Different airlines on a single booking

[Lawrage]

Hi all,

Wanted to double check something. If I am flying on an awards flight from New York - London - Dubai.

New York - London - British Airways
London - Dubai - Emirates

All on 1 booking using the multi city booking tool.

1. Can my luggage be checked all the way through to Dubai (different airlines)
2. WIll I need to exit immigration at Heathrow and re-check in (different airlines)

Might be a very basic question but my flights are usually always on the same airline for a booking.

 

[TheInsider]

all on the one booking, then it shouldn't be a problem with BA sending that bags all the way through.
After arriving at T5 then you go to transfers and then go to T3.

 

[Lawrage]

all on the one booking, then it shouldn't be a problem with BA sending that bags all the way through.
After arriving at T5 then you go to transfers and then go to T3.

Thanks heaps

 

[jpp42]

These are actually related questions, because you can't do an international transit (without passing through immigration), unless your luggage is checked through. You either get luggage checked through , or you must enter the UK and pass through immigration then collect your bags, pass through customs, and then re-check them (after possibly changing terminals). Others responded as to the exact setup at LHR.

Be aware of this in case you have difficulties at check-in in New York, however it should be good since you're on the same PNR. When asked your final destination, where are you going today, etc, be sure to say "Dubai via London" so they know to check the bags to the final destination of Dubai.

 

[madrooster]

1. Can my luggage be checked all the way through to Dubai (different airlines)
2. WIll I need to exit immigration at Heathrow and re-check in (different airlines)

Might be a very basic question but my flights are usually always on the same airline for a booking.

1. No
2. Yes

BA do not have an interline agreement with EK (nor vice versa).

 

[kreuky]

Yep, QF will sell you tickets where you can't interline baggage because the airlines do not have an interline agreement - happened to me before CX to 3K (jetstar asia). Had to collect luggage and re check in.

 

[Lawrage]

1. No
2. Yes

BA do not have an interline agreement with EK (nor vice versa).

Im not sure how this is possible. If I go back a step and take the complicated multi search out.

A simple flight from London to Dubai, this is a flight option.

 

[TheInsider]

1. No
2. Yes

BA do not have an interline agreement with EK (nor vice versa).

EK and BA do have an interline agreement AFAIK, unless the info given to me is wrong and changed?

The other 'interline' staff travel agreement between BA and EK was suspended in 2018 roughly.

ELECTRONIC INTERLINE CARRIER AGREEMENTS-EK
INTERLINE CARRIER CODES
AA - AB - AC - AE - AF - AH - AI - AM - AR - AS
AT - AV - AY - AZ - A3 - A9 - BA - BD - BE - BI
BL - BP - BR - BT - B6 - B8 - CA - CI - CM - CX
CY - CZ - DJ - DL - DN - DT - D3 - D6 - EI - EQ
ET - EY - FB - FI - FJ - FM - FV - FZ - GA - GF
GK - G3 - HA - HG - HM - HR - H2 - IB - IE - IG
IR - IY - I5 - JJ - JL - JO - JP - JQ - JU - J2
KA - KC - KE - KK - KL - KM - KQ - KU - LA - LG
LH - LO - LP - LT - LX - L6 - MA - ME - MH - MI
MK - MP - MS - MU - NH - NU - NW - NZ - OA - OK
OS - OU - OV - OZ - PG - PR - PS - PW - PX - PZ
P0 - QF - QR - RJ - RO - SA - SB - SK - SQ - SS
SU - SV - SW - S7 - TG - TK - TM - TN - TP - TU
T3 - UA - UL - UN - US - UX - U6 - VA - VF - VN
VR - VS - VX - V7 - WF - WS - WY - W3 - XL - YM
0O - 2J - 3K - 4M - 4Q - 8M - 9B - 9W

 

[jpp42]

EK and BA do have an interline agreement AFAIK, unless the info given to me is wrong and changed?

After a bit more review, I see that Lawrage's question is actually more complicated than implied at first. This is an unusual situation since EK doesn't normally partner with other large airlines like BA; the fact that Qantas and EK have an agreement complicates things and allows flights from these two airlines to appear on one PNR when that is unusual otherwise. Basically, interlining of luggage is not transitive - Qantas interlines with BA, and also with EK, which allows the ticket to be sold. But it doesn't mean that BA and EK interline with each other and are required to transfer the luggage without e.g. Qantas as an intermediary.

It seems the info in ExpertFlyer can't necessarily be relied upon for this, noting there is a distinction between the mere existence of an interline agreement for ticketing (which is what EF data refers to), vs baggage interlining, which is dependent on airline policy. Here's a good thread from FlyerTalk in 2019 about this exact issue of bags not being interlined from BA to EK when sold on third-party (i.e., QF) tickets that otherwise might imply it could be done:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emi...6-ek-ba-through-check-separate-tickets-3.html (See post #10 onwards from Isochronous for the part most relevant here, because it's talking about the situation where all flights are on one PNR.)

I realise it's three years old, but other threads seem to indicate that BA and EK are still at odds and still don't have any agreement. I would recommend calling BA as the first operating carrier and asking if they will check through, hopefully the phone agent will have access to the correct information. Lawrage, how much time do you have in London?

Note: Assuming this same issue would exist in Frankfurt, that London to Dubai itinerary proposed with only 1hr15 to collect luggage and re-check, doesn't seem tenable. I wonder how many people have gotten caught out by this kind of thing. Another peril of Qantas classic rewards...

 

[Lawrage]

After a bit more review, I see that Lawrage's question is actually more complicated than implied at first. This is an unusual situation since EK doesn't normally partner with other large airlines like BA; the fact that Qantas and EK have an agreement complicates things and allows flights from these two airlines to appear on one PNR when that is unusual otherwise. Basically, interlining of luggage is not transitive - Qantas interlines with BA, and also with EK, which allows the ticket to be sold. But it doesn't mean that BA and EK interline with each other and are required to transfer the luggage without e.g. Qantas as an intermediary.

It seems the info in ExpertFlyer can't necessarily be relied upon for this, noting there is a distinction between the mere existence of an interline agreement for ticketing (which is what EF data refers to), vs baggage interlining, which is dependent on airline policy. Here's a good thread from FlyerTalk in 2019 about this exact issue of bags not being interlined from BA to EK when sold on third-party (i.e., QF) tickets that otherwise might imply it could be done:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emi...6-ek-ba-through-check-separate-tickets-3.html (See post #10 onwards from Isochronous for the part most relevant here, because it's talking about the situation where all flights are on one PNR.)

I realise it's three years old, but other threads seem to indicate that BA and EK are still at odds and still don't have any agreement. I would recommend calling BA as the first operating carrier and asking if they will check through, hopefully the phone agent will have access to the correct information. Lawrage, how much time do you have in London?

Note: Assuming this same issue would exist in Frankfurt, that London to Dubai itinerary proposed with only 1hr15 to collect luggage and re-check, doesn't seem tenable. I wonder how many people have gotten caught out by this kind of thing. Another peril of Qantas classic rewards...

Thanks for posting that, was a good read, unfortauntely it doesnt look like I can guarantee getting my bags checked through in London. Might be luck of the draw it seems.

I was just under the assumption that a simple search, booking under on PNR would be hassle free, would be terrible to be stuck there cause of this.

I guess my best options are:
1. Book the flight but make a 3-5 hour layover in Heathrow (not ideal)
2. Choose another airline or try for both legs to be BA