QF to BA - Luggage transfer in Singapore

[QFFBNE]

Hi, just after some clarification if possible. I'm flying QF81 SYD/SIN, 4 hour layover, then BA16 SIN/LHR next month in J, but the flights are under different bookings. Will I be able to get my bags checked straight through from SYD to LHR, or will I have to collect them and recheck with BA in Singapore? And if so, do I have to go through customs and security again in Singapore to do so? Or can I just collect from the carousel and go direct to BA to re-check them to LHR?

 

[Mwenenzi]

On separate PNR's QF only interline QF to QF, QF to EK or if one flight is an award. You could ask at SYD check-in, but expect a refusal.
QF link--> https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...ge/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html

^ Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel. Note: This is a Qantas exemption and may not be supported by all oneworld airlines.

Would expect you would have to go land side (after immigration & customs) for BA check-in and bag drop. And then security to get to the gate.
What is Plan B if QF81 SYD-SIN is late/very late? The 4:00hr between scheduled arrival and scheduled departure does not have a lot of margin. BA16 will close X minutes before scheduled departure.

 

[serfty]

... will I have to collect them and recheck with BA in Singapore? And if so, do I have to go through customs and security again in Singapore to do so? Or can I just collect from the carousel and go direct to BA to re-check them to LHR?

As indicated, in SYD, they are unlikely to tag the bags through to LHR.

However, you are transiting in SIN. On arrival head to a transit desk in T2 T1 armed with your baggage receipts from SYD and eTicket info for LHR. In the past they have called baggage services who would pull your bags from the carousel and re-tag them for the onward flight. They'll even issue BPs for the BA flight if that was needed.

If that is successful then there is no need to clear to landside.

 

[dajop]

On arrival head to a transit desk in T2 armed with your baggage receipts from SYD.

This is certainly likely to lead to failure. Instead I would advise heading to a transit desk in T1. But I think we know what you meant

 

[AIRwin]

Instead I would advise heading to a transit desk in T1.

Transfer C or D?

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[serfty]

This is certainly likely to lead to failure. Instead I would advise heading to a transit desk in T1. But I think we know what you meant

Fixed, but to be clear - a T1 transit desk may be able to assist as described.

 

[serfty]

Transfer C or D?

Either - if wrong, there is some free exercise ...

 

[dajop]

Either - if wrong, there is some free exercise ...

Yep, just go to the one closest to the gate you arrive at, and if that fails head to the other end.

 

[QFFBNE]

So I have had some success. After managing to get 2 x J Reward bookings for QF51 BNE/SIN this morning, I canceled the QF81 SYD/SIN leg (we actually live in BNE). I was able to get the separate bookings 'linked' meaning I should be able to get the luggage checked straight through from BNE to LHR (QF to BA).
I'll know when we go to check in in BNE if this will work or not, but if worse comes to worse, I have a 6 hour layover in SIN to collect luggage, exit customs/immigration and recheck at the BA counter in SIN. And get some free exercise as serfty said
As a bit of background, this all came about because Qantas for some reason would not allow us to add flights to an existing Reward booking. They would not let me add/change the BA SYD/SIN flight to the QF BNE/SYD flight. It was only available as a 'new booking'.

 

[SYD]

So I have had some success. After managing to get 2 x J Reward bookings for QF51 BNE/SIN this morning, I canceled the QF81 SYD/SIN leg (we actually live in BNE). I was able to get the separate bookings 'linked' meaning I should be able to get the luggage checked straight through from BNE to LHR (QF to BA).

Edit: below applies to a onward revenue flight as per QF terms.

Take a print out of the QF rules at the link above - just in case. If the checkin agent says now, reiterate that it’s a QF Classic Reward to OW connection and wave the QF rules. There’s a good chance they won’t know how to do it but the supervisor should.

I'll know when we go to check in in BNE if this will work or not, but if worse comes to worse, I have a 6 hour layover in SIN to collect luggage, exit customs/immigration and recheck at the BA counter in SIN. And get some free exercise as serfty said

You should be ok (delays aside), but there are much worse airports to have to do that.

As a bit of background, this all came about because Qantas for some reason would not allow us to add flights to an existing Reward booking. They would not let me add/change the BA SYD/SIN flight to the QF BNE/SYD flight. It was only available as a 'new booking'.

If the flights meet minimum connection times, they should have been able to do that (for a fee). People ring up all the time to construct OWA itineraries….

 

[justinbrett]

Take a print out of the QF rules at the link above - just in case. If the checkin agent says now, reiterate that it’s a QF Classic Reward to OW connection and wave the QF rules. There’s a good chance they won’t know how to do it but the supervisor should.

Bags won't be connected according to the rules.

This is a reward - reward connection; the rules say they will only be connected with a mix of reward & revenue. If it was revenue SIN-LHR and reward BNE-SIN it would be covered, or vice versa.

No amount of linking fixes this. It has to be under the same PNR.

 

[SYD]

Bags won't be connected according to the rules.

This is a reward - reward connection; the rules say they will only be connected with a mix of reward & revenue. If it was revenue SIN-LHR and reward BNE-SIN it would be covered, or vice versa.

No amount of linking fixes this. It has to be under the same PNR.

Ah, yes good point and all the more reason it’s strange that QF refused to add the extra sector to the existing PNR….

 

[QFFBNE]

Ah, yes good point and all the more reason it’s strange that QF refused to add the extra sector to the existing PNR….

Apparently I'm not the only one having this problem. Even though I could see (and booked) the available J Rewards seats on my screen, they weren't showing up on the call center operators screen. But they could see them if it was a new Reward booking, or for Credit Card purchase. I've booked and changed may Reward bookings ih the past without a problem (including RTW), but It seems Qantas is now deliberately restricting Reward inventory for existing bookings, which makes a mockery of the whole process. I'd hate to be trying to put together a RTW trip at the moment.

 

[Eastwick20]

I've arrived in SIN on a MH flight ( separate PNR ) gone to a transit desk and after a few minutes of tapping they had arranged for my baggage to be rerouted and boarding passes issued for a BA flight to Sydney
I know in this case its QF to BA but I'd say give it a go, They are very friendly at SIN but if the transit desk computer says no then no harm done , just proceed through immigration and re check in

 

[QFFBNE]

I've arrived in SIN on a MH flight ( separate PNR ) gone to a transit desk and after a few minutes of tapping they had arranged for my baggage to be rerouted and boarding passes issued for a BA flight to Sydney
I know in this case its QF to BA but I'd say give it a go, They are very friendly at SIN but if the transit desk computer says no then no harm done , just proceed through immigration and re check in

Yep, I'll have plenty of time. And I'll know when we check in at BNE if they can do it or not anyway. By changing to BNE/SIN while we have just under 6 hours layover in SIN, I'm actually cutting over 2 hours off total travel time. And 6 hours in Changi is no burden.