QF/BA/AY Codeshare flights and the MSC policy

[BTee]

Hi folks,

I've recently booked a trip to Europe for an upcoming study exchange, as I'll be heading from an Aussie summer to a Scandinavian winter I'd been planning on taking an extra piece of luggage with me. So I did a bit of research on my ticket and all seemed well, BA allows 3 p x 23kg and AY was only going to charge around 40€. All seemed great until I checked QF prices for an extra piece of luggage... and pretty much fell off my chair. QF wants $367.50 for an extra 15kg and $612.50 for up to 25kg (that's assuming they charge me BNE>SIN only).

My flight details are below:
BNE>SIN- BA 7351/ QF0051 operated by QANTAS (1 x 23kg)
SIN>LHR- BA 16 ('Manage My Booking' states allowance as 3 x 23kg)
LHR>HEL- BA 6032/ AY 0832 operated by FinnAir (1x 23kg)

These are econ. fares booked through an agent.

I did some research and found a few threads on here about IATA's 'Most Significant Carrier' policy. From what I gather my journey should come under Process #2, which would then define the MSC as the BA flight, as it is the first flight to cross from Area 3 (Aus, Asia) into Area 2 (Europe, ME, Africa). The table below is taken from an official IATA document:

So I wanted the opinion of some wiser folk, is my assumption about BA being the MSC correct, and what do you think my chances are of convincing of QANTAS check-in staff in BNE that I am allowed to check more than 1p x 23kg (as per my BA allowance SNG>LHR)? I'm going to try and get away with checking in 2 bags in BNE, if all else fails I can have them sent as unaccompanied baggage.

Thanks in advance for your input!

BTee

 

[BTee]

Below is an email received from BA on the issue, although they don't ever directly mention the MSC policy:

"Dear PAX

Thank you for your email about the baggage allowance for your upcoming journey to Helsinki.

As your booking includes travel with British Airways and another airline, the British Airways baggage allowance may be more generous but you could be charged for extra baggage by the other airline.

I have looked at your booking (reference: xx_XX) and found that you will be allowed to check in three bags, each weighing not more than 23kgs (51lbs), for your travel with British Airways from Singapore to London. If the weight of the bag exceeds 23kgs (upto 32kgs), passengers will need to pay an overweight baggage fee of £40 ($60). The dimensions of the bag should be 90cm x 75cm x 43cm (35.5ins x 29.5ins x 16ins), including the handle, pockets and wheels.

I request you contact Qantas directly for any queries relating baggage allowance for your travel from Brisbane to Singapore. You can check the baggage allowance for your travel with Qantas at (link disabled due to newbie status...)

For connecting journeys between British Airways and other airlines, to or from the UK, Europe and the Pacific, an IATA industry-standard weight rate will be applied per excess kilo of checked baggage that you have. The calculation will be made by our airport colleagues once they have weighed your bags. You can see the fees charged for extra checked-in bags at: (link disabled due to newbie status) go to BA bag checked baggage allowance and charges...

I hope this information is useful and that you have a pleasant journey."
​

So I guess this raises another question, if the "IATA industry-standard weight rate" is applied by British Airways for flights to/from the UK, Europe and Pacific (which is $60USD for a World Traveler (E?) class PAX— no J or D for me unfortunately!), why is QANTAS not following the same industry standards as well?

Regards,

BTee

 

[Alanslegal]

As long as the segments are on the one booking, then the BA weight limit will apply. Don't worry too much at QF check in BNE, they'll know what to do

I think BA is a bit confused, as they are telling you to contact QF when the MSC policy would have already given the answer.

 

[BTee]

As long as the segments are on the one booking, then the BA weight limit will apply. Don't worry too much at QF check in BNE, they'll know what to do

I think BA is a bit confused, as they are telling you to contact QF when the MSC policy would have already given the answer.

Yes, my guess is that they don't advertise this, and it's probably not policy to say that the MSC definitely applies, i.e. BA will not say that QF will definitely honour the MSC policy. I'm still waiting to hear back from QANTAS on the issue, but my guess is the response will be similar to the BA response above, stating standard baggage allowances and charges, a few ambiguous statements on codeshare baggage policies and with no mention of MSC policy...

 

[serfty]

Firstly I assumes that's all the one booking.

BA CS is often BS when it comes to stuff like this.

You may be able to look your booking up here:

LAN.com Imprima su ticket

It should show the allowance for each segment; and that allowance should be the same for each segment of each journey.

If it does, then the booking has been correctly entered.

The only issue I have is, how were you able to get an allowance of 3 x 32Kg on BA when travelling in economy?

If via status, you may be SOL if BA have not filed allowances for their elites.

 

[ozmille]

Are you sure about your BA allowance of 3 pieces in economy because I had a look at the BA allowance and 3 pieces is only in J and in F as per below;

 

[BTee]

Firstly I assumes that's all the one booking.

BA CS is often BS when it comes to stuff like this.

You may be able to look your booking up here:


It should show the allowance for each segment; and that allowance should be the same for each segment of each journey.

Yes, it should all be the one booking, done through an agent and under one confirmation number.
I was able to look the booking up, it shows baggage as 1pc for all three flights, including the SIN>LHR leg.

 

[serfty]

1pc?

How were you able to get an allowance of 3 x 32Kg on BA when travelling in economy?

If via status, you may be SOL as this indicates BA have not filed separate allowances for their elites.

 

[BTee]

Are you sure about your BA allowance of 3 pieces in economy because I had a look at the BA allowance and 3 pieces is only in J and in F as per below;

View attachment 4786

Well, in the letter above from BA you can see that they have allocated 3x 23kg SIN>LHR, I thought this was strange myself. When I'm logged in to the 'Manage my booking' section on the BA website it also states 3 x 23kg for that leg.

But as my reply to Serfty indicates, when I log on through the link he provided, my baggage allowance is only 1pc for each of the three segments.

 

[serfty]

That link takes information directly from the Amadeus PNR for your booking an it is representative of what the Qantas Check-in agent will see in [-]Perth[/-] Brisbane.

 

[BTee]

That link takes information directly from the Amadeus PNR for your booking an it is representative of what the Qantas Check-in agent will see in [-]Perth[/-] Brisbane.

If by Perth you mean Brisbane then I guess I may be SOL...

So, no leg to stand on then? Not even with the recently received letter from BA stating I have a 3pc x 23kg allowance SIN>LHR and perhaps a print-out of the 'Manage my booking' section stating the same?

I guess when I get there I may just have to try my luck, I'm hoping they'll be nice to me considering it's Christmas day. If they stick to their guns then I'll probably have the second piece sent unaccompanied.

 

[ozmille]

World Traveler (E?) class PAX— no J or D for me

The plot thickens... E, is that the booking class that is stated on Manage My booking and e-ticket? E class on BA is Premium Economy....

 

[BTee]

The plot thickens... E, is that the booking class that is stated on Manage My booking and e-ticket? E class on BA is Premium Economy....

Ozmille, my bad. I had put (E?) there as I was unsure of the class of economy to begin with. I have done a bit more research and the 'selling class' for all of the legs of this journey is 'N', which I assume is discount economy?

Below is a screenshot of the Manage my Booking section of BA: