"It's not just me flying..." - the "rules" of sharing status benefits

[anat0l]

A lot of us travel alone a lot of the time and we enjoy particular status benefits, but then there are also times when we travel with others (loved ones, colleagues, last night's stand etc.) who often do not have any status but we do.

What are the "rules" of sharing benefits with your non-status (or lower-status) fellow travellers? The most obvious benefit of status we know - lounge access - is well discussed everywhere (as well as being widely despised and what not). But what about other benefits, such as:

• Extra baggage allowance, e.g. can you pool or "lend" baggage allowance to other pax if you are checking in at the same time? This gets more complicated at times, for example:
  • Classic one: you and a work colleague are on separate PNRs but the exact same flight and both travelling Y. You are a QF WP and your colleague is a NB (not even QP). You weigh in at 20kg, but your colleague having to carry more is overweight at 29kg. Can you use your "slack" (i.e. 3kg + 15kg elite benefit) to "save" your colleague overweight charges?
  • If you bought a DJ ticket as a DJ Gold member (i.e. no bag fees) but travelling hand-luggage only and a non-status DJ fellow pax bought a ticket without bags but for whatever reason is forced to check one in, can you use your "allowance bag" (that you don't have) to "save" your fellow pax $20?
• Use of priority check-in queues
• Application of priority baggage tags
• Access to privileged / preferred seating
• Use of priority boarding (often only international flights this applies)

When it comes to the "rules" there are mainly two types:

• "(Hard) Rules", as in it is written somewhere, either allowing or prohibiting someone from doing something
• "Conventions", as in it is not written but people follow it anyway, again they may either specify something that is allowed or something that is "prohibited"

Moreover, there are a number of factors to consider:

• Booking details: are you and your fellow pax on the same PNR? Are you even travelling with them today (or just seeing them off at the domestic terminal)?
• Who are your fellow pax: family (SO, kids, in-laws, siblings), colleagues (boss, underling, office buddy/rival, client), friend, complete stranger (pretty woman on the train, etc. )
• How many in your party: just one (e.g. SO, or one work colleague), or quite a few (e.g. SO & 2 ankle biters, vs. say a big fat Greek wedding party?)

 

[JohnK]

I would be concerned with accepting someone else's luggage if they were just a work colleague or friend and I did not observe them packing. Remember Schapelle Corby? Sure that is extreme but they may have DVD's with questionable content etc. I don't want surprises if I end up getting secondary.

I would not mind helping people get lounge access, use the priority queues or boarding and even carry stuff for them that I have packed and know is not going to get me in trouble.

I also help friends on a regular basis with tips and recommendations on travel, flight bookings, hotel bookings, travel insurance, car hire etc.

 

[dejium]

Great timing for this question. I'm a QP NB taking my parents PER-CBR next week, all on the same ticket, so was planning to use the priority check-in for all of us. I've only ever taken my partner through priority check-in so hopefully another won't hurt. Fortunately, I'm not forced to choose who gets guested to the QP due to the renovations.

I'm also taking the family (parents, brother and partner) to HKG next month. Again, all on the same ticket, booked by myself. Would the whole party eligible for priority check-in? And priority baggage tags? The real issue is who gets guested - parents have never been to a QP, but brother will get more *value*. A tricky one indeed.

As for the original question, I'd be happy to extend most benefits to flying buddies, except possibly luggage. Family maybe, but work colleagues, probably not.

 

[liamg]

Almost the entire time I travel alone (QP PS), but when I do travel with someone they come with me to priority check-in. Never done it with more than one extra, though, and probably would just choose my favourite 1-2 if travelling in a group uncomfortably large. Also, I feel a little guilty if the line is long (particularly because the old(er) codgers in the line can't believe there's a 21yo in front of them in the priority line) but am usually pretty quick to get over that.

Lounges is obvious -- when I know someone will be travelling to the same place as me I tell them to get on my flight so they can come to the lounge... everyone deserves some chill-out time before a flight.

I've also 'transferred' my extra baggage allowance a number of times. i.e. the check-in agent has been kind enough to just not charge my friend/colleague for the extra baggage where I didn't require it. I assume, therefore, that's what happened

L.

 

[Optics]

When I do holiday with my family (which my wife and 2 daughters tell me is not often enough ) or travel with a non-status colleague, I have always just gone straight to the priority check-in queus, even using the First check-in for all of the family when travelling international in Y. There has never been any questions asked, express cards, priority tags etc are issued to all of us.

