QF - No longer interline/through-check bags on separate PNR's [non oneworld]

[markis10]

Ready to Fly - Changes to Through Check Processes 19 October 2010
During the recent volcanic disruptions, Qantas identified opportunities to further improve and streamline the Qantas customer experience

One of these opportunities is for customers to have their travel documented in one reservation (PNRs) which allows for a more automated rebooking process in the event of a disruption and enables our airport staff to focus on delivering a high standard of customer service.

From Wednesday 3 November 2010 customers holding two separate reservations (PNRs) for their journey will no longer be provided with through check or baggage interline through to their final travel destination.

Qantas will however, continue to provide this facility for customers connecting with Qantas flights and oneworld carriers (please note: other exemptions apply).

For further information please see Frequently Asked Questions.

 

[docjames]

During the recent volcanic disruptions, Qantas identified opportunities to further improve and streamline the Qantas customer experience

Right, not checking luggage through is an improvement.

Nothing like a 1:100 year event to drive a change to routine processes.

Edit: Note use of "improve" not "enhance". QF must be watching this board......

 

[Brettmcg]

QF policy change - linkedPNRs no longer offer interline or through checked bags

I am increasingly getting the feeling this airline is losing the plot. How can this possibly be an IMPROVEMENT? Let's call it what it really is - an inconvenience.

 

[TheInsider]

I believe this is a fair enough change. If it's not booked on a single ticket, why should the 1st carrier be liable for the interlining?

Obviously it will still be okay for OW flights and other flights booked on the same ticket; like a MEL-LAX (QF) and LAX-SFO (UA). That would still be sent all the way through.

There have been alot of situations lately where a pax is heading (for example) to america on a single sector ticket. The pax then asks to transfer bags to another airline like DL. Alot of these fares that pax have (for the conx. flight) are bookings that do not include baggage, the pax complains to connecting airline and then to QF.

Really this isn't a really big change at all, alot of international or domestic to international bookings already have these extra segments in there.

 

[Must...Fly!]

This latest "improvement" is sure to improve my bank balance, if you get my drift.

Even as an NB these changes are annoying me.

 

[Brettmcg]

QF policy change - linkedPNRs no longer offer interline or through checked bags

That's all well and good, but some people use Qantas to get to a hub and then have to use other airlines with interlining agreements with Qantas to get to other regional destinations because these can't be booked through Qantas on a single itinerary. I think it's naive to think that everyone is only flying to places likes JFK LHR FRA SFO and LAX.

 

[TheInsider]

So,
QFd - QFd (seperate bookings) will still connect
QFd - QFi (seperate bookings) will still connect
QFi - QFi (seperate bookings) will still connect
QFd - OW (seperate bookings) will still connect
QFi - Other carrier (seperate bookings) (UA, DL, NZ, LH, etc etc) will no longer connect
QFi - Other carrier (same pnr) will still connect.

That's all well and good, but some people use Qantas to get to a hub and then have to use other airlines with interlining agreements with Qantas to get to other regional destinations because these can't be booked through Qantas on a single itinerary. I think it's naive to think that everyone is only flying to places likes JFK LHR FRA SFO and LAX.

An 'interline' booking is usually an interlined ticket as a single PNR booking, not two seperate bookings from airlines that may have an interline agreement.

Also i just want to point out again, i'm not speaking for the company, just as an individual, as everyone else here is.

 

[NM]

I believe this is a fair enough change. If it's not booked on a single ticket, why should the 1st carrier be liable for the interlining?

I totally agree. With more and more people seeking to save a few dollars by purchasing separate tickets rather than purchasing a through ticket, I believe the airlines should NOT have to take on the baggage interlining responsibility. The passenger is saving their money so they should wear the risk and inconvenience.

It important to understand that interlining bags is not just a matter of checking some tags and sending them to the next flight. It also involves responsibility (eg financial liability) for the bag making it to its destination. If you have not paid the first carrier for taking on this responsibility (to the final destination) then you have no reason to expect they will provide that service.

 

[Fantic125]

Look's like a reasonable "enhancement" to me....

 

[Brettmcg]

I totally agree. With more and more people seeking to save a few dollars by purchasing separate tickets rather than purchasing a through ticket, I believe the airlines should NOT have to take on the baggage interlining responsibility. The passenger is saving their money so they should wear the risk and inconvenience.

So those whose final destinations aren't sold or serviced by Qantas/partners etc. just have to cop it sweet? Other major and considerably less profitable airlines seem to manage. Seems to me like they have used a once in a lifetime event to save a bit of money.

 

[Mal]

I totally agree. With more and more people seeking to save a few dollars by purchasing separate tickets rather than purchasing a through ticket, I believe the airlines should NOT have to take on the baggage interlining responsibility. The passenger is saving their money so they should wear the risk and inconvenience.

