US Baggage Charges; has anything changed ?

[bertair]

A year ago I flew into Phoenix with BA(ECY), stayed overnight, next day flew to Washington D.C. with AA. I checked my bag in and was informed I had to pay a $US 20 baggage fee.
I was surprised as it was not over weight, but questioning further and asking to speak to a supervisor, I was informed that it is a standard fee on US Airlines for US pax, but as I was an international traveller, confirmed with my e ticket, I would be exempt and my bags were checked in at no extra charge.
A family member has just flown into DFW and the same thing happened, but they did not get any exemption and had to pay. Does it depend on the supervisor you encounter ?
Or, is it that any non carry on baggage is charged regardless now ?
Anyone experienced this lately ?

 

[samh004]

I was under the impression that if the onward flight was booked as part of the international ticket, it’s covered, but if it’s booked separately, it’s not. However this is where having status comes in handy.

However I have not been to the US in many years, so will defer to someone that has been there more recently than I.

 

[larry40]

No charge for us on Hawaiian Airlines three weeks ago HNL-LAX-HNL. I was advised by HA call centre staff here to show my Jetstar e-ticket to have the baggage fees waived. Glad he offered this info cause I had no idea and was prepared to pay.

Found it later on their website in the fine print - exemption for 1st and 2nd checked bag fee for customers travelling to and from an international destination.

His advice at the time was to not check in online but go to the counter. I did check in online 24 hours in advance as I wanted to purchase exit row seats $25 per person one way but skipped the bit about paying for bags. The option was also there to upgrade to first class for $300 - for anyone interested.

Staff at HNL did not even ask to see my flight details when I said we were international visitors. Staff at LAX asked to see our passports - no problem though -all free.

 

[odysseus]

There are some specific conditions so it may be that the second group didn't meet them whereas you did. (The price also went up from $20 at the beginning of last year.)

The specific policy for AA is:
When the USA domestic flights are issued on the same ticket as the international sectors, American Airlines domestic baggage allowance is 2 x 23kgs bags per person. If the domestic ticket is issued separately to the international ticket and travel on the domestic flight is outside of 24 hours from the international sectors the first and second checked baggage fee will apply. The checked baggage fees are:

• 1st check baggage fee USD25.00
• 2nd check baggage fee USD35.00

 

[dom_tyro]

In addition to what odysseus has already advised here for AA, and for future reference for anyone looking for this same advise the following is from the AA website:
"The following passengers will be allowed a 1st and/or 2nd checked bag at no additional charge provided it falls within the size and weight limitations

• For tickets purchased on or after September 14, 2009, customers traveling to, from, or through an international destination that does not include Europe or India
• oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members
• Customers flying on the same reservation as an American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum or AAdvantage Gold member or oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby member regardless of frequent flier status or fare type"

I'm in a real quandary with all this baggage allowance hyperbole as I'm off to the states soon myself and am trying to determine where/when/if I'll be up for additional costs as we're flying QF Y BNE/SYD & JASA SYD/LAX, then E AA LAX/SMF, E UA SMF/PIT, E US PIT/LGB and finally F HA LAX/SYD via HNL and a Y back to BNE

Between Mrs Tyro and myself we're taking not only our own bags but also a bag full of our son's gear over to him in Sacramento so looking at bag limits/weights etc for the first 2 domestic legs is driving me batty as I'm PS and Mrs is NB. AA website says Mrs gets same privilege as me as I'm OW Ruby, but QF doesn't mention it.

 

[serfty]

What parts of your itinerary are on the one booking?

For the domestic QF segments, assuming they are not on the same booking as the JASA, your are entitled to "1 piece (maximum 32kg) Economy".

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/checked-baggage/global/en#jump0

Travelling QF on a JASA transpacific entitles each of you to "2 pieces (maximum 32kg per piece)".

Checked Baggage Allowance

 

[dom_tyro]

What parts of your itinerary are on the one booking?

G'day Serfy and thanks for your comment,
Unfortunately when I booked the JASA we were driving down to Sydney a week before the flight but changed plans and got a red e deal without thinking about the baggage allowance.

