Linking PNRs: QF - LH

[Brettmcg]

Just tried calling QF to have them link my QF Award Booking with a LH domestic (Germany) booking. The CSA told me she was unable to do this as the LH booking wasn't showing up on her system. The PNR I provided her with drags up the booking on Checkmytrip.com etc. so I'm not sure what the problem is (as far as I understand both QF and LH are Amadeus systems). Does anyone have any suggestions as to other information which would help them link the bookings?

PS - If QF and LH don't have a baggage interlining agreement, is it possible to use the 'Lufthansa Quick Check-in with Baggage' kiosk and trick the computer by using hand-luggage to spit out the baggage ticket?
I'll be travelling on QF (MEL - FRA) with my extra 10kg (QC) and don't particularly want to fork out 50 Euros for extra baggage for a 1 hour domestic flight. Any other solutions would be appreciated.

 

[NM]

Just tried calling QF to have them link my QF Award Booking with a LH domestic (Germany) booking. The CSA told me she was unable to do this as the LH booking wasn't showing up on her system. The PNR I provided her with drags up the booking on Checkmytrip.com etc. so I'm not sure what the problem is (as far as I understand both QF and LH are Amadeus systems). Does anyone have any suggestions as to other information which would help them link the bookings?

Don't know

PS - If QF and LH don't have a baggage interlining agreement, is it possible to use the 'Quick Check-in with Baggage' kiosk and trick the computer by using hand-luggage to spit out the baggage ticket?
I'll be travelling on QF (MEL - FRA) with my extra 10kg (QC) and don't particularly want to fork out 50 Euros for extra baggage for a 1 hour domestic flight. Any other solutions would be appreciated.

You canot use QuickCheck kiosks or on-line check-in when flying internationally. Even if you are on a domestic MEL-SYD to connect to the international SYD-SIN-FRA, you cannot use QuickCheck or on-line check-in.

 

[Brettmcg]

You canot use QuickCheck kiosks or on-line check-in when flying internationally. Even if you are on a domestic MEL-SYD to connect to the international SYD-SIN-FRA, you cannot use QuickCheck or on-line check-in.

I was actually referring to the LH QuickCheck kiosks at FRA. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Keith009]

You could get both carriers to insert info sectors into your bookings of flights that you want to show up on the relevant PNRs. I did this with seperate CX and BA bookings, even though the former was on Cupid and the latter was on Amadeus, so that the check in agent could see I was connecting on to seperately booked flights.

I don't know if this will cause the LH kiosks to automatically interline you over to QF though.

 

[Brettmcg]

You could get both carriers to insert info sectors into your bookings of flights that you want to show up on the relevant PNRs. I did this with seperate CX and BA bookings, even though the former was on Cupid and the latter was on Amadeus, so that the check in agent could see I was connecting on to seperately booked flights.

Which means, rather than asking for the 2 PNRs to be linked I need to...?? :shock:

The help is really appreciated!

 

[NM]

I was actually referring to the LH QuickCheck kiosks at FRA. Sorry for the confusion.

Oh, then ignore my comments and wait for someone who may know the answer .

 

[Brettmcg]

Oh, then ignore my comments and wait for someone who may know the answer .

I've amended my original post to avoid further confusion. Thanks for the help anyway!

 

[Hawkeye]

QF and LH do interline baggage. I've had a couple of SYD-QF-FRA-LH-HAM returns in the past with luggage checked through to HAM. No need to recollect it when you pass thru immigration at FRA either.

This was on one ticket however, so not sure whether the separate PNR's will affect this.

 

[Brettmcg]

QF and LH do interline baggage. I've had a couple of SYD-QF-FRA-LH-HAM returns in the past with luggage checked through to HAM. No need to recollect it when you pass thru immigration at FRA either.

This was on one ticket however, so not sure whether the separate PNR's will affect this.

Cheers. Wondering if you might be able to post a little more info as to how you organised this?

PS - Very ironic that at this moment I am watching a M*A*S*H repeat, Hawkeye!

 

[Keith009]

Call up QF and ask them to insert "information sectors" into your QF booking - ie dummy sector/s containing information on the LH flight/s you're connecting on to. Do the same with LH.

I do not know if that will work as far as the LH kiosks go, but at least the check in agent would be able to see your onward connections when they pull up your PNR/s even though those other flights are on seperate tix.

Having said all that, most carriers do have baggage interline agreements with each other and even if you've not linked your PNRs nor altered your PNR in some other way, all you need to do is to show the check in agent your onward tickets and they'd simply tag your bag straight through. I've managed to tag my bag across 3 carriers - TG/LH/AA MEL-BKK-FRA-ORD, and again in July and Sept CX/BA/QF and MH/BA/QF. Now whether your bag survives all the connections and arrives with you is another issue...

 

[Hawkeye]

Cheers. Wondering if you might be able to post a little more info as to how you organised this?

PS - Very ironic that at this moment I am watching a M*A*S*H repeat, Hawkeye!

Happened automatically at check-in in both directions i.e. at SYD and HAM. Boarding passes, on the other hand, had to be collected at FRA (for LH outbound to HAM, and QF inbound to SYD). The separate PNR's should not make a difference.

Strangely enough, I never watched much M*A*S*H, but the name is in folklore now. I am in the same profession, albeit different specialty, so we at least have something in common.

 

[Brettmcg]

Okay, information sectors are done. The feeling I got from the two CSAs (QF and LH) was that unless both bookings were on paper tickets no baggage interlining or through-check would be available. I also tended to get the feeling that neither really knew whether it could be done or not.

I might pester both airlines for a few days so as to speak with some different CSAs in the hope of a more positive response.

The whole purpose of this exercise is to try and avoid excess baggage charges where possible!

 

[clifford]

Okay, information sectors are done. The feeling I got from the two CSAs (QF and LH) was that unless both bookings were on paper tickets no baggage interlining or through-check would be available. I also tended to get the feeling that neither really knew whether it could be done or not.

I might pester both airlines for a few days so as to speak with some different CSAs in the hope of a more positive response.

The whole purpose of this exercise is to try and avoid excess baggage charges where possible!

Paper tickets?

I think they are trying to tell you it can't (won't) be done.

Try it at your peril...

 

[Brettmcg]

Paper tickets?

I think they are trying to tell you it can't (won't) be done.

Try it at your peril...

The note about the paper tickets came from the Lufthansa CSA who, apparently, hasn't even been able to enter the Information Sector correctly. I'll try LH's SYD office tomorrow to see what they might be able to do.

Any other advice from those who've succesfully managed to negotiate this process would be really appreciated.

 

[NM]

Do note that when you check-in with Qantas, you will need to provide them with the LH e-ticket details including the Ticket Number and not just the Amadeus booking reference.

 

[Brettmcg]

Do note that when you check-in with Qantas, you will need to provide them with the LH e-ticket details including the Ticket Number and not just the Amadeus booking reference.

Cheers. It seems as if I take as much physical documentation as possible there may just be a slight chance I can get things to work!

 

[Keith009]

Fear not I've interlined baggage on a variety of bookings; from paper ticket to eticket and vice versa, as well as eticket to eticket, and paper ticket to paper ticket.

The carrier checking you in will want evidence of your eligibility to enter your destination country, and some evidence of your flight bookings. Nothing too onerous. On one occassion I'd lost my AA eticket receipt but TG accepted the printed confirmation (no ticket numbers or anything) and tagged me through.

QF might have more stringent requirements though.

As already noted, you will need to visit the relevant transfer desks to pick up your onward BPs for the seperately booked flights.

 

[Brettmcg]

QF might have more stringent requirements though.

I just hope the CI agent at SIN is ready for the lug of documents, ticket receipts etc. that I will present!

On another note, what's your experience been like with lost baggage using these interlining arrangements. I assume the probability of misdirected or lost baggage is somewhat higher?

 

[Keith009]

I just hope the CI agent at SIN is ready for the lug of documents, ticket receipts etc. that I will present!

On another note, what's your experience been like with lost baggage using these interlining arrangements. I assume the probability of misdirected or lost baggage is somewhat higher?

My bag was lost just once at BKK when doing TG/LH/AA in that order and TG had tagged it all the way through MEL-BKK-FRA-ORD. That was when the new BKK airport was just opened and every 2nd TG flight was assigned a bus gate due to some cough up with the gate allocation system. And FFS - the TG/LH flights were on the same LH-issued ticket yet TG couldn't issue my onward BP on LH. I'd rant about the badly designed BKK airport with the positioning of the LH transfer desk and the LH gate but that's another story for another day Anyhoo, I made it just in time to my LH flight, but my bag didn't. I only had a thin coat and a jacket with me, no scaves, beanies etc. Chicago winter...

All you need to do in the event of baggage loss/delay is to contact the baggage desk of the last carrier that transported you. The AAngel I met at ORD was most helpful - she got 2 AApplause chits from me. Anyhoo, my bag and I were reunited in less than 2 days. Meanwhile I'd gone on a shopping spree on my travel insurance company.

 

[NM]

Also note that the QF agent is unlikely to be able to check you in for the LH flight or issue the boarding pass for the LH flight. But that should not affect their ability to check the bags through to the final destination. Check-in and baggage tagging are independent functions. But they will need to know the ticket number for the LH booking in order to do it.

In my experience, its not interlining that contributes to the risk of mis-routed luggage. The risk factors include:

• short connection times
• change of terminal
• transit through LHR on a day ending in "y"

SIN and HKG seem to be very god at making luggage transfers between flights.