Lufthansa/Qantas Interline Baggage Issue – Singapore Connection

[jrdngalvin]

Hi all,

I’m hoping someone here has had a similar experience or can offer some clarity on this situation.

I booked a flight through the official Lufthansa website from Dublin to Perth, with a layover in Frankfurt and another of 1h45m in Singapore Changi Airport.

The itinerary is on a single ticket (single PNR) issued by Lufthansa, with the first two legs operated by Lufthansa and the third by Qantas.

Given that Lufthansa and Qantas have a formal interline agreement, and that the ticket was issued as one booking, I had every reason to believe my baggage would be checked through to Perth. My itinerary also simply states a terminal change in Singapore (T1 to T2) — no mention of collecting baggage or clearing immigration.

However, after contacting Lufthansa customer support, I received conflicting information:

• Some agents said my baggage would be interlined to Perth (both verbally and in writing).
• Others said I would need to collect my bag in Singapore, clear immigration, and recheck with Qantas — despite the single PNR and interline agreement.

To clarify, I also contacted Qantas. Over the phone, I was told the baggage should transfer through. But in a written response, Qantas claimed that, despite the interline agreement, baggage cannot be transferred between Lufthansa and Qantas at Changi due to the airlines being in different alliances (Star Alliance vs oneworld).

So now I’m stuck between two airlines giving me opposite answers:

• Lufthansa confirms baggage will be transferred.
• Qantas says it won’t — and that I’ll have to self-transfer with only 1h45m layover.

I’m trying to understand:

1. Has anyone flown this exact routing and can confirm how it actually played out?
2. Is this a common issue with Lufthansa–Qantas connections through Singapore?
3. What’s the actual operational practice at Changi in these cases?

This seems like something that should have been clearly disclosed at booking if a self-transfer is required, but there was no mention of it.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

 

[madrooster]

You won't see your bag in Frankfurt or Singapore. Collect and clear customs in Perth only.

 

[dajop]

This is a common issue - staff that are on airline contact centres have no experience with airport checkin.

Generally speaking most legacy carriers will through check your luggage to other legacy carriers where the flights are on the one PNR. There are some carriers that don’t have such an agreement that facilitates through checking of luggage - but LH and QF do.

Your luggage will be fine.

 

[jrdngalvin]

You won't see your bag in Frankfurt or Singapore. Collect and clear customs in Perth only.

Appreciate your reply. Hopefully that is the case, as one would expect normally!

 

[jrdngalvin]

This is a common issue - staff that are on airline contact centres have no experience with airport checkin.

Generally speaking most legacy carriers will through check your luggage to other legacy carriers where the flights are on the one PNR. There are some carriers that don’t have such an agreement that facilitates through checking of luggage - but LH and QF do.

Your luggage will be fine.

Appreciate your reply. I’ve heard this same take from others I’ve talked too, and thinking it is the right take.

Hopefully a case of misinformation from the contact centres. Would expect better from both Qantas and Lufthansa.

 

[madrooster]

Appreciate your reply. Hopefully that is the case, as one would expect normally!

No one else on this forum does more complex through checking of bags than me. You'll be fine!

 

[jrdngalvin]

No one else on this forum does more complex through checking of bags than me. You'll be fine!

Thank you!