UA checked baggage fee on UA-operated Air Canada flights
In Oct 2008, I flew YVR-ORD-IAH and returned ORD-YVR. When I checked in at the UA counter on my return flight to YVR, the agent didn't charge fee a checked baggage fee from which I assumed then (wrongly?) that it was because I booked/paid for the tickets through Air Canada.
This Dec 08/Jan 09, I made another trip RT YVR-ORD. I was assessed a checked baggage fee by the UA agent on my return flight. I told the agent that I booked my flights on Air Canada and that I didn't have to pay baggage fees the last time I checked in less than 3 months ago. The UA agent said she doesn't know why I wasn't charge a baggage fee last Oct but it was the rule.
I'm confused now. So was the first trip a fluke? I should have been charged a baggage fee on the first trip? I asked a friend who was a former UA agent and he said that the UA agent on the second trip (Jan 09) shouldn't have assessed me a baggage fee. He also said I should file for refund from Air Canada.
In Oct 2008, I flew YVR-ORD-IAH and returned ORD-YVR. When I checked in at the UA counter on my return flight to YVR, the agent didn't charge fee a checked baggage fee from which I assumed then (wrongly?) that it was because I booked/paid for the tickets through Air Canada.
This Dec 08/Jan 09, I made another trip RT YVR-ORD. I was assessed a checked baggage fee by the UA agent on my return flight. I told the agent that I booked my flights on Air Canada and that I didn't have to pay baggage fees the last time I checked in less than 3 months ago. The UA agent said she doesn't know why I wasn't charge a baggage fee last Oct but it was the rule.
I'm confused now. So was the first trip a fluke? I should have been charged a baggage fee on the first trip? I asked a friend who was a former UA agent and he said that the UA agent on the second trip (Jan 09) shouldn't have assessed me a baggage fee. He also said I should file for refund from Air Canada.
Generally you pay (or not pay) the checked bag fees of the airline operating the first flight of your itinerary, regardless of who you purchased the ticket from. If your flight was a codeshare flight purchased from Air Canada but operated by United, you can expect United to charge you, regardless of what Air Canada's website told you at the time of booking.
As for why you were not charged earlier...it may depend on when you purchased the ticket. Or someone simply goofed in your favor.
I checked UA's baggage fees for the Oct trip (http://www.united.com/page/article/0...e=RelatedLinks). There should have been a baggage fee and when there wasn't, I just thought that Air Canada's fees already included everything.
If you try to select AC codeshares on aircanada.com (operated by United), you get this message when trying to continue to see the fare summary:
Quote:
Baggage Policy Notice
You have selected flights AC5141, AC5142: These flights are codeshare flights with United/United Express. A fee for checked bags is charged by United Airlines for codeshare flights it operates between Canada and the U.S. If your itinerary includes a connecting flight, the fee applies only if your first flight is operated by United/United Express.
By clicking on the 'I ACCEPT, CONTINUE' button, you are confirming that you have read the above notice and wish to proceed with the booking process.
If you try to select AC codeshares on aircanada.com (operated by United), you get this message when trying to continue to see the fare summary:
Cheers,
bawm
This was a recent addition and was probably not there when the OP booked his flight. They added this because many people started getting ticked off at being charged the fee when AC was advertising no checked baggage fees.
This was a recent addition and was probably not there when the OP booked his flight. They added this because many people started getting ticked off at being charged the fee when AC was advertising no checked baggage fees.
I suspect there may be issues related to tariffs, about code-share. I would start be looking at whether AC has amended their tariffs, and what the tariffs say about code-shares.
Baggage charges are based on the policy of the carrier operating the first flight. Doesn't matter who's ticket stock or flight number it is booked on. It's who is actually operating the first segment. You probably got lucky in not being charged the first time by UA, although, depending on when you actually purchased the ticket, the fee may not have been charged because of the way the fee was initially grandfathered in. Unless, of course, you are elite with any star alliance member, where you should not be charged a baggage fee on UA.
The message about baggage on codeshare flights is definitely new, think it started in about December. I noticed it when I booked a codeshare, and it is definitely good to have it. However, AC should be careful about the language, it should say "A fee for checked baggage may be charged by United Airlines..." to recognize that elites, and first class passengers, aren't charged.
Under CTA codeshare rules, the marketing carrier is the responsible party (their tariffs, liability, etc). However, the tariffs do and should contain language that address who's fees apply, the marketing or operating carrier. AC has rectified this now but initially didn't do so when United introduced baggage fees.
The rationale proposed by airlines when codesharing was introduced and the regulatory environment was supposed to make codesharing transparent to the passenger (an AC-flight # on UA metal is an AC customer relationship). But we wall know that airlines and passengers both get confused when it comes to codeshare, particularly when domestic, transborder and international codeshares can all have different regulatory requirements.
This was a recent addition and was probably not there when the OP booked his flight.
That's right. I see that pop-up message that I'm booking another Canada-US flight. It wasn't there last October. They also have that baggage fee info now even on the Select Flights page.
Quote:
They added this because many people started getting ticked off at being charged the fee when AC was advertising no checked baggage fees
I suspected as much. I also didn't even know what a codeshare flight was before I started going to flyertalk (Thank you! I am learning a lot.). I wish AC operated the flights back to Calgary/Vancouver themselves. Their planes are so much better than SKyWest's (in-flight movies).
Of course, its also interesting to note that you can still choose to deduct $3 off the ticket price for not checking luggage, even when all segments are operated by UA. Anyonehave any experiences trying to check bags when having selected this? How could UA tell this was selected, and would anyone at UA even know how to check this?
