Two QF questions re award seat release and interlining of bags

[wafliron]

Two quick questions re QF I'm hoping someone can help with:

1) Are the QFF Premium Desk able to release additional award seats on partner airlines - specifically AA? Or does this only apply for QF metal?

2) Can you get bags interlined between QF and AA flights when the flights are on two separate bookings? e.g. if I fly QF MEL-LAX on a J award, connecting through to AA LAX-LAS paid with $$, can I get my bags interlined?

Thanks!

 

[aoz48x]

Question 2 is an easy one. As a One-world carrier QF will interline the bags to the AA flight for you. You will still need to collect them in LA to clear US customs. But once cleared you will place the bags on the carousel for inter-line baggage before heading to AA for the flight to LAS. You should also get both boarding passes in MEL when you check-in

 

[wafliron]

Question 2 is an easy one. As a One-world carrier QF will interline the bags to the AA flight for you. You will still need to collect them in LA to clear US customs. But once cleared you will place the bags on the carousel for inter-line baggage before heading to AA for the flight to LAS. You should also get both boarding passes in MEL when you check-in

Right - and this is definitely the case (bags internlined, both BPs in MEL) even if the MEL-LAX and LAX-LAS are on completely different bookings (one in J using points via QF and the other in Y using $$ via AA)? Sorry for re-confirming, I just want to make sure we're on the same page as I was expecting the answer to be "no" in this case

Assuming yes, how long do you reckon is a safe transfer time in LAX (and coming back the other way with the same flight setup)?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

1. No, QF flights only

2. Yes, you can interline your bags and check-in with any OW carrier

 

[wafliron]

1. No, QF flights only

Damn :-( But thanks for the info.

2. Yes, you can interline your bags and check-in with any OW carrier

Thanks for reconfirming what aoz48x said.

Do you need to do anything before the flight to make the interlining happen when the flights are on different bookings - e.g. ring up QF and ask them to link the bookings? Or do you just ask the check-in agent when checking in?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Do you need to do anything before the flight to make the interlining happen when the flights are on different bookings - e.g. ring up QF and ask them to link the bookings? Or do you just ask the check-in agent when checking in?

While not absolutely necessary, you can ask QF to put 'ghost' segments to link your AA flights/booking, and vis-a-vis with your AA booking. This simply makes it a little easier for the check-in staff as they will have all the details in front of them.

I've done it both with and without these (QF/BA rather than AA) and had no troubles either way.

 

[serfty]

These "ghost" segments are often referred to in the industry as "Information Segments".

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

These "ghost" segments are often referred to in the industry as "Information Segments".

Thanks serfty, it's been some years since I logged into a GDS, I've forgotten the official industry lingo.

Is it a 'ghost'/'passive' PNR on the operating/marketing carrier v/v for codeshares?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

While not absolutely necessary, you can ask QF to put 'ghost' segments to link your AA flights/booking, and vis-a-vis with your AA booking. This simply makes it a little easier for the check-in staff as they will have all the details in front of them.

I've done it both with and without these (QF/BA rather than AA) and had no troubles either way.

To be honest, ghost/information segments are a waste of time as they don't general through to checkin (Altea) so they checkin agent will have to add them in anyway using the 'add itinerary' function in order to generate the bag tags & boarding passes through to LAS.

If a checkin agent looks in the pnr of a pax in the res system (Amadeus) they can see the "GK" segments but having them there doesn't really serve a purpose. Usually there would be no requirement for the CSA to look at the pnr when checking in a pax.

Just have your AA itinerary/eticket itin receipt with you which hopefully will show the fare bucket your flights are booked in eg Q,V,K etc however if you don't know that if the CSA enters "Y" I don't think it matters that much & may still generate the AA boarding pass. If even you didn't get the AA boarding pass, the bags can still be through checked to LAS & you'd just see AA in LAX to get your boarding pass then.

These "ghost" segments are often referred to in the industry as "Information Segments".

Thanks serfty, it's been some years since I logged into a GDS, I've forgotten the official industry lingo.

Is it a 'ghost'/'passive' PNR on the operating/marketing carrier v/v for codeshares?

