International to domestic connecting flight

[Melbourneflyer]

Hi All,

I am travelling with a group of three (3) from Auckland to Sydney in Business class with Qantas next year. All of us are booked on the same ticket, paid in cash for business. One of our group however, needs to connect further through to Albury. I have booked this passenger on a classic reward flight for the same day, from Sydney to Albury.

As the second regional flight only operates economy class, I'm wondering if Qantas will recognise the business class baggage allowance from the first, same day international flight?

Thanks

 

[Ade]

I don't know is the honest answer... but thinking out loud, I don't think so .. because the pax from SYD to ABX would be on a different PNR for the SYD-ABX leg?

 

[RichardMEL]

If the connection to Albury is a separate ticket then they won't, unless AKL does through check on both tickets for that passenger (they will have to clear customs and re-check in at the transfer desk anyway). Now, if AKL may not through check (which is possible) possibly showing the incoming BP to the agent at SYD transfer MAY get some leeway, but in general if it is a separate ticket one would not be entitled to it (plus they also run the risk of issues if there's a misconnect from AKL-SYD which WOULD be protected if it was a single ticket).

imo.

 

[justinbrett]

99% chance they will.

Qantas will through check baggage on QF-QF connections even if on two different PNRs. So they should definitely try and get it checked through to ABX as that will solve the problem.

I have flown LAS-LAX-BNE-NTL on two tickets (LAS-BNE and BNE-NTL), and as I checked in at AA they only checked my bags to Brisbane. I was in Business. When I rechecked in BNE, I simply showed my international boarding pass and they granted the same baggage allowance.

if you've purchased international and domestic flights and these are on the same ticket, the international checked baggage allowances apply to the domestic flights too. Where the international and domestic flights are on separate tickets, if the connection time is within the same calendar day*, the international checked baggage allowance is accepted on both flights. Be sure to present both tickets when checking your baggage in.

The fact that J isn't sold on the ABX route helps a lot.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

People are mentioning the same 'ticket', but in my experience, it's fine if it's on the same 'booking'. This remains true even if the two airlines are not the same, in fact, as long as they are in the same alliance (typically required for a single booking, but not always - I've had VA connections to Malaysia Airlines, and they've honoured baggage allowances and flight changes caused by delays).

 

[henrus]

The answer is a firm yes and the website even indicates this:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/checked-baggage.html#international-flights

 

[RichardMEL]

People are mentioning the same 'ticket', but in my experience, it's fine if it's on the same 'booking'. This remains true even if the two airlines are not the same, in fact, as long as they are in the same alliance (typically required for a single booking, but not always - I've had VA connections to Malaysia Airlines, and they've honoured baggage allowances and flight changes caused by delays).

Well sure. Ticket/booking being used more or less with the same meaning in the context. Technically though I agree with your point.

There are (now) specific rules preventing interlining between partners on separate bookings (ie: oneworld) though some carriers enforce this more than others. Usually with the same carrier (eg: QF) it's not going to be a problem.

 

[justinbrett]

The answer is a firm yes and the website even indicates this:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/checked-baggage.html#international-flights

View attachment 261858

That’s what I posted above.

 

[henrus]

As a side note there has been a bit of discussion above about through checking baggage.

For a AKL-SYD-ABX route there is basically no point, you'll still have to pick up your luggage anyway. The staff in NZ are unlikely to do it anyway because it's extra work for them (last time - about three months ago, they were pointing everyone towards a kiosk) and it won't do much in the big picture as the person in SYD rechecking the bag/s is likely to need to see the international boarding pass/ticket before it gets rechecked at the seamless transfer facility or T3.

Very much off topic. It'll also be interesting to see how quickly the seamless transfer centre returns. In more recent times it's become a vaccination centre (much better than the Virgin one which is currently the registration area before boarding hotel quarantine busses).

 

[justinbrett]

The staff in NZ are unlikely to do it anyway because it's extra work for them (last time - about three months ago, they were pointing everyone towards a kiosk) and it won't do much in the big picture as the person in SYD rechecking the bag/s is likely to need to see the international boarding pass/ticket before it gets rechecked at the seamless transfer facility or T3.

There are (now) specific rules preventing interlining between partners on separate bookings (ie: oneworld) though some carriers enforce this more than others. Usually with the same carrier (eg: QF) it's not going to be a problem.

Qantas have a published policy they will through check bags on separate PNRs when it's QF-QF.

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

It is actually very helpful to have it checked to your final destination even though you have to clear customs in SYD. It's actually more - well, seamless. Your bag will physically have your final destination on the tag, and makes it much easier for the transfer desk to connect it through. US QF staff haven't had a problem doing it, I've never needed to do it from NZ. I'd be asking them politely to do their job if they told me no.

Also, if your bags miss the initial flight, they will travel unaccompanied to your final destination where they will be delivered to you. Not that you wouldn't get your bag back if they weren't, but it makes it a lot easier.

 

[Melbourneflyer]

Thanks everyone for these responses! They are all very helpful. I spent a lot of time trying to find this on the website, and couldn't. So thanks to those who did, and everyone else for the suggestions too.

Cheers