I have never had to worry about pooling baggage limits with a non-family member, I would have to know them reasonably well, especially if international travel.

 

[Grooba]

I've got to agree with the above posts generally. 95% of my flying is alone so the off times I travel with a colleague/wife/friend/etc I'll always take them with me to the priority check in lines.

Lounges can be a somewhat different story depending on many factors (biggest factor is the dragon guarding the entrance).

 

[markis10]

I always take my collegue with me when they dont have status, interestingly the only time I could not check in together was with CX, this was the third leg in a row yet first were there was an issue, situation became clearer at the gate when I was upgraded to J,

 

[simongr]

WorK:

I always try and get people to check in with me but often I have OLCId and they have bags. I always invite to the lounge if they don't have access and downgrade to QP/Int'l J if we can't get access to the Dom J/F lounge.

Generally though I am travelling domestically alone on day trips. I occasionally travel at the end of a job to the close of the job and meet the team so we get to the QP/J lounge together for a cold beer together

I haven't actually travelled with any of my colleagues ex-SYD though I am doing that for the first time in a couple of weeks.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

anat01

Classic one: you and a work colleague are on separate PNRs but the exact same flight and both travelling Y. You are a QF WP and your colleague is a NB (not even QP). You weigh in at 20kg, but your colleague having to carry more is overweight at 29kg. Can you use your "slack" (i.e. 3kg + 15kg elite benefit) to "save" your colleague overweight charges?

To the best of my knowledge even if you are on separate pnrs & whether linked or not, if you checkin with another pax the system automatically links you both (for that flight plus any remaining flights you have on that trip) thereby pooling the luggage so all bag tags appear under one name - usually the first name alphabetically.

So if FFPL (38kg allow) & FFBR (23kg allow) you should be allowed to check in however many bags you have up to and including a total weight of 61 kgs.

Not 100% sure if bag tags have to be in the name of the FFPL - I think it can be either name and the system should still recognise the extra allowance.

• Use of priority check-in queues
• Application of priority baggage tags
• Access to privileged / preferred seating
• Use of priority boarding (often only international flights this applies)

Don't know whether any of the following is a "hard" rule or not:

Priority checkin: I would automatically take the travel companion with me to the priority checkin. You'd have to get a real Gina-hard-faced-cough type person to know the companion back & make your companion go elsewhere.

Priority baggage: I would expect that if all bags were pooled under one name that all the bags would get the business class tag (FFPL status).

Preferred seating: Your bookings would have to be linked for the companion to be able to view the same seat map as you unless a system override was done.

Priority boarding: Depends how rigid the dudes at the boarding gate are. I would think that it's reasonable to expect to be able to board with your travelling companion if you're travelling together.

 

[coolumbla]

I usually am alone but with teh recent family LONE 4 i rocked up to the first counters at all checkins without any issues (apart from Venice!)

see this
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...musings-family-traveller-lone4-one-21488.html
There were no issues but then i am PG hence wife had gold status.

There were some issues with tags overseas but i was corrected in that travelling in Y i'm not entitled to them all teh time
Sometimes i just got them, sometimes i argued and got them (even though i now know i wasn't entitled to them)

Priority boarding
We just went on but then both my wife and i had priority passes

C

 

[Keith009]

I don't think, beyond what's actually published, there are hard and fast rules so long as one doesn't take the piss. Taking 3-4 family members to the priority check in with you should be ok, but an entire rugby team or school group would be a totally different story.

I would never "share" luggage allowances with anyone else unless I happen to know the other person really well.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

QF009

I don't think, beyond what's actually published, there are hard and fast rules so long as one doesn't take the piss. Taking 3-4 family members to the priority check in with you should be ok, but an entire rugby team or school group would be a totally different story

....or group of blokes fresh from a boys fishing weekend (one FFSL and six mates FFBR) complete with boxes of fish from Mr Barra that needs to be put in plastic bags, swags & fishing rods not in any protective cases that need to go to oversize luggage (ps checkin don't have bubble wrap - that's Australia Post), eskies full of more fish fillets they can ever hope to eat in a lifetime.

In the above example I think it's much less hassle to just checkin individually otherwise whoever's name is on the luggage tags (if pooled) will be liable for the excess baggage.

