I need to travel to Barcelona. Ticketing is a Thai Business class Ticket AKL-BKK-ZRH with a return MUC-BKK_AKL and a Swiss airways economy ticket ZRH-BCN and BCN-MUC. Both are Star alliance.
The travel agent says a single ticket can't be issued and it won't be possible to check bags in AKL-BCN and BCN-AKL.
It seems an absurdity to have to run around through customs and security checking in bags at transit stops.
Can this be right, do I need a new travel agent or a new airline alliance?:(
Any advice appreciated? Ticketing is due tomorrow.
dsquared37
Apr 29, 12, 10:42 pm
I'm assuming that the 'agent' is the one selling the ticket.
In practice there should be no problem having the bag sent through to BCN. YMMV.
Kiwi_FF
Apr 29, 12, 10:53 pm
Yes local travel agent, who has not been the most helpful!
TPJ
Apr 29, 12, 11:31 pm
I replied to this query on the M&M forum (and IIRC cross-posting is not permitted on FT).
Guy Betsy
Apr 30, 12, 1:04 am
I need to travel to Barcelona. Ticketing is a Thai Business class Ticket AKL-BKK-ZRH with a return MUC-BKK_AKL and a Swiss airways economy ticket ZRH-BCN and BCN-MUC. Both are Star alliance.
The travel agent says a single ticket can't be issued and it won't be possible to check bags in AKL-BCN and BCN-AKL.
It seems an absurdity to have to run around through customs and security checking in bags at transit stops.
Can this be right, do I need a new travel agent or a new airline alliance?:(
Any advice appreciated? Ticketing is due tomorrow.
You need a new honest and good travel agent who has personally travelled outside NZ and on the carriers he sells!
You can definitely thru check your bags to final destination as long as same day or within 23 hour connection. Just show your onward itinerary to the TG check in agent!
Kiwi_FF
Apr 30, 12, 2:10 am
Thanks for advice wasn't sure which to post in as it related to both.
Kiwi_FF
Apr 30, 12, 3:49 pm
Well so much for common sense prevailing, see below. I'm now going to be equally bloody minded and find an alternative!
From: reservations
Sent: Tuesday, 1 May 2012 10:20 a.m.
To:
Subject: baggage
Hi
We have received the reply from our supervisor at AKL airport, sorry, unfortunately, we can no longer tag bags for onward flights on separate tickets due to recent policy change from our head office. The only possible way is issue with the whole itinerary on the same ticket, but this is not applicable for our special fare as add-on sectors within Europe is not permitted.
Elliot
Reservations
Thai Airways International| Auckland, New Zealand
dsquared37
Apr 30, 12, 7:21 pm
The first two times I inquired about doing this very thing the UA desk told me, using several different examples, why it could not be done.
Every time I've shown up at an airport (and this includes checking in with UA) it's been accomplished without hassle.
Again, YMMV.
Well so much for common sense prevailing, see below. I'm now going to be equally bloody minded and find an alternative!
From: reservations
Sent: Tuesday, 1 May 2012 10:20 a.m.
To:
Subject: baggage
Hi
We have received the reply from our supervisor at AKL airport, sorry, unfortunately, we can no longer tag bags for onward flights on separate tickets due to recent policy change from our head office. The only possible way is issue with the whole itinerary on the same ticket, but this is not applicable for our special fare as add-on sectors within Europe is not permitted.
Elliot
Reservations
Thai Airways International| Auckland, New Zealand
BKKROP
Apr 30, 12, 9:40 pm
Well so much for common sense prevailing, see below. I'm now going to be equally bloody minded and find an alternative!
Keep a cool head, I imagine you are on a 30 day expiry Business class ticket, and if you are thinking of changing airlines, I can save you the hassle and advise you will not find the same price yet if you are bloody minded, you will do it regardless of the cost. What you are being advised is how things work if you have two tickets, but, when you check in, have both tickets stapled together, tell the checkin counter to send the luggage through to your final destination. You are aware you could have flown to MAD.
hgp
Apr 30, 12, 10:04 pm
Well so much for common sense prevailing, see below. I'm now going to be equally bloody minded and find an alternative!
