QF to SQ Transfer - Changi - recent experiences?

[hopefulQFF]

Hi all,

Quick question about using the transfer desks at Changi. I have flights booked to Europe that consist of a BNE-SIN return on Qantas with the SIN-Europe return on SQ inbetween.

I know there is no interline agreement between QF and SQ (oneworld v star alliance). I was therefore expecting to have to clear immigration, grab my bags from the QF flight (Terminal 1), transfer to Terminal 3 and check in, clear immigration etc. This is no major issue as Changi is very straightforward and efficient and I have plenty of time between flights (>4 hours).

However, I have recently read a few (dated) reviews where people have successfully disembarked, gone to a 'Transfer Desk/Counter' at Changi (airside) and organised for their bags to be transferred using their bag tags/stickers as a reference. Apparently Changi divert your bags to the next flight even if you are not on a Star Alliance partner airline. I have not been able to find anything that confirms this happens between QF and SQ. If this is possible it is preferable to stay airside and maximise my time lounging about rather than getting a sweat on getting bags and re-checking in.

If relevant, I am travelling J on both and I am QF SG and Velocity Gold.

I would appreciate insight/feedback from anyone who has done this in the last ~2 years or has a good understanding of how this works/if it is possible.

If I have to grab my bags it's not an issue, I'm just being as efficient as possible! I will x-post this on the SQ board.

Many thanks.

 

[Quickstatus]

But thats only possible if booking the entire travel through the one TA.

 

[JohnK]

@JohnK , I wonder if the PNR agnostic luggage transfer service requires a minimum processing time - say less than 1 hour before next departure

I have not tested short transfers but I think you might be constrained with check-in cutoff to issue boarding passes.

Not sure what happens if you're already checked in for onward flight. MCT may come into play?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have now done multiple connections in SIN many times with many different carriers and have never been refused bags to be retagged through by transfer desk on any connection. I think someone mentioned Scoot does not do it but I have never flown Scoot.

I believe the through checking of bags on Scoot is one of the many optional extras you elect to pay at the time of booking eg seat selection, meals, bags plus through check. If Scoot provided this service at the Changi transfer desk then the bean counters would feel that they're missing out on revenue as pax wouldn't bother to pay for the through check option.

 

[Quickstatus]

I believe the through checking of bags on Scoot is one of the many optional extras you elect to pay at the time of booking eg seat selection, meals, bags plus through check. If Scoot provided this service at the Changi transfer desk then the bean counters would feel that they're missing out on revenue as pax wouldn't bother to pay for the through check option.

So if it’s not a complimentary service by Changi, who pays for it?

 

[JohnK]

So if it’s not a complimentary service by Changi, who pays for it?

The transfer desk could be something that all airlines contribute towards. Some airlines may choose not to participate.

 

[annielee]

apology to hijack this thread, i do have a last minute booking which im trying to book and wondering will that be possible :

QF >> MEL/SYD - DPS, arriving at 2030 (revenue ticket)
SQ >> DPS - SIN, depature at 2145 (redemption)

i know there are no interline between QF and SQ, do you guys know whether i can make the connection request the bags to be intercept in DPS ?

 

[Quickstatus]

apology to hijack this thread, i do have a last minute booking which im trying to book and wondering will that be possible :

QF >> MEL/SYD - DPS, arriving at 2030 (revenue ticket)
SQ >> DPS - SIN, depature at 2145 (redemption)

i know there are no interline between QF and SQ, do you guys know whether i can make the connection request the bags to be intercept in DPS ?

Your problem is going to be whether your bags will be checked through to SIN. As they are 2 separate tickets and 2 separate airlines with no inter line agreement you most likely will need to clear immigration and pay for visa on arrival, enter Indonesia, collect bags, checkin then clear immigration, security. You will not be able to get the airport to intercept the luggage for you. No such service exist in DPS.

The second problem is that you are hoping that the flight out of Sydney departs on time.

The 3rd problem is that SQ949 is the last SQ flight to SIN for the day. Miss that one and you are going to have to overnight in DPS airport. Or pay for another visa

The 4th problem is that you will not be able to board the SQ flight at 2145. Typically the gate closes 15-20 min prior to departure.


No it’s NOT possible unless you give yourself minimum 3 hours.

 

[serfty]

do you guys know whether i can make the connection

No Way would I ever consider such a 75 minute connection on separate tickets, even on a single ticket and even at Changi. I'd be thinking more than twice about booking such on the one ticket.

 

[laffer]

Wish I had known about this last year. I flew into SIN on BA to transfer to SQ. Went out through immigration and back in. Had three hours plus to do it. Very easy albeit this option sounds great.

 

[AIRwin]

QF >> MEL/SYD - DPS, arriving at 2030 (revenue ticket)
SQ >> DPS - SIN, depature at 2145 (redemption)

I suggest you book the later DPS-SIN flight on 3K which I've successfully connected to in the past after flying in from SYD on QF...

 

[annielee]

that might be a good idea, since its Jetstar, do i have to collect my luggage ?

I suggest you book the later DPS-SIN flight on 3K which I've successfully connected to in the past after flying in from SYD on QF...

 

[AIRwin]

that might be a good idea, since its Jetstar, do i have to collect my luggage ?

Yes

 

[annielee]

Managed to redeem on a different flight, but still transiting in SIN, and im worried about my baggage allowance (already asked in MH thread)
1st flight > MEL - SIN QF J reward (52kg)
2nd flight > SIN - KUL MH J reward (40kg ?)