The whole trips been worked out in stages as we had to rush to snap up the JASA back in April before it disappeared and all other legs have been booked one after the other once we worked out which U.S. rellies got the least/most of our time.
You should see my trip-spread on my Tripit account soooo my places, so little time!

P.S. Serfy,
Do you happen to know if a spouse travelling with you on a domestic leg who is only an NB, is entitled to the same baggage allowance of 32kgs as I am. Funny, we were weighing bags and checking which bags nested in which last night just trying to distribute weight between them evenly.

 

[FlyboyAl]

In addition to what odysseus has already advised here for AA, and for future reference for anyone looking for this same advise the following is from the AA website:
"The following passengers will be allowed a 1st and/or 2nd checked bag at no additional charge provided it falls within the size and weight limitations

• For tickets purchased on or after September 14, 2009, customers traveling to, from, or through an international destination that does not include Europe or India
• oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members
• Customers flying on the same reservation as an American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum or AAdvantage Gold member or oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby member regardless of frequent flier status or fare type"

...

I'm off to SFO in 4 weeks, which I used to be able to do direct on QF and was able to bring back 3 bags up to 32kg each (Gold FF plus Qantas Club allowance). I assume that as I now have to do the SFO - LAX leg on AA, I'm limited back to 2 bags up to 32kg?

Or am I reading it wrongly?

 

[serfty]

Until you get to SMF and offload your son's stuff it's going to be an issue.

You might like to call Qantas armed with your PNR's through to SMF and request that information segments, each showing the others, be placed into each booking. They may or may not want to do so; more chance, since they are oneworld bookings.

Other than that, are you travelling BNE-SYD-LAX-SMF same day? If so, then you can hope that on check-in in SYD, the agent may simply provide the 2 bag 32kg Business baggage allowance for the through connections.

 

[dom_tyro]

Am flying BNE-SYD on Sunday and then SYD-AKL-LAX-SMF the next day, Monday only beause the JASA departs at 06:30 (oh, to dream of a flight system the likes of the U.S. where you can get an early am connection the same day you're going international)

But I do think I'll take up your advise Serfy and call Qantas and see what they can do for us, no harm in trying I suppose.

And to Al,
I would believe you'd be okay if you're flights are booked under the one PNR because AA's website states that on codeshare flights operated by other carriers, the baggage allowance and charges of the operating carrier apply.
Or maybe I'm reading it all wrong too???
LOL, I told you I'm in a quandary with all this!!
Check out their website and maybe you'll have to contact them too.
aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp?anchorEvent=false&from=Nav

 

[FlyboyAl]

What worries me is that the AA flight numbers are not QF, so I dont think they are "codeshare" but I'm still learning all this!

We just flew home on VA in Y+ and their allowance is 2 x 32kg each. We then flew QF from SYS - ADL, and I was lucky enough to upgrade us to J, which is also 2 x 32kg each, so it worked out quite well. If we had not upgraded, it would have been 1 x 32kg, then buy an extra bag, limited to 23kg, for $20 (I think).

 

[dom_tyro]

Well I'll be over there on the 25th and will know first-hand exactly what our baggage limits with AA are and i'll blog back and let you know how we went Al. I'll talk to them at LAX and find out exactly what our entitlements, as OW travellers are and get it written up here for you.

 

[serfty]

I'm off to SFO in 4 weeks, which I used to be able to do direct on QF and was able to bring back 3 bags up to 32kg each (Gold FF plus Qantas Club allowance). I assume that as I now have to do the SFO - LAX leg on AA, I'm limited back to 2 bags up to 32kg?

Or am I reading it wrongly?

Hmmm ... AFAIK additional status based luggage benefits were not coughulative. [-]One would get that for SG or one would get that for QP, not both. You may have been fortunate.[/-]

What class are you travelling in?

Is all travel on the one PNR?

How many travelling & what status (SG & QP?)?

 

[Blackadder]

What worries me is that the AA flight numbers are not QF, so I dont think they are "codeshare" but I'm still learning all this!