Far better to work out beforehand who's FFSL & above ie who gets 33 kg and who gets 23 kg and ensure those pax carry just that. To turn up at checkin as one mob and when asked how many pieces are you checking in replying "I dunno, heaps" is not helpful in the slightest.

 

[medhead]

I always take those travelling with me via priority checkin. if it's the family we all get the luggage tags. I did it once with my boss on a different PNR, and he didn't get luggage tags

As far as checking a collegues bag I wouldn't be worried about Corby style entanglements, because even if i checked it in, I will not be picking it up off the luggage carosel at the other end. therefore my collegue will be the one taking his dodgy dvds through 2nd screening.

Another point in terms of shared status; We met up with mum in SIN and the onwards flight was delayed 6 hours. anyway mum (silver) gets home to a $300 voucher. Me (QP NB) gets no voucher. so mum rings up and asks where is my voucher, especially as we were on the same PNR. So I got a voucher a little while later. It was an automatic for those above NB, but apparently we should have got one as we travelled with a PS.

 

[estate]

When travelling with my folks we've used First check-in courtesy of their status and shared luggage allowances as well. Even when I wasn't a QF FF member I got the prioirty luggage tags when flying with them. My sister and her fiance (neither are QF FF members) have had similar experiences.

We've been moved to better seats as a group too, and on one occasion even been put on an earlier flight despite Red-e-deal fares.

 

[ArseneV]

QF SG
Iberia - MAD to CAI early last month.

I was flying with two other friends who booked through their own travel agent.
We checked in at the Iberia Business line.
My friends didn't receive priority tags but we were all sat at the very front row of economy where there was definitely a lot extra leg room.
Nice flight.

 

[bossreggie]

I just noticed this thread.

I have always had my traveling companion/s check in at the Business counter with me. I have never had any problems and ALL luggage has had priority/Business tags. I think my being very polite to all staff/crew at all times probably helps with this.

I have even been allowed to take an extra guest into the international J lounge in MEL, SYD and AKL at various times.

 

[liamg]

I have even been allowed to take an extra guest into the international J lounge in MEL, SYD and AKL at various times.

Really? In MEL? I realise this is a naughty, and I certainly don't expect it, but I've tried in both MEL and AKL. MEL I was berated for ten minutes, then let in. AKL it was "no problems, whatever we can do to help!"

I've also seen others at MEL international be yelled at for a few minutes before being denied.

From what I hear MEL seems to have the, uh, meanest, front-desk staff? (I know I rarely get a smile, too...)

 

[Hvr]

Priority checkin: I would automatically take the travel companion with me to the priority checkin. You'd have to get a real Gina-hard-faced-cough type person to know the companion back & make your companion go elsewhere.

Priority boarding: Depends how rigid the dudes at the boarding gate are. I would think that it's reasonable to expect to be able to board with your travelling companion if you're travelling together.

Maybe one or two family members but work colleagues can join the regular queue. There is a reason for priority check in and boarding. I believe the benefits to status pax are quantifiably diminished if too many non-status pax are allowed to use them.

I don't think, beyond what's actually published, there are hard and fast rules so long as one doesn't take the piss. Taking 3-4 family members to the priority check in with you should be ok, but an entire rugby team or school group would be a totally different story.

I would never "share" luggage allowances with anyone else unless I happen to know the other person really well.

Agree here, but would never share luggage unless I had personally inspected everything. If my name is on it, I will know what it contains.

Lounge access is, IMHO a different matter and having been the beneficiary today (and the provider of the benefit on many occasions) I don't see that it affects as many fellow travellers as using priority queues.

 

[bossreggie]

From what I hear MEL seems to have the, uh, meanest, front-desk staff? (I know I rarely get a smile, too...)

Well....

Maybe I am lucky...... OR...... Maybe it's because for the past 15 odd years...... EVERY international flight i have ever taken..... I have given nice chocolates to the dragon in the lounge AND to the CSM on the aircraft.

It's my little way way to say thank you to the staff who I am certain feel under-appreciated by a lot of PAX.

It's nice to be able to do this for them and I will continue to do it for as long as i travel.

 

[Sprucegoose]

well....

Maybe i am lucky...... Or...... Maybe it's because for the past 15 odd years...... Every international flight i have ever taken..... I have given nice chocolates to the dragon in the lounge and to the csm on the aircraft.

It's my little way way to say thank you to the staff who i am certain feel under-appreciated by a lot of pax.

It's nice to be able to do this for them and i will continue to do it for as long as i travel.

stylish!!!