Transiting Interational flights in Heathrow - T3 arrival, T5 departure

[kermatu]

Hi all,

In a few months will be travelling to Europe and would appreciate any advice re following scenario:

Flying from Dubai to Berlin via London Heathrow. All on a single Qantas booking number, but DXB-LHR is on Emirates (arrival T3), LHR-TXL is on British Airways (T5). Will Emirates be able to check my bag all the way through, and does that mean I do not need to collect my bag before transferring to T5? I have seen the info on the website about how to transfer so that's fine, just really want to know if I need to pick up my bag at LHR.

Thanks for any advice offered.

 

[madrooster]

Flying from Dubai to Berlin via London Heathrow. All on a single Qantas booking number, but DXB-LHR is on Emirates (arrival T3), LHR-TXL is on British Airways (T5). Will Emirates be able to check my bag all the way through, and does that mean I do not need to collect my bag before transferring to T5? I have seen the info on the website about how to transfer so that's fine, just really want to know if I need to pick up my bag at LHR.

If it is all one booking then you won't need to collect it, it'll be tagged to TXL.

Go to Flight Connections when you get off the EK flight (you'll most likely be arriving at gate 7) and take the bus to T5.

 

[astrosly]

No problems kermatu, I did similar a few weeks ago going SIN to LHR on Emirates then BA to Zagreb with a 90min connection T3->T5 on the one PNR. EK checked the bag all the way to ZAG, follow the purple markings to get to the transfer bus for T5.

Should also mention that Emirates won't give you the BA boarding pass so you need to get this from the BA international transfer desk at T5.

 

[kermatu]

Thank you both for that info. Much appreciated.

 

[kermatu]

So just had a call from QF to advise that there is no interline agreement for EK flights transiting LHR on to a BA flight. So I was moved from EK flight to QF1. Only 15 minutes difference and I appreciate being given the advice now (travel in a month) rather than being told on check-in that I'd need to collect bags. Downside is loss of allocated seat, chauffeur booking now not working etc but probably time to fix that.

But this seems at odds with other advice. Anyone else had this recent experience?

 

[defurax]

So just had a call from QF to advise that there is no interline agreement for EK flights transiting LHR on to a BA flight. So I was moved from EK flight to QF1. Only 15 minutes difference and I appreciate being given the advice now (travel in a month) rather than being told on check-in that I'd need to collect bags. Downside is loss of allocated seat, chauffeur booking now not working etc but probably time to fix that.

But this seems at odds with other advice. Anyone else had this recent experience?

EK has interline agreements with all these carriers including BA:

 

[defurax]

Just to add to my previous post. Since QF gave you incorrect information, you should consider if you were happier with your previous flights and if so call QF again and tell them to put you back on EK flight.

I am amazed at how clueless QF agents can be. I posted info from Expert Flyer above, but EK also gives the info directly on their website: Baggage Allowance and Rules of Our Interline Partners | Emirates

 

[TheRealTMA]

I'm quite concerned about the bad and incorrect advice from Qantas re your Emirates flight. Seems very poor form if not malicious. Interline transfers are the norm. We have never had an issue with transits to BA flights.

 

[kermatu]

I did wonder if it was malicious too. Given I've had the booking for 9 months, why 1 month out tell me this? I don't mind the change, but am somewhat upset as I was pretty confident of getting a J to F upgrade on EK (has happened before on EK, never on QF - and this QF1 looks to be close to full in F).

Of course, if I now try to go back will probably be charged / have lost my good seat etc. But thanks both for the info and views.

 

[kermatu]

Update: my ability to book a chauffeur to Dubai has been restored, so have rebooked. Out of interest, does anyone know what time check-in to Dubai opens for Qantas? Any merit or point booking CD before 21:15 (for a 02:15 flight) - which I'm keen to given will have checked out of hotel?

Thanks.

 

[kermatu]

Just had it reversed, but confirmed by the QF rep that it's nothing to do with transfer of bags, but trying to encourage people to fly QF not EK. Wow.

 

[defurax]

Just had it reversed, but confirmed by the QF rep that it's nothing to do with transfer of bags, but trying to encourage people to fly QF not EK. Wow.

From the T&C:
From time to time, and for operational reasons, QF may lie to you :mrgreen:

 

[knasty]

Just had it reversed, but confirmed by the QF rep that it's nothing to do with transfer of bags, but trying to encourage people to fly QF not EK. Wow.

That is disgraceful. Smells of deceptive conduct. Is this a rogue agent or a deliberate policy? I have mentioned previously that I have heard QF lounge staff lambasting travellers booked on EK code as all the money goes to the middle east and Qantas gets none...

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just had it reversed, but confirmed by the QF rep that it's nothing to do with transfer of bags, but trying to encourage people to fly QF not EK. Wow.

I suggest the ACCC would have something to say about wilful and deceitful conduct on such issues.

 

[kermatu]

To be fair, I wouldn't blame the agent entirely. He said a flag against DXB-LHR had come up on my booking when a domestic flight 3 weeks later (but all part of my single booking) was adjusted. The system was showing I needed to move to the QF flight. His best explanation was baggage transfer / interline. And I accepted it at the time.

But clearly Qantas is trying to find ways to fill up QF seats. Today's agent, after discussion with manager, acknowledged it.

I'm pretty annoyed, as it's also buggering my seat allocations, upgrade requests, chauffeur drive bookings. Really unwanted hassles.