Qantas checking luggage through on 2 seperate PNR’s

[Goaty]

Hi All
I have a Qantas flight Syd-HK then a seperate ticket with Cathay heading to Rome.. 7 hrs layover.. Will Qantas at Sydney airport check luggage through if I ask and show the flight details..? With the amount of time I of course can pick up luggage in HK but will have to wait at least 3 hours for CA check in.. Or put them in storage and not lug them around.. If Qantas checks them in I can go straight to the Pier or Wing Lounge .. Thoughts Guys.?
Sorry if answered a million times but I did try and look and the answer seems to be it’s at the discretion of the checkin person at Sydney..

 

[SeatBackForward]

Seperate PNRs means no interline.

https://agencyconnect.qantas.com/en-au/policies/baggage-information/interline-and-through-checked-baggage

 

[Goaty]

Seperate PNRs means no interline.

https://agencyconnect.qantas.com/en-au/policies/baggage-information/interline-and-through-checked-baggage

Thanks SBF.. Mine is an award with Qantas and a paid with Cathay both in J so it could be possible ??

 

[Goaty]

Seperate PNRs means no interline.

https://agencyconnect.qantas.com/en-au/policies/baggage-information/interline-and-through-checked-baggage

Thanks SBF , Mine is a reward and a paid , both in J so it could be done .. ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks SBF , Mine is a reward and a paid , both in J so it could be done .. ?

In theory, yes.

arrive at the airport with plenty of time up your sleeve, not all agents are familiar with through checking of bags.

Not a biggie if they can’t, you have plenty of time and CX checkin will be open.

Don’t forget you can claim back your HK departure tax as you’re on connecting tickets. You can do that online after travel. Just make sure you have a ticket receipt with the breakdown including HK tax paid.

 

[Goaty]

In theory, yes.

arrive at the airport with plenty of time up your sleeve, not all agents are familiar with through checking of bags.

Not a biggie if they can’t, you have plenty of time and CX checkin will be open.

Don’t forget you can claim back your HK departure tax as you’re on connecting tickets. You can do that online after travel. Just make sure you have a ticket receipt with the breakdown including HK tax paid.

Ok Thanks :

In theory, yes.

arrive at the airport with plenty of time up your sleeve, not all agents are familiar with through checking of bags.

Not a biggie if they can’t, you have plenty of time and CX checkin will be open.

Don’t forget you can claim back your HK departure tax as you’re on connecting tickets. You can do that online after travel. Just make sure you have a ticket receipt with the breakdown including HK tax paid.

Thanks Mel T I didn’t even think of the tax.. But would that be only available to claim if the agent checks the luggage through ? ..
Also do you think CX will be open 3 hours before departure time ? Cheers

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Ok Thanks :

Thanks Mel T I didn’t even think of the tax.. But would that be only available to claim if the agent checks the luggage through ? ..
Also do you think CX will be open 3 hours before departure time ? Cheers

CX will have permanent bag drop being their home port. You’re not limited to 3 hours prior.

While technically the rules *might* indicate you don’t cross the border in order to get your departure tax back, plenty of reports here on AFF that that’s not enforced. You just need to scan and submit the tickets, tax details and boarding passes online and you get your refund

In the old days you actually had to enter HK to go to a service desk for a cash refund. Which was odd given you used immigration and security to get there!

The departure tax is now AUD36, so worth it.

 

[offshore171]

Also do you think CX will be open 3 hours before departure time ? Cheers

I think Cathay does all-day checkin at Honkers? It's definitely more than 3hours.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Goaty

Qantas has an exception to the separate PNR no through check baggage policy

The exception is a combination of a QF award to Oneworld revenue ticket , separate PNR.

However, I have on two occasions, not been able to exercise this exception even as Platinum status, J cabin, layover 5 hours, QF -> AA
Even showing the check in staff at MEL a printed copy of the policy exception did not work.
Other AFF members have had more luck
As your ticket is exactly that combination, your chances are higher than someone with a revenue to revenue separate PNR booking combination.



CX should through check to a One World airline on separate PNR

On your return are you travellingCX to QF on separate PNR?

CX should through check baggage to a One world airline on separate PNR
This is a "courtesy" and requires the originating flight for that leg to commence with CX - which works on your return sectors.
As it is a courtesy, such a service is therefore not guaranteed IMO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

However, I have on two occasions, not been able to exercise this exception even as Platinum status, J cabin, layover 5 hours, QF -> AA
Even showing the check in staff at MEL a printed copy of the policy exception did not work.
Other AFF members have had more luck

Yeah, as alluded to in my post… not all agents know how to through check bags on separate itineraries. Allow plenty of time!

