Oneworld separate ticket interline changes

[Mattg]

Serious question - what does Qantas actually gain from this?

I presume that interlining may cost them some money - is this the case? Is the amount significant?

I'm struggling to understand how QF can possibly gain more from this decision than it will lose in goodwill with its customers.

 

[amaroo]

How many people actually will?

I won't. I'll just change the way I've done things and actually improve my booking security by doing so.

 

[RooFlyer]

I bet VA are glad they never paid a ridiculous amount to join Star Alliance. It was the best money they never spent!

Seems you now get a better result flying on airlines who have adhoc partnerships with other carriers and not those within any alliance.

Agreed. Well, at least no disadvantage. I'm sure QF and others will rush to remind us (if they cared ) that one PNR will still get interline 'service'.

If booked on same ticket there is no change to the current policy eg BNE QF x/SIN 3K HKT. Plenty of people have had success booking onward connections on 3K via the QF website.

Yes, but that was before the latest enhancement, surely?

While we're on the subject of Emirates, I'm assuming there has been no change to being able to check through QF to EK on separate bookings.

Brave assumption. Qantas aims for the lowest possible level of service; I wouldn't hold your breath re EK.

 

[RooFlyer]

Serious question - what does Qantas actually gain from this?

I presume that interlining may cost them some money - is this the case? Is the amount significant?

I'm struggling to understand how QF can possibly gain more from this decision than it will lose in goodwill with its customers.

Easy to understand if you look at the Jetstar model. If you fly QF, connect to Jetstar, you have to collect your bags, because (I assume) JQ would otherwise have to pay for the interline 'service' of QF agents at check-in and at the baggage handling stage. I reckon there is no inter-chargability between OW airlines for inter-lining, so its a cost cutting measure. Push the cost of check-in and baggage handling for the onwards leg onto the onwards carrier.

Oh, and give the 'forks' to the customer, by all means. Who cares about them? "Lol"

 

[PineappleSkip]

Qantas will be implementing the new oneworld ticketing arrangements on 1 September 2016. From 1 July Qantas check-in agents will be informing customers checking in on separate oneworld tickets the policy has changed and that for travel from 1 September, they will need to book connections in a single booking to be eligible for through check-in to their final destination. Hopefully this clarifies and answers some of your queries.

Half clarifies. Not sure what you mean by 'through check-in'. Does this mean that QF will no longer interline baggage at the connection point for PAX on separate itineraries. Even where there is a baggage interline agreement?

Big thumbs down from me for this. Lose the ease of booking my own tickets. KBL has never appeared on your list of destinations, so zero QF fares to or from there online.

And I'm appalled with the way it was arbitrarily bunged on by OW with no notice at all and little communication. Found out the day after I booked an 'offending' journey. 1 September only marginally better, not impressed with telling people at check in for the next 2 1/2 months as a communications strategy. Suggest this is bad news for sales and you don't really want to inform prospective passengers at all.

Cheer(less) skip

 

[codash1099]

Qantas will be implementing the new oneworld ticketing arrangements on 1 September 2016. From 1 July Qantas check-in agents will be informing customers checking in on separate oneworld tickets the policy has changed and that for travel from 1 September, they will need to book connections in a single booking to be eligible for through check-in to their final destination. Hopefully this clarifies and answers some of your queries.

Red Roo

I know this has already been asked, but I've seen no answer so I'll ask again:

Does the new rule apply to bookings made before July 1? My bookings were made with the expectation that the old rules would apply. In my case, it's a QF/AA connection.

 

[Rugby]

Looks like I've been smacked by this policy change for flights in March. QF revenue ticket SYD-HKG on QF metal, 5 hour layover, then a QF award booking on CX metal HKG-MAD.

 

[amaroo]

Looks like I've been smacked by this policy change for flights in March. QF revenue ticket SYD-HKG on QF metal, 5 hour layover, then a QF award booking on CX metal HKG-MAD.

On the brightside - 5hrs and HKG go together. Still a PITA all-round!

 

[Himeno]

:evil:

Where is the dislike button?

I am extremely disappointed that Qantas would do this. It undermines the whole point of sticking with an alliance and choosing to pay more for a supposedly premium airline.

While this is not something I use often, the inability to interline baggage on separate tickets has the potential to cause myself and other travellers massive amounts of inconvenience - presumably just to save Qantas a few dollars. There are many legitimate reasons that you may wish to connect on separate tickets. One is the inability to book flights to certain destinations on the Qantas website (or if they can be booked, the QF website wants to charge a ridiculous amount of money). Another is if combining points/paid bookings. A third scenario is if you want to book the long-haul flights before confirming all the internal flights.

This is a terrible move and will absolutely make me question whether I choose Qantas on my next overseas trip. Way to shoot one of your competitive advantages of being in the oneworld alliance in the foot.

Please reconsider!!!

Exactly. This is a very bad idea. The airlines try to get people to book directly with them, yet won't make it possible to book what the customers want.

Another scenario would be needing to add additional flights to a booking that has reached the 16 sector e-ticketing limit.
There has been times where I've had 4 or 5 different tickets/PNRs for the same overall trip with up to 5 flight connections across the different tickets (the longest trip had a total of 35 sectors across 5 tickets). I have always built in at least MCT between the cross ticket transfers. I would love to have had them all on the same booking reference, but with the way the airlines have their systems set up, doing so is simply not possible.

