Unexpected baggage interlining available transiting via Changi ?

[amthog]

I paid some brief attention in 2016 to the (negative) changes to interlining, but never studied the in & outs in detail. Basically since then have just operated on the pessimistic assumption that unless it is single PNR, then may have problems even if it is the same alliance or sometimes even the same airline.

I am One World Sapphire, but do not currently have Star Alliance status.

Yesterday I had an itinerary that had me flying KUL-SIN (MH) and SIN-PER (SQ), i.e. separate bookings, PNRs, airlines and alliances. I had allowed a very generous connection time on the assumption that I would need to collect baggage and re-check it for the SIN-PER leg.

So imagine my surprise when I checked in at KUL and MH agent asked if I wanted my baggage checked through to PER. I cheerfully accepted but expressed my surprise at this being possible. She did say that I should confirm the bags were checked through when I picked up my SQ boarding pass in SIN.

At the transfer lounge in SIN the agent confirmed the bags were checked through, but did comment that this is only available on full service airlines.

When I arrived in PER I was even more pleasantly surprised when my bags came out very early...as if priority baggage.

Looking at the bags they were tagged with an MH One World priorirty tag as expected given my OW status, and also a pink tag with MH logo bearing the words HOT TRANSIT, which I assume relates to handling at Changi.


So just wondering:

- Is interlining between alliances generally possible or is this something specific to Changi ?
- If the latter where can I get some details to educate myself on this ?

- Was my MH priority tag honored by SQ (implausible ?) or was I just lucky ?

 

[oz_mark]

Interlining is based on agreements between airlines (regardless of alliances), and when on separate tickets, it is then up to individual airline policy as to how they will handle it.

Most legacy carriers have interline agreements with most other legacy carriers - Qantas, for example, has agreements with over 100 other airlines.

So, it comes down to individual airline policy, and sometimes the check-in agent.

(In MH parlance HOT Transit probably means it was a short connection)

 

[Strategic Aviation]

At the transfer lounge in SIN the agent confirmed the bags were checked through, but did comment that this is only available on full service airlines.

You can transfer airside at SIN between full service carriers plus also Jetstar (and maybe Cebu as well).

As per my most recent experience, it's the responsibility of the last airline, not the next one. So even though the FSC has a presence at the airside transfer desks, you can't transfer from LCC to FSC.

Can't transfer from FSC to LCC airside either, because LCCs (with the exception of 3K/JQ and apparently also Cebu) don't have a presence at the transfer desks. No doubt it's cost-related. And unfortunately you can't OLCI the next flight and stay airside.

3K/JQ to or from any FSC should be fine (it obviously works with QF at the very least). I once transferred 3K to 3K (separate bookings) with no issue.

 

[ButFli]

It's a service specific to SIN.

You don't even need to have the luggage checked all the way through when you check in for the first flight. If they are only tagged for SIN, you can show the transfer desk at SIN the luggage receipt and they will arrange for it to be re-tagged for your final destination. You don't touch or see your luggage in that case, it's all taken care of for you.

 

[amthog]

It's a service specific to SIN.
.

Ok.

Thanks to all for responses including clarification that interlining agreements are airline to airline and often cross alliances, plus feedback on the SIN-specific services.

Useful to know I can rely on this for FSC via SIN e.g. .QF, MH, SQ as it will let me choose less conservative connection times on regional trips.

cheers

 

[JohnK]

Transfer service not just specific to SIN. Also available in HKG and to a lesser extent in BKK and KUL.