IIRC 'information segments' were used by QF when they used QUBE (Qantas Universal Business Environment) prior to cutting over to Amadeus in Oct 2002. GK Ghost & PK Passive is Amadeus terminology. Ghost segments are purely cosmetic & don't general messages off to airlines. My memory is a tad foggy about what PK segments actually did so I'll have to find out otherwise it'll bug me.

 

[serfty]

"Passive Segments" - that's it.

I saw a good reference on it - I'll try to dig it up.

 

[williamsf1]

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GK SEGMENT AND A PK SEGMENT? Both are used to book segments that were created outside of the Amadeus system. However, GK segments
are created for the purposes of pricing and itinerary printing while PK segments are for ticket issuance.

 

[serfty]

Amadeus, "Passive" & "Ghost" segments

Amadeus has three types of entries to indicate segments sold outside of the PNR.

There are called "Passive", "Service" and "Ghost" segments.

Amadeus Manual - Advance PNR

Note as indicated by OBB,"Ghost" segments will not work as they don't propagate to other systems.

However, "Passive" segments should.

 

[wafliron]

Thanks for the extra info re ghost / passive / information (/ etc / etc ) segments everyone, appreciate it.

Does anyone have any info re the extra question I asked on the previous page - how much time should I allow "to be safe" to transfer between QF international and AA domestic at LAX (and coming back the other way)? Given I'll be the QF international and AA domestic flights are on separate bookings, I assume it'll be "my problem" and not the airline's problem if the QF flight is late and I miss the AA connection.

 

[serfty]

I'd try to allow at least 3 hours each way.

Inward? To allow for the hour or two it may take to get though immigration, customs and T4 security. (If enough time, as a WP I'd shower in the FL ASAP).

Outward? To enable you to relax in the T4 FL until about 90 minutes before your flight, whereupon you walk landside to TBIT and redo security there (The bus has been taking too long recently with the TBIT West development changes).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks for the extra info re ghost / passive / information (/ etc / etc ) segments everyone, appreciate it.

Does anyone have any info re the extra question I asked on the previous page - how much time should I allow "to be safe" to transfer between QF international and AA domestic at LAX (and coming back the other way)? Given I'll be the QF international and AA domestic flights are on separate bookings, I assume it'll be "my problem" and not the airline's problem if the QF flight is late and I miss the AA connection.

Your bags have been through checked & you've more than likely received both QF & AA boarding passes which merges your flights into the checkin record in Amadeus which basically looks no different to if your flights had been originally booked in the same pnr.

The absolute minimum is 2 hours to be legal from QF int to AA dom however it's a good idea to allow more time to give you some breating space particularly on arrival. Remember there is that "Express Connections" queue at LAX for Customs but after clearing that you've still got to get your bag then drop it at AA. The long queues are after you pick up your bag when you have to wait for the immigration people to collect your declaration & possibly give you a Spanish inquisition about your plans on arrival. :shock:

It's generally easier to be booked on a later flight & try for an earlier one rather than miss the earlier one & have to be rebooked to a later one.

 

[oz74]

My wife and I landed at TBIT in Aug last year and were in the cue for at least two hours! Virgin flight came in right behind us and it was just chaos. This was Qf 93.

Funny thing is I've flown United to LAX a couple of time and breezed through.

I'd be allowing a min of two hours, that TBIT is no fun at all!

Happy travels.

 

[wafliron]

I'd try to allow at least 3 hours each way.

Inward? To allow for the hour or two it may take to get though immigration, customs and T4 security. (If enough time, as a WP I'd shower in the FL ASAP).

Your bags have been through checked & you've more than likely received both QF & AA boarding passes which merges your flights into the checkin record in Amadeus which basically looks no different to if your flights had been originally booked in the same pnr.

The absolute minimum is 2 hours to be legal from QF int to AA dom however it's a good idea to allow more time to give you some breating space particularly on arrival. Remember there is that "Express Connections" queue at LAX for Customs but after clearing that you've still got to get your bag then drop it at AA. The long queues are after you pick up your bag when you have to wait for the immigration people to collect your declaration & possibly give you a Spanish inquisition about your plans on arrival. :shock:

It's generally easier to be booked on a later flight & try for an earlier one rather than miss the earlier one & have to be rebooked to a later one.

