Emirates denies QFF Gold baggage allowance

[equus]

I think it's this. You can't add the benefits of a 'weight allowance' boost to a 'piece allowance' ticket. It's one or the other. Benefits of Qantas status are only offered on Emirates towards weight allowance itineraries, which excludes the piece system used for North and South America. If the latter has taken over as the ticketed allowance for every sector, being entitled to extra weight doesn't help. Granted, this isn't particularly clear online.

Agree. Because US destinations are not part of the EK agreement, and as all destinations that are part of the EK agreement use weight, EK have implemented the status based baggage allowances and being extra weight, and nothing to do with extra pieces.

Once you end up with a ticket with an allowance in pieces, EK has no way to add extra weight to it - so you end up out of luck.

 

[moa999]

But EK won't care what a QF website says - they are the operating carrier - so their rules apply.

Add the open-jaw, and the fact that the QF-EK partnership is abnormal in excluding regions, and you've got a somewhat complicated mess.

Checked Baggage | Baggage | Before You Fly | Emirates Australia

Find out what checked baggage allowance you can enjoy on your next flight with Emirates and our partners.

www.emirates.com

Broadly says weight system applies, unless US then piece system.
Notably if on Economy Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus fares OP should have been entitled to 2 bags, unless on a Special fare.

But then also says - If your trip from Australia, New Zealand, or Asia to North or South America includes a sector in Europe or a stopover in Dubai for longer than 24 hours, the weight concept will apply for the entire ticketed journey.

But then you've still got the issue as to whether the agreement applies.

 

[Ade]

It was sold as a single ticket.

Did the ticket number start with a 081- ?

 

[Ade]

in Europe

By this (OP did have sector/stopover in FCO and I'm assuming over 24 hours) - does this mean that the OP should have got weight concept (and the QFF-SG allowance too) ?

 

[justinbrett]

It was sold as a single ticket. And the QF-EK agreement is unusual -- it appears to give full QF privileges, even on code share flights (unlike most code-share arrangements). The QFF website is unambiguous.

Through the website? Or did you use a travel agent?

I just tried, and like I recalled, it's not possible on the website.



If you did it on the website perhaps it was a glitch in just letting you buy this ticket, that really shouldn't exist. EK should be going nowhere near QF tickets involving the USA.

 

[Quickstatus]

And the QF-EK agreement is unusual -- it appears to give full QF privileges, even on code share flights (unlike most code-share arrangements).

That's because it is not just a codeshare arrangement. It is actually an ACCC approved Joint Venture

 

[arbuth]

Through the website? Or did you use a travel agent?

I just tried, and like I recalled, it's not possible on the website.

View attachment 438506

If you did it on the website perhaps it was a glitch in just letting you buy this ticket, that really shouldn't exist. EK should be going nowhere near QF tickets involving the USA.

Booked through the Qantas phone service

 

[justinbrett]

Booked through the Qantas phone service

I suspect then you were on some kind of combination of two fares as there's no "off the shelf" fare that covers an open jaw for these destinations. And it's because EK was included on your USA ticket that negated its privileges.

There's no ambiguity that the USA is excluded from the QF/EK partnership.

 

[RSD]

Agree. Because US destinations are not part of the EK agreement, and as all destinations that are part of the EK agreement use weight, EK have implemented the status based baggage allowances and being extra weight, and nothing to do with extra pieces.

Its pretty messy when travelling to CAI too - if I am on an Emirates ticket then I get piece allowance (2x 23kg in Y + an additional 1x 23 piece if I wave my QFF SG or WP card), if I am on a QF ticket on the same EK flight then I get weight allowance (because QF doesn't recognise Africa as being piece allowance) so I was getting 46kg as a QFF SG but will now get 50kg as a newly minted WP - so usually I am on an EK ticket as I need the full 3x 23kg normally - and often more.

 

[Ade]

Its pretty messy when travelling to CAI too - if I am on an Emirates ticket then I get piece allowance (2x 23kg in Y + an additional 1x 23 piece if I wave my QFF SG or WP card), if I am on a QF ticket on the same EK flight then I get weight allowance (because QF doesn't recognise Africa as being piece allowance) so I was getting 46kg as a QFF SG but will now get 50kg as a newly minted WP - so usually I am on an EK ticket as I need the full 3x 23kg normally - and often more.

Couple of my mates are travelling SYD-SIN-DXB-OSL return in PE thru and thru. SYD-SIN-SYD is on QF metal. Rest is EK metal QF codeshare. Both are QF SG. Will they also run into the checked baggage allowance issues?

 

[Quickstatus]

Its pretty messy when travelling to CAI too

The piece allowance was prior to 2021 or something similar for Africa?

Will they also run into the checked baggage allowance issues?