We just flew home on VA in Y+ and their allowance is 2 x 32kg each. We then flew QF from SYS - ADL, and I was lucky enough to upgrade us to J, which is also 2 x 32kg each, so it worked out quite well. If we had not upgraded, it would have been 1 x 32kg, then buy an extra bag, limited to 23kg, for $20 (I think).

If travelling in F 3 bags are free as per American Airlines Changes To Checked Bag Charges On AA.com

The following also avoid the AA bag charges

• For tickets purchased on or after September 14, 2009, customers traveling to, from, or through an international destination that does not include Europe or India
• Customers traveling to, from, or through Mexico if the ticket was purchased before May 3, 2010
• Customers traveling between the Caribbean or Central America and the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Europe and India if the ticket was purchased before February 10, 2011
• Customers who purchase full-fare tickets in Economy Class
• Customers who purchase Business or First Class tickets
• Active U.S. Military personnel traveling on orders or personal travel
• Active U.S. Military dependents traveling on orders
• American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum® or AAdvantage Gold® members
• oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members
• Customers flying on the same reservation as an American Airlines AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum or AAdvantage Gold member or oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby member regardless of frequent flier status or fare type (not applicable to group bookings)
• First and Business Class MileSAAver® Awards
• First, Business and Economy Class AAnytime® Awards
• First and Business Class upgrades confirmed prior to check in

 

[FlyboyAl]

Hmmm ... AFAIK additional status based luggage benefits were not coughulative. One would get that for SG or one would get that for QP, not both. You may have been fortunate.

What class are you travelling in?

Is all travel on the one PNR?

How many travelling & what status (SG & QP?)?

Both my wife and I are QP members and Gold QF, and we routinely bring back 3 bags each, at 32kg per bag when we go to the US on Qantas. Never had an issue, and it is on the website somewhere. we are usually Y or Y+. The only problem I have with the SFO flight is the leg from SFO to LAX with the extra bag on the AA flight. The trips are always on the same PNR, but as I said, have never used AA to fly back to LAX with "full bags"!

We are fortunate that a number of our suppliers are based in LA or SFO, so we are able to bring stock back in the luggage (and yes, we do declare it, and have never yet had to pay anything for up to $3K stock in the bags). Customs just seem to be happy that we go to the trouble of declaring what we have.

 

[FlyboyAl]

oops, I had my 32's and 23's mixed up!!!
Here is what I found for the US travel before Dec 2010

Economy/Premium Economy	2 pieces (maximum 23kg per piece)
Business/First	2 pieces (maximum 32kg per piece)
Qantas Club members, Silver and Gold Frequent Flyers	3 pieces (maximum 23kg per piece) Economy/Premium Economy 3 pieces (maximum 32kg per piece) Business/First
Platinum Frequent Flyers	3 pieces (maximum 23kg per piece) Economy/Premium Economy 3 pieces (maximum 32kg per piece) Business/First

And from what I can see, the US rules have not changed after Dec 2010, unless I'm missing something.

 

[serfty]

Both my wife and I are QP members and Gold QF, and we routinely bring back 3 bags each, at 32kg per bag when we go to the US on Qantas. ...

Oops; yep that's fine - I misread.

Your allowance for SYD-xLAX-SFO is indeed: "3 pieces (maximum 23kg per piece) Economy/Premium Economy" each.

Now, importantly, when was your ticket issued?

If after April 1 then Qantas' allowance applies being the "Most Significant Carrier"; if not AA may be entitled to apply their fees for a third bag (although I doubt they will).

 

[dom_tyro]

Woohoo
Had a win with the baggage restriction issue!

I called Qantas and was told that as long as you are travelling within 24hrs of your domestic flight it is considered a connector and all baggage weight restrictions apply as per your international connection.

So now I don't need to worry about "nesting" bags and wearing 3 sets of clothes under my suit to help lighten the bag weight
6 x bags @32kg = Mrs Tyro can now....pack:-|....more:shock:.... oh dear god! I didn't think this through, did I fella's

 

[FlyboyAl]

I take it you are flying either J or F?

 

[serfty]

I take it you are flying either J or F?

See post #5 - "... JASA SYD/LAX, ..."