I agree. It's no different to policies from other OW partners (BA for example). Yes I've been disadvantaged in these types of situations, but I agree that QF doesn't need to take on a risk that I've chosen to ignore.

 

[TheInsider]

So those whose final destinations aren't sold or serviced by Qantas/partners etc. just have to cop it sweet? Other major and considerably less profitable airlines seem to manage. Seems to me like they have used a once in a lifetime event to save a bit of money.

Still alot of international travel is booked by travel agents who use a GDS who have interlining agreements. This is what the 'interline' agreement is for. An interline agreement is not for a passenger to book airline tickets on seperate bookings then expect the 1st airline to tag their bags to the final destination..

Also i've seen on the QF website qf selling tickets on EK, UA, SG, so it's not just QANTAS and partners.

 

[docjames]

The trouble here is for pax travelling to destinations not particularly well served by OW airlines.

Premium pax are not going to be happy to have to recheck when OW cant get them easily to their destination. So expect that business to go elsewhere.

 

[Brettmcg]

I think you are missing my point. Sometimes, booking two separate itineraries is not about saving money, but because it's the only way to get to your destination. Take for example a recent booking of mine.

QF: MEL - SIN - FRA
LH: FRA - FMO

On numerous occasions I have communicated with Qantas about having this booked on a single ticket, however, not only could they not find FMO (also has happened numerous times at airports), but they would simply not include it on a single itinerary. Instead, I have to chase around LH and QF to add information segments to each PNR in order to have the bags checked-through.

 

[MatF]

So .... does this mean that when I send my dear old mum from Wagga to visit rellies in Mudgee (Qantaslink WGA-SYD, Aeropelican SYD-DGE), she'll have to collect her bag in SYD and recheck? That would make me decidedly unhappy.

Aeropelican is a QF "partner" airline, but not in oneworld ... and its not possible to get both flights on the same PNR as far as I know (or is it?). Last time I booked for her, I had to book the aeropelican leg via the aeropelican website.

Her bag has been booked through previously.

 

[TheInsider]

Aeropelican is a QF "partner" airline, but not in oneworld ... and its not possible to get both flights on the same PNR as far as I know (or is it?). Last time I booked for her, I had to book the aeropelican leg via the aeropelican website.

Her bag has been booked through previously.

From my experience i get alot of MEL-SYD-NTL, last leg on OT, and this has all been ticketed on the same PNR, it also gives them a BP for the SYD-NTL flight too. Not to sure how it/was booked though.

 

[MatF]

Hmmmm, I wonder how its being booked? I definitely can't book WGA-SYD-DGE on the qantas website.

Over the phone perhaps?

 

[NM]

So those whose final destinations aren't sold or serviced by Qantas/partners etc. just have to cop it sweet? Other major and considerably less profitable airlines seem to manage. Seems to me like they have used a once in a lifetime event to save a bit of money.

I think you are missing the point of this change. QF is not revoking its interline agreements with other carriers. You can still purchase a ticket that includes flights by different carriers on a single PNR. The only change is if you purchase separate tickets. Purchase a single ticket with flights from say QF and UA or DL and their will happily interline the bags.

There is not such limitation about "whose final destinations aren't sold or serviced by Qantas/partners etc". Its all about passengers who purchase separate tickets rather than purchasing a single PNR that includes multiple flights and carriers. Qantas will honour the interline agreements they have with all their interline partners (not just OneWorld or FF partners) IF you book the flights on a single PNR.

 

[Brettmcg]

Hmmmm, I wonder how its being booked? I definitely can't book WGA-SYD-DGE on the qantas website.

Over the phone perhaps?

Most probably, so expect to fork out an extra $35 for the privilege of talking to someone who does the same job as the website should do.

 

[NM]

I think you are missing my point. Sometimes, booking two separate itineraries is not about saving money, but because it's the only way to get to your destination. Take for example a recent booking of mine.

QF: MEL - SIN - FRA
LH: FRA - FMO

On numerous occasions I have communicated with Qantas about having this booked on a single ticket, however, not only could they not find FMO (also has happened numerous times at airports), but they would simply not include it on a single itinerary. Instead, I have to chase around LH and QF to add information segments to each PNR in order to have the bags checked-through.

If throuigh checking of bags is important then why not just purchase the LH fare? LH offer many through fares on a single ticket MEL-FMO with quite flexible routing options.

QF does offer a fare MEL-FMO, but only in full J and full F and that makes them very expensive.

But if you take an example such as MEL-KUL and choose to fly MEl-SIN with QF and SIN-KUL with either SQ or MH you can purchase it as a single PNR from QF and they will interline the bags at SIN for the final destination of KUL. Neither SQ or MH are OneWorld partners, but QF will interline bags if purchased as a single PNR. But if purchased as two separate tickets then the passenger takes the baggage transit responsibility.