If i were to intercept the baggage as per suggestion above, will the weight matter ?
Yes, my baggage weight is close to 50kg.. thanks to all the christmas presents im bringing back home..

apology to hijack this thread, i do have a last minute booking which im trying to book and wondering will that be possible :

QF >> MEL/SYD - DPS, arriving at 2030 (revenue ticket)
SQ >> DPS - SIN, depature at 2145 (redemption)

i know there are no interline between QF and SQ, do you guys know whether i can make the connection request the bags to be intercept in DPS ?

 

[JohnK]

Managed to redeem on a different flight, but still transiting in SIN, and im worried about my baggage allowance (already asked in MH thread)
1st flight > MEL - SIN QF J reward (52kg)
2nd flight > SIN - KUL MH J reward (40kg ?)

If i were to intercept the baggage as per suggestion above, will the weight matter ?
Yes, my baggage weight is close to 50kg.. thanks to all the christmas presents im bringing back home..

Theory says you'll be ok unless they become very strict and cross check the weights.

In all the years of using SIN/HKG transfer desk not once has my luggage been questioned.

 

[annielee]

i've bought extra baggage, just in case..and change my flight form MH to SQ and the extra 10kg will be around S$39

Theory says you'll be ok unless they become very strict and cross check the weights.

In all the years of using SIN/HKG transfer desk not once has my luggage been questioned.

 

[ajw373]

i know there are no interline between QF and SQ, do you guys know whether i can make the connection request the bags to be intercept in DPS ?

Just to be clear about something QF and SQ do very much have an interline agreement. Your issue is your booking will be on two seperate PNR's and Qantas won't through check you, because if they do, then they become responsible for getting you and your bag to Singapore if there is a problem with the outbound flight. Two totally different things.

 

[Danger]

My understanding is interline agreements, in the context of checking baggage, relate to whether or not carrier A can transfer baggage to carrier B but only when on the same PNR. Does the existence of an interline agreement mean carrier A can/will transfer baggage to carrier B but when on separate PNRs?

Qantas and Vietnam Airlines have an interline agreement and I've looking at one ticket from Vietnam to Singapore with VN then another ticket Singapore to Australia on QF. The connection time is 1h45m. Does the interline agreement mean VN will check my bags through to Australia? If not, it would appear from this thread that the Singaporean service culture will mean I only need to present to an appropriate transfer desk on arrival from Vietnam to have my bags re-tagged to Australia, is this correct?

 

[ajw373]

I'm not really sure what you are asking.

But lets clarify a few things:

Two tickets are not the same as two PNR's. You can have multiple tickets on the same PNR.

Now Qantas will happily through check your bags to any carrier they have an interline agreement with provided the flights are all on the same PNR.

If they are on different PNR's then Qantas will not do it, except QF to QF (but open to correction on that as it may have changed). The reason they will not do it is becuase they wear the risk of misconnection, not only for your bags but also for you.

In your case you are starting with VN. The core issue for you is not the presence of an interline agreement between VN and QF, but what is VN's policy about through checking on different PNR's. I don't know the answer, but that is the question you need to be asking. Now if they don't then yes, you may well be able to present at the Qantas transfer desk and get your bags re-tagged. The risk for you though is the connection time, if VN is late, there may not be enough time for your bags to be located and re-tagged, and there is also a possibility you will miss the flight too. But due to you having seperate PNR's that is a risk you have taken.

 

[Danger]

I'm not really sure what you are asking.

But lets clarify a few things:

Two tickets are not the same as two PNR's. You can have multiple tickets on the same PNR.

Now Qantas will happily through check your bags to any carrier they have an interline agreement with provided the flights are all on the same PNR.

If they are on different PNR's then Qantas will not do it, except QF to QF (but open to correction on that as it may have changed). The reason they will not do it is becuase they wear the risk of misconnection, not only for your bags but also for you.

In your case you are starting with VN. The core issue for you is not the presence of an interline agreement between VN and QF, but what is VN's policy about through checking on different PNR's. I don't know the answer, but that is the question you need to be asking. Now if they don't then yes, you may well be able to present at the Qantas transfer desk and get your bags re-tagged. The risk for you though is the connection time, if VN is late, there may not be enough time for your bags to be located and re-tagged, and there is also a possibility you will miss the flight too. But due to you having seperate PNR's that is a risk you have taken.

My question was, does interline mean two carriers will through-check bags on separate tickets (noting I have naively confused separate PNRs and separate tickets), or does interline mean only that the carriers will through-check on the same ticket?

There is this in VN's T&Cs:

9.4.6. We and our agents shall not check through Baggage for other Carriers where we do not have an interline agreement with them. Therefore, where you intend to arrive at an airport on another Carrier’s flight in order to connect with one of our flights or you intend to arrive at the airport on one of our flights in order to connect with another Carrier’s flight you must check in advance whether we have an interline agreement with them. If we do not, you are responsible for clearing your Baggage and having it checked-in and re-tagged for the next flight. In such circumstances, we are not liable for any Damage to you and to your Baggage.​

 

[serfty]

If they are on different PNR's then Qantas will not do it, except QF to QF (but open to correction on that as it may have changed).

Qantas will also through check separate PNRs QF to EK or QF to *O if one of the bookings is an award.