Thanks to you both, appreciate the info.

I'm going to try to route myself via SYD on the way over as QF93 leaves quite early (9.35am) and I want to maximise my FLounge time (will be my first ever FLounge visit), so I'll likely be arriving at LAX on QF11 around 9.30am.

Looking at AA options for the onward flight to LAS it looks like the two best choices are 11.50am or 2.30pm, both of which are a little awkward - one a bit too short connection time (2hr20m) and the other a bit too long (5hr). I guess I should probably play it safe and go for the 2.30pm departure - I'd rather not be stuck at LAX for 5 hours, but at least it means I won't have to rush and will have time for a shower. I suppose spending a few hours in the AA T4 Flagship Lounge can't be that bad either

Outward? To enable you to relax in the T4 FL until about 90 minutes before your flight, whereupon you walk landside to TBIT and redo security there (The bus has been taking too long recently with the TBIT West development changes).

Thanks - after thinking a bit more I reckon I might come home via DFW rather than LAX though.

That does raise one extra question which I hope you don't mind answering for me though? Assuming I do route via DFW on the way home, I'll be flying ORD-DFW (AA $$ ticket) and then connecting through to DFW-BNE-MEL on QF8 (QF classic award). In this scenario, how far will be bags be automatically checked through? Am I right in thinking that I will check my bags in at ORD, won't need to collect / re-check at DFW, but will need to collect / re-check at BNE?

Sorry for the naive questions, despite having done a reasonable amount of international flying (althought probably not by AFFer standards!) I have somehow managed to avoid flights with domestic connections thus far!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks - after thinking a bit more I reckon I might come home via DFW rather than LAX though.

That does raise one extra question which I hope you don't mind answering for me though? Assuming I do route via DFW on the way home, I'll be flying ORD-DFW (AA $$ ticket) and then connecting through to DFW-BNE-MEL on QF8 (QF classic award). In this scenario, how far will be bags be automatically checked through? Am I right in thinking that I will check my bags in at ORD, won't need to collect / re-check at DFW, but will need to collect / re-check at BNE?

Sorry for the naive questions, despite having done a reasonable amount of international flying (althought probably not by AFFer standards!) I have somehow managed to avoid flights with domestic connections thus far!

AA in ORD should be able to through check your bags ORD/xDFW/xBNE/MEL (even if different pnrs) however as BNE would be your first port of entry into Australia you will need to clear customs with your bags then drop them at the domestic transfer desk within in the arrivals hall at international before taking the Tbus around to BNE Domestic termnal to catch your flight BNE/MEL.

I'm not sure what class you're travelling in however it's not a trip I would relish doing even in J class as you're looking at well over 24 hours from leaving ORD to arrivng at MEL. Whilst I don't mind doing a short flight prior to a long international one, I really dislike doing a long journey eg DFW/BNE then having to do another flight after that.

If it was me I'd do either ORD/LAX/MEL in one go or ORD/HNL stopover for a night or two then HNL/xSYD/MEL depending on whether time permits.

As for asking a 'naive' question - I don't really think there is such a thing on AFF. FWIW until I joined AFF I didn't even know the First Lounge existed & didn't know what an Express Card for immigration was. I'm sure there's a few people here who may find that amusing.

 

[Ewing]

Assuming I do route via DFW on the way home, I'll be flying ORD-DFW (AA $$ ticket) and then connecting through to DFW-BNE-MEL on QF8 (QF classic award). In this scenario, how far will be bags be automatically checked through? Am I right in thinking that I will check my bags in at ORD, won't need to collect / re-check at DFW, but will need to collect / re-check at BNE?

Like oz mentioned, from experience I've had no problems checking in for ORD-DFW (AA PNR) and then DFW-(BNE)-SYD-CBR (QF PNR). I simply presented both itineraries, and I received all the boarding passes and my bag was tagged right through.

I would have re-checked my bag in SYD if it made the DFW flight but that's another story (my inbound AA flight was very late due to severe weather in ORD - I arrived in DFW as QF8 was boarding. I made it, but my bag didn't). You'll clear customs and re-check your bag in BNE as you're transferring onto domestic.