Not Qantas, but over at Virgin, they didn’t even known how to through check on the *same* ticket/PNR between VA and SQ!

 

[Goaty]

Ok thanks heaps everybody .. now that you guys tell me that the checkin counter is open earlier than 3 hours I feel better .. ( I can get to the Le lounge ) I will see how nice the dude is at Sydney ,if he doesn’t know how to check luggage through or has an attitude about it I might just go with it …
Also quick status my flight home is with emirates all the way through Dubai ….so no drama as far as seperate ticketing ..

 

[Quickstatus]

not all agents know how to through check bags on separate itineraries. Allow plenty of time!

I had plenty of time.
Displaying the printed policy exception only resulted in the check in person reiterating the separate PNR policy, rather than trying how to work it in the system.
It did not appear to me to be a case of not knowing how to execute the exception - especially as it happened on 2 separate occasions. Rather, they was just sticking to the standard policy. But maybe as you suggest, they don't really know. Alternatively they may have been contract check in staff. Still it is the QF brand at play who should ensure the staff are aware.
YMMV

 

[TeaKozy]

I did it (QF reward connecting to AS revenue) when I flew MEL-LAX-EWR. Initially the agent pushed back - showed them the policy and they escalated to someone in the little frosted glass section to the left of the counters. Eventually done but a bit of a faff.

 

[SYD]

What’s the latest understanding going the other way? ie CX to QF? We’re returning from our current trip to Oz via CGK (academic, but a QF award seat CGK-SYD and paid CX Euro-HKG-CGK). In the past, we’ve stayed o/n at CGK (as we did heading out). But decided to take gamble this time with 7 hrs layover.

RE the general issue of QF award to OW partner, yes it comes down to the staff experience (or lack thereof). At least flying to the US, you need to collect your bag anyone and then go to the transfer desk and get it retagged.

 

[henrus]

The OPs question has been answered. They're on a QF award ticket then paid CX ticket so under QF's policy through check is allowed. OP you may need to show them the page and as mentioned might get some push back but technically possible:

https://agencyconnect.qantas.com/en-au/policies/baggage-information/interline-and-through-checked-baggage#when-can-my-customers-bags-be-through-checked

Now not mentioned above is that the Cathay staff at the transfer desk will also free of charge fetch checked luggage and retag it for you. If Qantas refuses (despite policy above) I'd first head to the Cathay transfer desk prior to immigration, if you show them your baggage receipt for your Qantas flight and then your onwards cathay ticket they'll check you in and send someone to collect your bag off the carousel and retag it for the onward flight.

If the transit desk queue is huge or you want to recheck the bag yourself then nothing stopping you from going through immigration, collecting your bag heading upstairs and rechecking it in. At Hong Kong, Cathay will accept luggage up to 24 hours prior to departure meaning there will be no wait for check in, can drop bag straight away and head back airside. Australian passports have to queue at a manual counter for arrivals but can use electronic passport gates upon departure.

See here for 24 hours check in:

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_NZ/faqs/check-in/check-in-kiosk/what-are-the-earliest-and-latest-times-that-I-can-check-in-and-collect-my-boarding-pass.html

Also mentioned is the ability to get a departure tax refund:

Hong Kong Air Passenger Departure Tax Refund

www.apdtrefund.hk

What’s the latest understanding going the other way? ie CX to QF?

There was a screenshot above but yes CX will do that:
First line on this page:

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_NZ/faqs/check-in/through-check-to-final-destination-on-separate-tickets/will-my-baggage-and-i-get-through-checked-to-the-final-destination-if-my-itinerary-includes-connecting-flights.html

 

[SYD]

The OPs question has been answered.

Yes, I know. I was asking about the reverse.

Which is probably of interest to the OP if they’re returning the same way.

There was a screenshot above but yes CX will do that:
First line on this page:

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_NZ/faqs/check-in/through-check-to-final-destination-on-separate-tickets/will-my-baggage-and-i-get-through-checked-to-the-final-destination-if-my-itinerary-includes-connecting-flights.html

This was my understanding but I recall someone here mentioning that CGK might be outside that. Guess we’ll find out and I’ll report back.

At least we’ll know once we checkin in Europe if we need to do the Indonesian customs and eVOA process…