QF vs AA checked baggage allowance

[melodien]

I am currently part way through a trip around the US (for work, alas). Qantas to and from the US, and AA for US internal flights. Before I left Australia I carefully checked with my corporate travel people and with AA themselves about checked luggage allowances. All parties assured me that the Qantas allowances would be honoured, and that as a Qantas Club member I would be able to check 2 pieces of luggage at no charge on all flights. So I flew to Dallas (with a single case at this point), spent two nights there and when I arrived at DFW to fly on to Raleigh, the agent said "$25 Ma'am". So I told her that I had been promised that there would be no fees, and she fetched her supervisor, and they informed me that AA's rules are that if you stop anywhere for more than 24 hours, that counts as a stopover, and thereafter AA's luggage allowances prevail.

I still have several internal flights to go before I can go home, and I had intended to stimulate the local economies long the way - I have a empty lightweight duffle in my case, which I would like to fill, but I am not prepared to pay an additional bag charge every time I check it, on top of the unexpected first bag charge. My expenses will pick up the first bag charge, but my boss won't pay to additional charges, I'm sure (and wouldn't ask, anyway).

Anyone know anyway to get Qantas' allowances applied?

 

[Boris spatsky]

My experience is as per the agent; once you stopover, you are now on AA rules. I have also had this on Delta after flying VA to the US the day before.

 

[melodien]

My experience is as per the agent; once you stopover, you are now on AA rules. I have also had this on Delta after flying VA to the US the day before.

Sigh. I fear you are correct. A pity that AA's customer service people don't understand this: if they had given me the correct information in the first place, I would not have bothered bringing a spare bag.

 

[serfty]

I am wondering how the MSC rules (IATA 302) should apply here. With the US DOT variance, the allownace for the first journey should apply for the entire booking.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Are all you flights on one itinerary/PNR ?

 

[melodien]

I am wondering how the MSC rules (IATA 302) should apply here. With the US DOT variance, the allownace for the first journey should apply for the entire booking.

That is what my corporate travel people said when I asked. Unfortunately no one seems to have told American Airlines. As I read the MSC rules, Qantas allowances should apply, but I see no way to make AA play ball.

 

[melodien]

Are all you flights on one itinerary/PNR ?

Yes. All on one itinerary.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes. All on one itinerary.

The TA may have put all the flights on the same itinerary but they may have issued separate tickets for the QF & AA flights.

Have you got copies of your etickets?

If your AA flights were on the same ticket as the QF flights the baggage allowance for all fligbts should reflect "2PC".

If an AA ticket is issued on its own there would be no baggage allowance hence the AA CSA asking for $25.00. The only thing that would get you out of jail is having OW status that allows you free checked luggage.

 

[serfty]

The TA may have put all the flights on the same itinerary but they may have issued separate tickets for the QF & AA flights.

Have you got copies of your etickets?

If your AA flights were on the same ticket as the QF flights the baggage allowance for all fligbts should reflect "2PC".

If an AA ticket is issued on its own there would be no baggage allowance hence the AA CSA asking for $25.00. The only thing that would get you out of jail is having OW status that allows you free checked luggage.

If on the one ticket then AA are in breach of USA DOT regulation which overrides IATA 302 in any case: (eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations)

14 C.F.R. sec. 399.87

§ 399.87 Baggage allowances and fees.

For passengers whose ultimate ticketed origin or destination is a U.S. point, U.S. and foreign carriers must apply the baggage allowances and fees that apply at the beginning of a passenger's itinerary throughout his or her entire itinerary. In the case of code-share flights that form part of an itinerary whose ultimate ticketed origin or destination is a U.S. point, U.S. and foreign carriers must apply the baggage allowances and fees of the marketing carrier throughout the itinerary to the extent that they differ from those of any operating carrier.

 

[melodien]

The TA may have put all the flights on the same itinerary but they may have issued separate tickets for the QF & AA flights.

<snip>

If an AA ticket is issued on its own there would be no baggage allowance hence the AA CSA asking for $25.00. The only thing that would get you out of jail is having OW status that allows you free checked luggage.

And this, I think, is the problem. Upon careful examination of the documents, it does appear that separate tickets were issued, probably because this trip was rescheduled so many times (well beyond the control of the TA, just one of those work things). I am a little short of status credits at the moment, so have no OW status to fall back on, and therefore I am going to have to pay the fees. Many thanks to all respondents, at least I know what to watch out for next time.

 

[NM]

If on the one ticket then AA are in breach of USA DOT regulation which overrides IATA 302 in any case: (eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations)

But I expect this would only apply to the "ticketed" baggage allowance - i.e. what is shown in the eticket receipt. It would not apply to any additional allowances available as a status FF member or Qantas Club member that may apply for some sectors in addition to the ticketed allowance.

 

[serfty]

But I expect this would only apply to the "ticketed" baggage allowance - i.e. what is shown in the eticket receipt. It would not apply to any additional allowances available as a status FF member or Qantas Club member that may apply for some sectors in addition to the ticketed allowance.

Sure, as it seems most airlines don't file their elite allowances.

In any case, it's not relevant to the OP, who has no status.

(It might be interesting to see how the default additional oneworld Emerald allowance plays out in those situations where it could be a factor going forward.)