Linking award bookings

[Danger UXB]

Dear All
is it possible to link award bookings with different airlines.
I have a qff award booking with BA connecting with a Krisflyer award booking on SQ.
Can this be done? Do I do it before travel or on arrival at the aiport checkin?
Thanks in advance
Danger UXB

 

[simongr]

Can you define linking? Do you mean interlining baggage or making sure that you are sat together or do you want protection for delays?

 

[Mal]

BA will not interline bags to SQ unless they are on the same ticket. So you'll have to clear customs and collect, then recheck them. They also won't be able to issue boarding passes for the SQ flight.

I'm not sure what SQ's policies are. Perhaps you can call them and ask them to make a note on your reservation that you are arriving from BAxx .

 

[Danger UXB]

Protection for delays primarily. The bags don't really matter as we are on our way home. The stopover time is 3 1/2 hours. Is that long enough to clear customs and recheck in? Sounds a bit tight to me.
Getting a bit nervous about this one
Thanks for the rapid response I thought we were all watching our AMEX bonus points!!
Danger UXB

 

[Mal]

The stopover time is 3 1/2 hours. Is that long enough to clear customs and recheck in? Sounds a bit tight to me.

Assuming Singapore ... it's not too tight. Immigration - 10-15 mins max (unless a really bad day). Bags turn up before you arrive at the carousels. SQ close check-ins at 45 mins before flight. So a reasonable amount of time all up. I presume you need a terminal transfer as well, but that shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

You could also use Online Check-in to help, but as you'd have bags to drop off not sure if that would give you any additional time.

 

[Danger UXB]

Thanks Mal.
Yes Changi is stopover.
BA11 arrives T1 17.25 and SQ227 leaves T3 21.00. Both flights are in J if it makes a difference.
Danger UXB

 

[sng1971]

Is there a reason why BA don't interline to SQ? I thought most of the big airlines would interline with each other.

Is there a website that shows who airlines interline with?

 

[Mal]

Is there a reason why BA don't interline to SQ? I thought most of the big airlines would interline with each other.

BA does, but not for separate tickets. If you had one ticket with both carriers on it, then they should interline. I can't find the helpdoc now, but basically BA will not interline to any carrier on another ticket (used to allow connections to another OW airline, but not sure if that changed)

Is there a website that shows who airlines interline with?

IATA publish a document that shows which airlines have interline agreements. Costs about $US300 for a subscription. There are sometimes copies around the net that can be accessed. Just because interline agreements exist though (as in the BA/SQ case above), it is up to the carrier to decide what their own policies will be in respect to interlining baggage.

 

[sng1971]

Thanks Mal. Will do a bit of a search on the net.

 

[NM]

Is there a reason why BA don't interline to SQ? I thought most of the big airlines would interline with each other.

The reason is about responsibility and liability. If they interline the bags then they are responsible for their safe delivery at the end. The baggage receipt will have a BA logo and number on it, and its BA that you would lodge the missing bag claim with. This responsibility and liability is included in the fare you pay for the combined ticket. If you have separate tickets, then each airline is accepting their own responsibility and liability for carrying the bags on their own flights.