They did replace my AA BP with a QF BP in the QF SYD J lounge.

 

[wafliron]

AA in ORD should be able to through check your bags ORD/xDFW/xBNE/MEL (even if different pnrs) however as BNE would be your first port of entry into Australia you will need to clear customs with your bags then drop them at the domestic transfer desk within in the arrivals hall at international before taking the Tbus around to BNE Domestic termnal to catch your flight BNE/MEL.

Like oz mentioned, from experience I've had no problems checking in for ORD-DFW (AA PNR) and then DFW-(BNE)-SYD-CBR (QF PNR). I simply presented both itineraries, and I received all the boarding passes and my bag was tagged right through.

I would have re-checked my bag in SYD if it made the DFW flight but that's another story (my inbound AA flight was very late due to severe weather in ORD - I arrived in DFW as QF8 was boarding. I made it, but my bag didn't). You'll clear customs and re-check your bag in BNE as you're transferring onto domestic.

OK great - thanks for clarifying.

I'm not sure what class you're travelling in however it's not a trip I would relish doing even in J class as you're looking at well over 24 hours from leaving ORD to arrivng at MEL. Whilst I don't mind doing a short flight prior to a long international one, I really dislike doing a long journey eg DFW/BNE then having to do another flight after that.

If it was me I'd do either ORD/LAX/MEL in one go

If I end up taking the flights I've mentioned this thread then it will be Y for the domestic USA flights and J for everything else. That's still contingent on the QF premium desk being kind enough to release some J seats for me (going to try tomorrow), but given the current low loadings on all flights involved - e.g. I9 on SYD-LAX and DFW-BNE (and LAX-MEL, incidentally) on the days I'm interested in - I like my chances.

That aside, thanks for the advice. I haven't decided for certain whether I'll try to come home via DFW or LAX, but the reasoning behind favouring DFW at the moment is:

- this will be my first trip in international J, so I don't see increasing time my time in the air as a negative (not that there's much difference between DFW-BNE and LAX-MEL) though) Hmm, by that logic maybe I should take QF8 all the way to SYD and then connect SYD-MEL...

- will make a larger percentage of the flight time in J (as I'd only be flying ORD-DFW in Y, not ORD-LAX), even though overall it makes the trip/flight time longer.

- there's a chance I may still get a 4-class 747 for QF8 when I'm flying (seat map says it is at the moment, although it's still a long way out - I reckon 50-50 chance), and if so that would represent one of the few times (only time?) I get to fly in an F seat - even if it is only an F seat, not F service. And if I luck out and get a 3-class, at least it'll be a refurb 3-class so not much diff to A380 from LAX.

- I like flying... don't look at me like that, I know I'm weird :shock:


Your and ewing's replies have reminded me of two extra questions I wanted to ask as well - seeing how many OT questions I can cram into one thread here!

1) Am I right in thinking that travelling in international J entitles me to Express Cards for customs in / out of Australia?

2) Normally if you miss a connection due to a flight being delayed and the flights are on the same booking, it's the airline's "problem" (i.e. they will rebook you free of charge on a later flight). Am I right in assuming that where the flights are on different bookings (e.g. my potential MEL-LAX QF award booking + LAX-LAS AA $$ booking in non-flexible Y), if MEL-LAX is late and I miss LAX-LAS then it's my problem - e.g. I have to pay to rebook on a later flight?

or ORD/HNL stopover for a night or two then HNL/xSYD/MEL depending on whether time permits.

Good idea, but unfortunately time does not permit

As for asking a 'naive' question - I don't really think there is such a thing on AFF. FWIW until I joined AFF I didn't even know the First Lounge existed & didn't know what an Express Card for immigration was. I'm sure there's a few people here who may find that amusing.

I find that amusing, given how much knowledge you've shared in the many posts of yours that I've read

I've learnt so much from this forum in the past 12 months (since I truly "discovered" it, despite having signed up years ago), and yet my knowledge is still a fraction of what some in here (including yourself and others that have replied to this thread) posess!

Thanks again to everyone who has replied for your help, it is greatly appreciated.