Luggage to connecting flight

[zinga]

Hi guys

I am going to the world cup and have just booked a flight flying AKL-SCL-GRU and then SSA-GRU-SCL-AKL. I am from Melbourne so I need to still purchase the connecting flight from MEL-AKL-MEL.

I presumed that since I was flying LAN/TAM and they are OneWorld members that my luggage would get checked all the way through. I have just been told that potentially it will not be checked all the way through due to being on two separate bookings. It is up to the check in staff.

Does anyone know if that is correct? It isn't a big issue on the way to Brazil because I have 4 hours spare in AKL but on the way back I want to book flight QF152 which leaves at 6.40am. My LA753 flight arrives at 4.30am so if my luggage isn't checked all the way through I will most likely miss my connection. Any advise would be appreciated on what I should do for the home flight. Thanks.

 

[Mwenenzi]

As its all OW so they should check it through but you are not dealing with Aussies. The departure time at SSA will be many hours before the AKL-MEL flight departure, and as its not a LAN flight the LAN check in staff may be reluctant:- its a risk

Do you realise the LAN SCL-AKL flight has a poor on time reliability? (being diplomatic & generous)
If it's too late they just abandon the AKL-SYD-AKL portion
Have a look the AKL airport web site arrivals

Personally I would not be trying for with a 120 minute connection on separate tickets with an incoming flight that has poor reliability. Check if you travel insurance would cover this. And/or buy a flexible ticket AKL-MEL ticket that you can change from SCL if they are late.
The risk is you buy a walk up fare at AKL on QF, EK, VA, or AirNZ

Another person asked about this LAN flight a few days ago: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....estions/lan-qf-pricing-same-flight-57984.html

Edit.
You are better to buy MEL-AKL-MEL as seperate tickets. AKL-MEL ex NZ can be a lot cheaper than buying from QF Aust. Some years ago was doing MEL-AKL and AKL-MEL every 2 or 3 weeks (working in NZ). At times the AKL-MEL price difference was in the $100's less from QF NZ compared to QF Aust.

 

[zinga]

The flight from SSA-GRU is with TAM who are just joining the OW so I guess that makes it even riskier whether the luggage will be checked all the way through.

I did not know LAN are known for having poor on time reliability. Thanks for letting me know that. I guess I have no option but to pick a later flight and try and survive a 32+ hour flight journey.

Thanks for the separate MEL-AKL-MEL tip. Maybe I can use the extra savings and stay a night in AKL instead. Appreciate your advice

 

[zinga]

Just tried the AKL-MEL as a separate leg and it was actually about $60 more expensive that way. If I do a MEL-AKL-MEL I can find flights for $244 MEL-AKL and $198 AKL-MEL. When I search AKL-MEL by itself the price is $280nzd so approx $260 aud. Maybe Qantas have woken up to that and changed their pricing structure. Thanks anyway.

 

[petercr]

Don't know exactly what they're going to charge but apparently QF27 will continue on to Rio during the duration of the World Cup...

 

[maninblack]

...but you are not dealing with Aussies.

So your luggage should be fine!

 

[zinga]

Just weighing up the risk vs reward thing. If I risk it and was lucky enough to get my luggage checked in all the way from SSA to MEL, does that mean I am covered if the SCL-AKL leg is delayed and I miss my flight from AKL-MEL? Will they put me on the next available flight at no charge or will I lose the AKL-MEL leg and have to purchase another one?

I will also look into some insurance policies and see if any of them will cover me for this scenario.

 

[Mwenenzi]

.. If I risk it and was lucky enough to get my luggage checked in all the way from SSA to MEL, does that mean I am covered if the SCL-AKL leg is delayed and I miss my flight from AKL-MEL? Will they put me on the next available flight at no charge or will I lose the AKL-MEL leg and have to purchase another one?....

With seperate tickets you are taking 100% of the risk of a miscconnection. QF would have no obligation to put you on a later flight, especially as SCL-AKL it is not a QF flight. See the other linked thread. If it was 1 ticket/PNR the risk goes the airlines.

 

[zinga]

With seperate tickets you are taking 100% of the risk of a miscconnection. QF would have no obligation to put you on a later flight, especially as SCL-AKL it is not a QF flight. See the other linked thread. If it was 1 ticket/PNR the risk goes the airlines.

Thanks it is 100% clear to me now. I tried reading the other thread before posting but couldn't work out it was in the scenario of luggage checked all the way to the end. Looks like I definitely will need a later flight so thanks for the advice.