR (both QF). Flight I’m hoping to catch with BA doesn’t need to change terminals (all on T3 side). Planning to call Qantas booking tomorrow to see if I can get a cash fare with Qantas for this BA leg, but if not, it’s going to be a direct cash fare with BA (and tying to QFF for points & SC).

So if Qantas can interline your bag to BA for your Belfast flight it would be a good DP to have.

 

[thesnowbadger]

Would be interested to know how this goes / how it went?

 

[LinaLee]

I forgot about this already. Thanks for reminding. So stressed trying to find time planning other trips and not even taken the next upcoming one. Oh dear.

 

[LinaLee]

Sadly it’s a fail! Reasons? I was told:

1. Can’t find my booking via pnr or ticket number….obviously it exists for me in the BA manage my booking.
2. Called a number to someone requesting for help failed…attitude was very ordinary….shrug of shoulders and said not me system won’t allow….

So, good that I hedged my bets as I do have to collect my luggage…did not add the yellow first tag but assured me that it’s tagged first. Hope the scanners work well and I get my luggage quickly.

My advice is don’t count on through check. Leave lots of time ….I hope my 9 hours will be ok.

 

[torks]

Sadly it’s a fail! Reasons? I was told:

1. Can’t find my booking via pnr or ticket number….obviously it exists for me in the BA manage my booking.
2. Called a number to someone requesting for help failed…attitude was very ordinary….shrug of shoulders and said not me system won’t allow….

So, good that I hedged my bets as I do have to collect my luggage…did not add the yellow first tag but assured me that it’s tagged first. Hope the scanners work well and I get my luggage quickly
My advice is don’t count on through check. Leave lots of time ….I hope my 9 hours will be ok.

If 9 hours isnt enough something has gone horribly wrong!

 

[LinaLee]

Last few datapoints on this.

• QF1 - 19 Oct arrived on time at the gates.
• Gate to passport was not that long a walk, less than 5 mins
• Through egate machine also less than 5 mins. There were so many just scan and see where the crowd was heading left or right queue and go for the least people side….
• Waited for bags around 15 mins maybe less, in this instance First bags was out first and picked mine up around 7.20am.
• Nothing to declare so out to arrival area. A bit of fluffing around looking for the elevator to take down to the transfer to T5. It’s just outside where the cars drop off.
• Then follow signs for T5 transfer and just before you have to get through the gate (used to be called turnstiles) to platform there is a ticket machine to the left that’s clear that you press a button to get the free ticket for the transfer to get in and out of the platform.
• Dropped bags at BA First for recheck-in in less than 10 mins.
• I did note that the queue for others even business class was quite busy and full of people so best to allow time there.

 

[LinaLee]

If 9 hours isnt enough something has gone horribly wrong!

Yes everything went smoothly this time. I had 8 hours to kill so I took a quick trip into the city on the Elizabeth line for brunch before heading back to the lounge to kill another 2.5 hours.

 

[burneracc]

Yes everything went smoothly this time. I had 8 hours to kill so I took a quick trip into the city on the Elizabeth line for brunch before heading back to the lounge to kill another 2.5 hours.

b gates lounge?

 

[Falcs]

I had a 4 hour connection on separate PNRs onto a BA domestic a few years back, inbound flight was delayed around 90 minutes, immigration at Heathrow was a nightmare, and change of terminals too

Suffice to say I missed the connection. Good life lesson anyway. BA was nice enough to charge fare difference for technically a no show onto a later flight, although that was still stupidly expensive as a same day ticket purchase.

 

[LinaLee]

b gates lounge?

Actually the ride to Bond street on the Elizabeth line was about an hour. Changed to Jubilee line to Green Park to my fav brunch place at Hide. No reservations no table but a no show and sharing with another person a table meant we both got to dine. Instant new best friends. Not recommended but she did not look suss . Then off to a spot of shopping at Regent street before taking the Elizabeth line back to T5. So super convenient.

Sorry not sure what’s the b gate lounge ?

 

[LinaLee]

I had a 4 hour connection on separate PNRs onto a BA domestic a few years back, inbound flight was delayed around 90 minutes, immigration at Heathrow was a nightmare, and change of terminals too

Suffice to say I missed the connection. Good life lesson anyway. BA was nice enough to charge fare difference for technically a no show onto a later flight, although that was still stupidly expensive as a same day ticket purchase.

I read in my ticket that I could change flights on the day without incurring the change fee but of course still up for the fare difference. So, potentially you could avoid a no show if still stuck in immigration.

 

[madrooster]

I read in my ticket that I could change flights on the day without incurring the change fee but of course still up for the fare difference. So, potentially you could avoid a no show if still stuck in immigration.

Were you on a plus fare? There is no fare difference to change on the day of departure.