The ability to connect across tickets with oneworld is the reason I've stuck to oneworld members. I've booked long haul flights into a oneworld hub, then a few weeks later, once more detailed plans are confirmed, I've booked the local short haul flights with that oneworld airline. With this change, why should I pay higher prices to stick with oneworld (which then in turn makes money for QF with the other airline paying QF for the QFF points), when I can instead pick whoever is cheapest on that day for that route if I'm going to have to recollect bags anyway.

 

[dajop]

As with all changes there is still choice in the market. SQ, for example still (at least for now) generally allow for through connections to other carrier flights (except LCCs) if on separate PNRs. Are there other carriers that still allow this? Maybe worthwhile putting a list together.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

As with all changes there is still choice in the market. SQ, for example still (at least for now) generally allow for through connections to other carrier flights (except LCCs) if on separate PNRs. Are there other carriers that still allow this? Maybe worthwhile putting a list together.

Afaik Thai do

 

[Peter D]

I know this has already been asked, but I've seen no answer so I'll ask again:

Does the new rule apply to bookings made before July 1? My bookings were made with the expectation that the old rules would apply. In my case, it's a QF/AA connection.

I think the words -- “for travel from 1 September” means the date of travel regardless of the booking date.

 

[codash1099]

I think the words -- “for travel from 1 September” means the date of travel regardless of the booking date.

But it also says "from July 1st". In other words, they won't advise pax between now and then. Certainly requires clarification.

 

[JohnK]

How many people actually will? Golden handcuffs will give few any flexibility to change their airline of choice.

Not me. Lack of interline is not going to stop me booking the flights I want to book. Just need to be a little more cautious with connections.

 

[basso]

Half clarifies. Not sure what you mean by 'through check-in'. Does this mean that QF will no longer interline baggage at the connection point for PAX on separate itineraries. Even where there is a baggage interline agreement?

'Through check-in' is the technically correct terminolgy. In airline agreements, an 'interline journey' exists only when there is a single ticket. When people on this board talk abount interlining theire bags, they are really talking about 'through check' of their bags, not interlining. Remember, interline agreements only exist to enable airlines to sell each other services.

 

[wandering_fred]

Looks like I've been smacked by this policy change for flights in March. QF revenue ticket SYD-HKG on QF metal, 5 hour layover, then a QF award booking on CX metal HKG-MAD.

Sounds like a opportunity to get Hong Kong eChannel (if you haven't already). Which eliminates most of the HKG hassles.

Through checking from QF to 3K in SIN isn't worth all that much given efficiency of immigration there. What I'm still unclear is whether you seemlessly get SC and points when 3K is booked as a connecting flight at QF online. You still need to check whether 3K would be cheaper if booked separately.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[wandering_fred]

Wonder what the BA thread is like over on FT :mrgreen:

Actually there are TWO threads on FT. One in the BA forum and one in the OneWorld Forum.

The lack of BA to BA through checking seems to be the biggest gripe on the BA thread. Can't say I blame them...

Sooner or later someone will "discover" that adding another RT (side trip) to a 16-segment xONEx will not be possible...:shock:

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[kreuky]

Funny thing is that when these changes are implemented, the time spent arguing with the check in agent would be longer than the time spent on the computer interlining the bags. Especially since they won't publicise these negative changes and even people that know (like me) will plead ignorance (though of course have a proper backup plan). At least make it a benefit for premium cabin and status passengers as they are more likely to be using this benefit and they are the ones you want to piss off the least.

 

[Himeno]

Actually there are TWO threads on FT. One in the BA forum and one in the OneWorld Forum.

There is also one in the CX forum, and QF forum.

Sooner or later someone will "discover" that adding another RT (side trip) to a 16-segment xONEx will not be possible...:shock:

I have already commented on this issue. >_<

 

[ozbeachbabe]

How many people actually will? Golden handcuffs will give few any flexibility to change their airline of choice.

The term 'golden handcuffs' is pretty much redundant these days as plenty of other airlines will match elite frequent flyer memberships from other airlines or alliances just from the get go so people can earn as an elite, get lounge access with the new airline from day one.

Funny thing is that when these changes are implemented, the time spent arguing with the check in agent would be longer than the time spent on the computer interlining the bags. Especially since they won't publicise these negative changes and even people that know (like me) will plead ignorance (though of course have a proper backup plan).

Why are you going to be arguing with the checkin agent? Despite the fact you know the policy has changed do you really think that complaining loundly enough at checkin that they'll cave and ignore the rules and possibly risk their job just to make an exception for you?

At least make it a benefit for premium cabin and status passengers as they are more likely to be using this benefit and they are the ones you want to piss off the least.

In the eyes of the airlines such as BA, it's probably the elites who are the worst offenders when it comes to nesting fares or purchasing cheap J class fares ex Europe to Australia and other far flung places on the ME3 airlines then adding in a BA flight LHR/xx_ to connecting with the said journey.

The Ma & Pa Kettles of the world aren't the ones doing that. They either blindly go in to their nearest Flight Centre or if they're feeling really adventurous book online with Webjet after falling for the misleading advertsing. :evil: