Qantas-IndiGo partnership

[Ade]

I will start my trip soon, I called Indigo Airlines to confirm my luggage allowance on the way back from BOM. Apparently they will only allow 30kgs and they do not honour the QF Platinum status allowance.
Has anyone faced a similar experience recently?
Did you have a different outcome?

Before I answer - what I'm not sure is, if it matters who the ticket was purchased from.

I usually buy my tickets from QF and Indigo is part of the itinerary for the domestic portion in India. In this case, Indigo will honor the QF WP allowance. You will need to show your QFF membership card with the status. I have done this numerous times and have had no issue. In fact, the Indigo BP will have a code on your BP denoting this.

Now, what I'm not sure is, if the ticket is purchased from Indigo and QF is part of the itinerary for the international portion, will the FF luggage allowance be honored.

 

[newbieflyhigh]

Before I answer - what I'm not sure is, if it matters who the ticket was purchased from.

I usually buy my tickets from QF and Indigo is part of the itinerary for the domestic portion in India. In this case, Indigo will honor the QF WP allowance. You will need to show your QFF membership card with the status. I have done this numerous times and have had no issue. In fact, the Indigo BP will have a code on your BP denoting this.

Now, what I'm not sure is, if the ticket is purchased from Indigo and QF is part of the itinerary for the international portion, will the FF luggage allowance be honored.

Hi Ade,

Thank you for your response.

I purchased the tickets directly from Qantas website and Indigo is part of the domestic connection.
I called Indigo Airlines, they informed me that my ticket has 30kg allowance which was issued by Qantas.
I called the Qantas, they informed me that since it is codeshare with Indigo (and not part of one world), I have to follow Indigo's policy, they won't update my luggage allowance for the return trip.

However, in your personal experience, they did honour the higher allowance based on your FF status. This gives me some hope.

Was this in Mumbai or Bengaluru?

 

[Ade]

I purchased the tickets directly from Qantas website and Indigo is part of the domestic connection.

Cool. I assume your domestic legs are part of the international ticket/PNR.

I called Indigo Airlines, they informed me that my ticket has 30kg allowance which was issued by Qantas.

This is correct. This is what Indigo (6E) will see from their end. To be fair, the ability to see 30KG on 6E end is an improvement. Earlier they used to see 15KG as the allowance. Boy, am I glad that is fixed now.

I called the Qantas, they informed me that since it is codeshare with Indigo (and not part of one world), I have to follow Indigo's policy, they won't update my luggage allowance for the return trip.

Depends on who in QF you were able to talk to - someone without proper information/training might say something like this. This doesn't sound right to me. Assuming all the itinerary legs are in the same PNR, which means baggage allowance is applicable for the whole trip (including in/out of the domestic port).

However, in your personal experience, they did honour the higher allowance based on your FF status. This gives me some hope.

Ah mate, I have been doing in/out of India few times a year for few years now in the 6E-QF partnership and I only had issues the first 2 times exiting MAA and BLR.

In the first instance, ex-MAA, I had to get a manager from 6E who was not helpful, but I was able to talk to a very helpful staff from HBA over the phone who tried to explain the policy to 6E staff, who did not still get it. It went to the point where the HBA staff said that she can provide a QF company credit card to charge for excess baggage and I won't have to foot the bill.

In the second instance, ex-BLR, I had to show my QFF WP card and had to involve the Airport Manager for QF at BLR to get my baggage checked-in.

After these 2 instances, I have done more trips than I can count and have not had any issues. So you will be fine. Just keep your QFF WP card handy and hold your ground. Ask for a the QF manager at the airport (if flying out of DEL or BLR) and they can assist. These days, the QF ground staff at IN ports are trained enough that they recognise statuses.

Years back when SYD-BLR-SYD service was commenced, I was asked to go to the back of the Y check-in as I was flying Y. My WP status did not mean a thing. Not a biggie, just the staff did not really understand the statuses back then. Things have improved quite a lot now.

 

[Ade]

Was this in Mumbai or Bengaluru?

I don't think QF operates out of BOM yet. QF services (ATM) are in/out of BLR and DEL. So if your domestic trip commences in BOM, you'd be doing BOM-BLR on 6E and then BLR-SYD on QF. OR you'd be doing BOM-DEL in 6E and DEL-MEL on QF.

My trips are mostly ex-MAA with a domestic connection in BLR/DEL.

 

[SeatBackForward]

This is correct. This is what Indigo (6E) will see from their end. To be fair, the ability to see 30KG on 6E end is an improvement. Earlier they used to see 15KG as the allowance. Boy, am I glad that is fixed now.

So Indigo will not honour the QFF WP checked baggage allowance of upto 50kgs? Thats strange. QF Ticket, QF is the MSC..surely Indigo's limit doesnt apply here?

 

[Ade]

So Indigo will not honour the QFF WP checked baggage allowance of upto 50kgs? Thats strange. QF Ticket, QF is the MSC..surely Indigo's limit doesnt apply here?

Yea, that what they used to tell (and they are wrong) and I stood my ground. I showed by QFF WP card and in one instance, involved HBA agents to get the additional baggage. I speak the local language, so it was easy for me to navigate with the 6E ground staff.

Re: 6E seeing the 30KG - I was told that 6E's systems will only see the *normal* allowance. Any FF allowance is added on top of that *normal* allowance at bag drop/check-in. I'm not sure how much of this is correct. This is what the 6E staff at MAA tell me.

Side note: the *normal* allowance on 6E used to be 15KG, which is now changed to 30KG for International flights.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: 6E seeing the 30KG - I was told that 6E's systems will only see the *normal* allowance. Any FF allowance is added on top of that *normal* allowance at bag drop/check-in. I'm not sure how much of this is correct. This is what the 6E staff at MAA tell me.

They better get things like that sorted out if they want partners to take them seriously.

 

[newbieflyhigh]

I will let you know how I go when I return. I had issues in the past with Malaysian airlines, I redirected them to One World website and it was sorted quickly.
I can't seem to find my physical card at the moment, I am hoping they will be happy with my digital card

 

[Ade]

I will let you know how I go when I return. I had issues in the past with Malaysian airlines, I redirected them to One World website and it was sorted quickly.
I can't seem to find my physical card at the moment, I am hoping they will be happy with my digital card

Digital card is fine. I only use Digital card from the QF app.

 

[newbieflyhigh]

Quick update on my experience so far. When I checked in my luggage at the First Class counter in Sydney, we had a total of 127kgs between 3 members which included 2 Silver status. The staff member printed the luggage tags and attached them to the bags. When she was printing our boarding pass, the system alerted that we were overweight because Indigo allows 30kg per person max. The staff member had already printed the luggage tags, she had to request the manager on duty to unblock the boarding pass.
I was informed that we may have to pay for excess weight in Bangalore when we drop our bags. Since the bags were checked in from Sydney to Mumbai, we got lucky and we were not asked to pay for anything in Bangalore.

For my return trip, both Qantas and Indigo have informed me that I can only check-in 30kgs max. I have spoken to Qantas several times and I am getting the same answer.

I don't have any hope that extra weight will be allowed from Mumbai. It's a shame that Qantas are not very open about the benefits for the FF members in this new alliance.

 

[TheInsider]

I don't have any hope that extra weight will be allowed from Mumbai. It's a shame that Qantas are not very open about the benefits for the FF members in this new alliance.

Here is the clear info:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/indigo-airlines.html

 

[newbieflyhigh]

Here is the clear info:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/indigo-airlines.html

View attachment 413388

Thank you .

The lesson I have learnt is to book a oneworld alliance option for the next trip If i want to get the benefits of additional allowance.

 

[Ade]

Quick update on my experience so far. When I checked in my luggage at the First Class counter in Sydney, we had a total of 127kgs between 3 members which included 2 Silver status. The staff member printed the luggage tags and attached them to the bags. When she was printing our boarding pass, the system alerted that we were overweight because Indigo allows 30kg per person max. The staff member had already printed the luggage tags, she had to request the manager on duty to unblock the boarding pass.
I was informed that we may have to pay for excess weight in Bangalore when we drop our bags. Since the bags were checked in from Sydney to Mumbai, we got lucky and we were not asked to pay for anything in Bangalore.

For my return trip, both Qantas and Indigo have informed me that I can only check-in 30kgs max. I have spoken to Qantas several times and I am getting the same answer.

I don't have any hope that extra weight will be allowed from Mumbai. It's a shame that Qantas are not very open about the benefits for the FF members in this new alliance.

Here is the clear info:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/indigo-airlines.html

View attachment 413388

Just to get my bearings right - does this mean, as QF WP I can ONLY check in upto 30kg when flying on a PNR that has both 6E/QF-codehare and QF flights on it? For instance, if I flew MAA-BLR-SYD-CBR, booked with QF, I can only check in up to 30kg?

Reason I ask is - so many SG/WP/P1 that I know are flying ex-India are bringing upto 50kg (when flying Y) and upto 60kg (when flying J) when flying on a ticket purchased from QF that has 6E/QF-codeshare flights for the domestic segments.

 

[newbieflyhigh]

Just to get my bearings right - does this mean, as QF WP I can ONLY check in upto 30kg when flying on a PNR that has both 6E/QF-codehare and QF flights on it? For instance, if I flew MAA-BLR-SYD-CBR, booked with QF, I can only check in up to 30kg?

Reason I ask is - so many SG/WP/P1 that I know are flying ex-India are bringing upto 50kg (when flying Y) and upto 60kg (when flying J) when flying on a ticket purchased from QF that has 6E/QF-codeshare flights for the domestic segments.

That's what I was told by both Qantas and Indigo. I have spoken to both Qantas local and international call centres with more than 10 separate calls, all have given me the same information.
Really a bad deal for QF SG, WP and P1 customers from benefits perspective.

 

[jase05]

Really a bad deal for QF SG, WP and P1 customers from benefits perspective.

They are a low cost carrier, I don’t know what people expect.
IndGo’s own top tier flyer don’t get extra luggage.
Like most LCC’s they make their money from excess luggage

 

[Daver6]

They are a low cost carrier, I don’t know what people expect.
IndGo’s own top tier flyer don’t get extra luggage.
Like most LCC’s they make their money from excess luggage

Odd that QF partnered wit ha LCC. At the time, Vistara would have been a better option but no longer now for obvious reasons.

 

[bussyboy]

Don't "Most Significant Carrier" rules apply with interline?? Not sure if/how that impacts, but maybe worth looking into

 

[TheInsider]

Don't "Most Significant Carrier" rules apply with interline?? Not sure if/how that impacts, but maybe worth looking into

MSC does not apply to frequent flyer extra allowances. IATA Res 302 is purely based on the ticketed allowance.

Post automatically merged: Oct 28, 2024

That's what I was told by both Qantas and Indigo. I have spoken to both Qantas local and international call centres with more than 10 separate calls, all have given me the same information.

Sorry, but wasting 10 phone calls to try and get a different answer is a little bit much.

 

[newbieflyhigh]

They are a low cost carrier, I don’t know what people expect.
IndGo’s own top tier flyer don’t get extra luggage.
Like most LCC’s they make their money from excess luggage

In my case, I don't have an option to pay for additional luggage. Indigo staff informed me that since i have a Qantas issued ticket, I have to talk to them and Qantas tells me to talk to Indigo.

 

[newbieflyhigh]

Hi All,

This is my experience on my return trip from India (apologies for the long post). I hope it may help others flying into Bangalore via Qantas and connecting to another city via Indigo Airlines and return.

Initially, I called both Indigo and Qantas regarding the extra luggage allowance but kept getting bounced between them. TheInsider shared a link earlier, which clearly states that the only option is to pay for extra allowance at the airport. For a Qantas PNR, you cannot pre-pay for additional allowance with Indigo (awful deal).

When I contacted Qantas in Bangalore, their staff were much more helpful. They advised me to pay for the extra luggage only from Mumbai to Bangalore and to collect my bags in Bangalore. Then, I could check in at the Qantas counter in Bangalore and get my entitled allowance until Sydney.

However, Indigo charges Rs 600 per kg for domestic flights and Rs 1,200 per kg for international flights. This meant I would have to pay either Rs 18,000 to cover the journey to Bangalore or Rs 36,000 to cover the journey to Sydney for a 30kg bag—both are quite expensive.

The staff suggested I consider another option: sending my extra bag to a friend or relative in Bangalore who could hold it for me. I found a service in Mumbai that could courier the bag on a passenger bus to Bangalore for under Rs 500 (less than $10). The bag arrives in Bangalore in 15 hours, and the bus service runs daily. Someone needs to collect the bag upon arrival.

In my case, my relative picked it up in Bangalore and brought it to the airport, as I had sent it a few days in advance. My original bags from Mumbai were checked all the way through to Sydney. I was also able to check in my additional bag in Bangalore without any issues once they recognized my family’s Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) status.

Some Observations:

1. On a Qantas/Indigo codeshare, the same luggage allowance issue will occur when flying from Australia. I had an issue on my way to India but the staff member did her best to check all my bags. The issue was on Indigo end which prompted them that i had more than 30kgs per passenger. I was carrying a lot more on my way to India as well.
2. Qantas staff in Bangalore are extremely helpful, so you shouldn’t face any issues there.
3. If you’re flying from a different city to Bangalore, you won’t get the additional allowance and will have to pay for any weight over 30 kg to Indigo at the airport.
4. Lastly, I spoke with the Qantas manager at the Bangalore airport about this issue. He mentioned that there might be a possibility next year for Indigo to allow luggage based on QFF status.

Considering that Qantas is heavily pushing Indigo codeshare, I am hoping that QFF status for additional luggage allowance will be recognised in the near future.

*Apologies if some points that I have covered has already been discussed multiple times.