Checked Luggage Allowance Confusion - Delta & Virgin Australia

[ROC12]

Hello, I'm new to this forum... but I feel that there would be someone here who would know what the answer to this question is or if they've had an experience to share.

Basically, I'm booked on a Virgin Australia flight (part of my Delta itinerary) from MEL to LAX. From LAX, I'm taking another flight on Delta to ATL, before finally arriving at my destination of ROC (Rochester, NY) on another Delta flight.

My question is about the luggage restrictions. Delta, on their website, says that each passenger is allowed one piece of free checked luggage when the flight is between the United States and Australia. On Virgin Australia, the luggage allowance is two pieces of free checked luggage for flights between Australia and the U.S.

I've seen on at least one of their respective websites that if an itinerary is booked through Delta, their luggage restrictions are to be followed throughout the itinerary, even if on another airline (same with Virgin Australia).

However, I just rang Delta customer support to confirm this and the representative gave me a conflicting answer, saying that since my itinerary originates in MEL on Virgin Australia, I am allowed two pieces of 23kg each free throughout my entire journey.

My fear is that when I arrive at LAX and transfer my bags to Delta after customs, that I will be charged $60 for an additional checked piece of luggage.

So, my question boils down to this: How many free pieces of luggage can I bring on my journey?

Does anyone have an answer to this question, or better yet, has anyone flown a similar itinerary with two checked bags on both Delta and Virgin Australia?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hello, I'm new to this forum... but I feel that there would be someone here who would know what the answer to this question is or if they've had an experience to share.

Basically, I'm booked on a Virgin Australia flight (part of my Delta itinerary) from MEL to LAX. From LAX, I'm taking another flight on Delta to ATL, before finally arriving at my destination of ROC (Rochester, NY) on another Delta flight.

It sounds like all your flights are on the one ticket. Has your ticket been issued & if so, do you have a copy of your eticket itinerary/receipt yet.

The baggage allowance column should display the allowance next to each flight & say something like "2PC" or "1PC".

In a lot of cases the internal flights within the US if on the same ticket will have the same baggage allowance the the transPacific flight.

 

[Fantic125]

If you've booked through Delta, it doesn't matter who the flights are with, you will need to comply to the Delta luggage restrictions.

If you booked through Virgin, then your luggage allowance continues through to your destination, providing it's on the same ticket.

 

[serfty]

If you've booked through Delta, it doesn't matter who the flights are with, you will need to comply to the Delta luggage restrictions.

If you booked through Virgin, then your luggage allowance continues through to your destination, providing it's on the same ticket.

It does not make any difference who the op has booked through.

If the first flight is segment on a VA flight number from Oz to the USA with further flights on DL (or any other carrier) then the standard luggage allowance for the VA flight number will be the luggage allowance for the entire journey as booked on the one ticket irrespective of any subsequent stopovers.

This is due to IATA resolution 302 (Most Significant Carrier) and the USA DOT exception.

 

[ROC12]

I've checked my itinerary and they're all DL flight numbers. The VA flight from MEL to LAX is listed as DL6797, and it lists the luggage as 1 piece per flight. It would be nice if they made this less confusing... especially since the representative I spoke with on the phone, who was looking at my itinerary, contradicted everything that I've seen.

I guess my next question would be if I have to comply with Delta's restrictions, will I need to pay a 2nd bag fee in Melbourne, or will this fee be charged to me when I get to LAX for the remaining part of my journey?

 

[serfty]

If it's a DL flight number on the first transpacific segment, then DL's allowance for that segment should apply for all other segments in the itinerary.

I'd call again and if quoted the same, hit them with "IATA resolution 302 (Most Significant Carrier) and the USA DOT exception to it".

 

[rafigoodman]

Hi Serfty, need some further advice. this is all very confusing.

I booked a Delta ticket flying from MELB to JFK connecting via LAX and stop in LAX on the way back before returning to MEL. the Delta eticket says 1 bag for all segments.
I fly MEL-LAX with VA, and the direct connecting flight is LAX-JFK with Delta. You seem to say above since VA is operating this first leg I can utilise Va's baggage allowance, ie. 2 bags all the way through to JFK?
On the way back I fly Delta JFK-LAX (for sure only 1 bag allowance), but have a stopover in LAX and then continue LAX-MEL with VA. Can I again bring 2 bags from LAX-MEL on VA?

I am reading DOT Exception to IATA resolution 302 and it seems DOT focuses on MSC being the MARKETING carrier, ie. not operating carrier, and in this case Marketing carrier would be Delta as its a Delta ticket?
thanks

If it's a DL flight number on the first transpacific segment, then DL's allowance for that segment should apply for all other segments in the itinerary.

I'd call again and if quoted the same, hit them with "IATA resolution 302 (Most Significant Carrier) and the USA DOT exception to it".

 

[serfty]

The Marketing carrier (of a flight segment) is the one who's flight number is on the ticket.

If your ticket show DL6797 as the fist segment MEL to LAX then your allowance is DL's. (If it were VA23 then it would be VA's allowance).

Since your ticket indicates 1 pc then this implies Delta (gets was calculated at the time of ticketing).
If it had been 2 pc then VA would have been used.

Checked baggage allowance | Virgin Australia

...

• Above allowances apply if you are travelling on a VA codeshare flight operated by Delta Air Lines or Hawaiian. Your allowance is stated in your itinerary.
• If you have purchased your travel with Delta and you are travelling on a Delta codeshare flight operated by Virgin Australia, please refer to Delta.com for your baggage allowance

Checked Baggage | Delta Air Lines

 

[rafigoodman]

Yes ticket definitely shows DL flight. Thanks for the update. Rats, I thought I could get away with extra suitcases on the way back from USA after all the shopping!

I just thought since Im checking in with VA at LAX and they themselves allow 2 pieces they wouldnt enforce only 1 piece just because I'm on a Delta ticket.

ever heard of them being sloppy and allowing you on with 2?

The Marketing carrier (of a flight segment) is the one who's flight number is on the ticket.

If your ticket show DL6797 as the fist segment MEL to LAX then your allowance is DL's. (If it were VA23 then it would be VA's allowance).

Since your ticket indicates 1 pc then this implies Delta (gets was calculated at the time of ticketing).
If it had been 2 pc then VA would have been used.

 

[serfty]

They should charge 75 for a second bag ... it will come up on their screens.

 

[notzac]

I just thought since Im checking in with VA at LAX and they themselves allow 2 pieces they wouldnt enforce only 1 piece just because I'm on a Delta ticket.

ever heard of them being sloppy and allowing you on with 2?

I would expect that you would be hit up for extra baggage - the staff might be "sloppy" about it but I doubt Sabre will be.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes ticket definitely shows DL flight. Thanks for the update. Rats, I thought I could get away with extra suitcases on the way back from USA after all the shopping!

I just thought since Im checking in with VA at LAX and they themselves allow 2 pieces they wouldnt enforce only 1 piece just because I'm on a Delta ticket.

ever heard of them being sloppy and allowing you on with 2?

It's not a question of being sloppy - the checkin system will go by the allowance on the eticket ie one piece & charge excess if you exceed the Delta allowance of one piece.