No, they will get SG luggage benefits

 

[RSD]

Couple of my mates are travelling SYD-SIN-DXB-OSL return in PE thru and thru. SYD-SIN-SYD is on QF metal. Rest is EK metal QF codeshare. Both are QF SG. Will they also run into the checked baggage allowance issues?

Shouldn't do as they aren't going to Africa

 

[RSD]

The piece allowance was prior to 2021 or something similar for Africa?

It started in 2021 for Africa - not all airlines do it though - I don't think Qatar does. The amount of bags and stuff that people turn up to check in at CAI must mean that there is very little room for freight.

 

[anat0l]

Couple of my mates are travelling SYD-SIN-DXB-OSL return in PE thru and thru. SYD-SIN-SYD is on QF metal. Rest is EK metal QF codeshare. Both are QF SG. Will they also run into the checked baggage allowance issues?

Doesn't touch USA at all. Shouldn't be an issue.

If there is an issue and no QF-EK benefits, someone has to be cooking something.

Are they flying the entire SYD-SIN-DXB-OSL without any stopovers in between? If so, and if it is QF ticket stock, then QF's PE + SG allowance should apply; checked in at SYD all the way to OSL.

 

[Ade]

Are they flying the entire SYD-SIN-DXB-OSL without any stopovers in between? If so, and if it is QF ticket stock, then QF's PE + SG allowance should apply; checked in at SYD all the way to OSL.

Thank you @anat0l - Yes they are. QF stock (081), no stopovers (only transits in SIN, DXB). PE thru and thru - both QF and EK (QF codeshare) legs.

Post automatically merged: Apr 9, 2025

No, they will get SG luggage benefits

thank you @Quickstatus

Shouldn't do as they aren't going to Africa

Thank you @RSD

 

[Happy Dude]

Bit rich EK charging for luggage on a portion of the ticket that is covered according to the QF rules, and applying a technicality to the portion of the flight that doesn't actually involve them. I've had triple scotches less stiff than that.

 

[Quickstatus]

I've had triple scotches less stiff than that.

On time in EK J, I asked for coca cola but no ice. They gave me exactly that - the glass was only half full likely because that is the Prescribed pour volume.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Was thinking it might have been that.

The QF/ EK partnership specifically excludes the US (I suspect for competition approval reasons) - The partnership covers Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe

And when an airfare touches the US the US baggage rules typically apply (normally more generous) - but not in this case due to the lack of FF status applying.

Baggage rules are always considered on a trip by trip basis. A trip consists of one or more flights which brings a passenger from point A to point B (perhaps connecting in cities along the way). An itinerary, reservation or booking (whatever you want to call it) may consist of one or more such trips. For instance, you could build an itinerary where you fly to Rome from Brisbane, spend 2 weeks there, then fly to LA spend a few weeks there, then fly to Tokyo spend a few weeks there then fly back to Australia. That itinerary would consist of a grand total of 4 trips. Only the trips that begin or end in USA/Canada would have the restrictions you mentioned (i.e. Rome to LA and LA to Tokyo).

The other point that should be considered here, is that if for some reason the US/Canada rules are applied (and again I don't think they would as Brisbane to Europe is not a trip to USA/Canada), then this would actually work in the traveller's favour. US/Canada baggage rules state that it is the marketing carrier of the first flight that determines the baggage rules for that trip. In other words since it carries a QF flight number, it is QF's international baggage rules and not Emirates which would apply.

-RooFlyer88

 

[equus]

Baggage rules are always considered on a trip by trip basis

Sorry no.. See IATA Guidance on Baggage Standards Baggage rules apply to an entire Itinerary as stated in all three interpretations. This either follows IATA Resolution 302, or for travel involving US or Canada U.S. DOT Regulation399.87 or CTA Order 2014-A-158 respectively.

The general IATA guidelines state that where possible the allowance is determined at the time of booking and added to the PNR - which covers the entire itinerary (and could even be multiple tickets). FF allowances and others are over and above, specifically excluded, and could be applied on a per sector (or per baggage acceptance) basis, but that is not Baggage rules.

 

[Ade]

Sorry no.. See IATA Guidance on Baggage Standards Baggage rules apply to an entire Itinerary as stated in all three interpretations. This either follows IATA Resolution 302, or for travel involving US or Canada U.S. DOT Regulation399.87 or CTA Order 2014-A-158 respectively.

The general IATA guidelines state that where possible the allowance is determined at the time of booking and added to the PNR - which covers the entire itinerary (and could even be multiple tickets). FF allowances and others are over and above, specifically excluded, and could be applied on a per sector (or per baggage acceptance) basis, but that is not Baggage rules.

Good point. I have seen some tickets from AU to Vietnam that have varying luggage allowances - even when booked online or via a TA. For instance, MEL-SGN-NRT--HND-SGN-MEL. The MEL-SGN-MEL was on VN, 30kg allowance. But the SGN-NRT--HND-SGN was also on VN, but only 20kg allowance. Not sure how though ...