Interlining on SQ: one of things that makes a "premium" carrier

[dajop]

Just flew to Sanya, China from Singapore. The best routing/timing for my trip was SIN-HKG on SQ with 2:50 connection to Hong Kong Express (UO) for the flight to Sanya. Our corporate TA could not book the HKG-Sanya leg so booked that separately via our China office, on a separate ticket and PNR.

So I fronted up at Changi, and I enquired if I could connect my luggage through to the UO flight. Fully expecting a definite no, I was surprised when they did it (and what's more it turned up on the carousel in the first 10 bags out). I was told they won't connect to LCC's - Tiger, Jetstar, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific but will for other carriers. Needless to say I was impressed as it saved two passes through immigration, a bag collection and recheck. Certainly it means that I would pay a few more $$ for SQ over alternatives if I was in this situation again. Got me thinking is this one of the factors that defines a "premium" carrier?

 

[Isochronous]

Definitely - sounds like good service.

 

[oz_mark]

There was a time when most carriers interlined with everyone else. Indeed, Qantas interlines with heaps of airlines.

It is only recently that people have come to view the whole idea as quite novel. LCC's are more point to point, they never really go the interlining route.

So that is probably a lengthy way of saying that I agree that interlining is one of the features of a premium airline.

 

[Timba-Jet]

I have never flown SQ!

But earlier this year, my friend had 2 separate bookings. SYD-xSIN-HKG on SQ and HKG-FCO on CX. To my friends surprise SQ check bags all the way to FCO.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have never flown SQ!But earlier this year, my friend had 2 separate bookings. SYD-xSIN-HKG on SQ and HKG-FCO on CX. To my friends surprise SQ check bags all the way to FCO.

Why, two premium airlines!

 

[Timba-Jet]

Why, two premium airlines!

Different Alliance, plus thought QF stance on refusing to interline on separate PNRs outside of alliance, would be similar on other airlines.

 

[SeaWolf]

Different Alliance, plus thought QF stance on refusing to interline on separate PNRs outside of alliance, would be similar on other airlines.

That policy is only a recent development at QF and it's pretty unusual. Generally most of the full service carriers will be prepared to do it with no problems at all.

 

[dajop]

That policy is only a recent development at QF and it's pretty unusual.

Not completely unusual. NZ don't interline if on different tickets (anecdotal evidence - on FT - suggests that sometimes they won't even interline to other NZ flights on different tickets). QF only interline on same ticket OR different tickets to other oneworld airlines.

 

[m_ratt]

That policy is only a recent development at QF and it's pretty unusual. Generally most of the full service carriers will be prepared to do it with no problems at all.

I had no problems Qantas (CBR-SYD) interlining onto United (SYD-LAX-ORD-BWI) a month ago.
Likewise United (COS-LAX-SYD) interlining onto Qantas (SYD-CBR) two weeks ago.

United definitely had a different PNR, though all flights were booked through Qantas Business Travel and itinerary could be accessed by either PNR.

 

[serfty]

...

United definitely had a different PNR, though all flights were booked through Qantas Business Travel and itinerary could be accessed by either PNR.

Seems like you effectively had the one PNR for the whole Journey as far as Qantas was concerned.

 

[moffat39]

Will pass on my interlining experience in June 2009. Was flying Bangkok Airways from Koh Samui to Bangkok and then Malaysia Airlines from Bangkok to KL.

When we checked in at Koh Samui did ask about where to go get my bags to check in for the next flight. I was then advised they could check my bags thru to KL and also issued our boarding passes for the Malaysia Airlines flight. We then went through customs in Koh Samui and were given stickers to put on to show we had completed custom formalities in Koh Samui and upon arrival of our domestic flight in Bangkok were taken through a side door into the international part of the terminal as transit passangers.