As others have said, get to the airport and see what can be done. On many occasions I've checked luggage right the way through eventhough I was travelling on two tickets.
In fact, now I think about it, on airlines which interline (ie. excluding most LCCs), I've ALWAYS been able to check luggage through across multiple tickets when requested. Given all your travel is on *A, this should be feasible.
Just one warning. The more connections, the greater the chance something will happen to your luggage. As many on here will tell you, there are two types of luggage - carry-on and lost ;) Accordingly, you may prefer to check your luggage through to X, and then recheck from X to Y. Yes, it's a bit of a hassle, but not as much as losing your luggage. I would make this decision based on the carriers involved, connection times and the airport in question.
YMMV, very true in this case!
Happy travels.
dsquared37
Apr 30, 12, 11:29 pm
In fact, now I think about it, on airlines which interline (ie. excluding most LCCs), I've ALWAYS been able to check luggage through across multiple tickets when requested. Given all your travel is on *A, this should be feasible.
Agreed. As i mentioned earlier, I've been up against the supposed rules that it couldn't be done when calling to inquire.
I then ceased inquiring because in practice it was being handled at the checkin desk and often with absolutely no hassles at all... excepting the two tickets with 8 segments, but that was done with a little hassle. ;)
Kiwi_FF
May 1, 12, 12:53 am
So at this late stage the alternatives (LH and Swiss) can't confirm all sectors.
So when I travel I will dress in a manner that is very, very comfortable for me. I am sure its going to be a very entertaining series of flights and I will be able to have just as much fun with them as they are having with me knowingly making my life difficult for no sensible reason!
And if there are any service issues on their part whatsoever they should not expect a reasonable response from me. Goodwill, zip, nada!
Bring it on! Bad attitude on my part, hell yes! Very happy to reciprocate!
anaidross
May 1, 12, 2:48 am
I would also just try it in the airport. I never had any trouble checking my luggage through on separate tickets (even from * A members to non * A member).
If it is not possible, just simply recheck the luggages in ZRH and MUC. Based on the itinerary OP has provided, there is more than enough time for that.
Kiwi_FF
May 28, 12, 9:39 pm
So tagging to BCN refused at AKL to me and a joining colleague who also tried from Wellington.
So we all had to go through security and recheck in ZRH.
Return flight with a lufthansa check in agent in BCN no problem checked through.
Next trip on Thai? don't think so. Great to have a choice!
Star Alliance makes travel easier, yeah right.
*A Flyer
May 28, 12, 9:43 pm
So tagging to BCN refused at AKL to me and a joining colleague who also tried from Wellington.
So we all had to go through security and recheck in ZRH.
Return flight with a lufthansa check in agent in BCN no problem checked through.
Next trip on Thai? don't think so. Great to have a choice!
Star Alliance makes travel easier, yeah right.
What class were you travelling in and what was the connection time in ZRH? Also, is Thai staffed by Air NZ staff at AKL? NZ famously refused through check for basically everyone so I wonder if that is leading to some of this?
holtju2
May 29, 12, 12:04 am
Star Alliance makes travel easier, yeah right.
This is the "risk" that you have to accept when you use separate tickets. Obviously, one of the fares used was not combinable with other fares that resulted separate tickets to be issued.
*A Flyer
Jun 25, 12, 11:16 pm
Another data point for this. TG at SYD was happy to through check SYD-BKK-ZRH-MUC with TG, LX and LH and the ZRH-MUC on separate ticket. In fact, there were no questions because I had TG reservations add the ZRH-MUC as a "silent" sector in the TG PNR.
markus_see
Jun 26, 12, 2:14 am
Aviation people especially airport regulators, aviation regulators and to certain extent airlines just like to complicate things. Either to proof they are more superior or that they are actually DOING something in their profession. I know most people here are aviation lovers, but, air transportation is merely just another mode of transportation, to move someone from point A to B. There are so many unnecessary complications they like to impose on this mode of transportation. No wonder most are making losses.
As for your case; its obviously can be done easily from the airline part. A matter of whether they are willing to help make things simpler for other people. I wont be surprise if they come up with excuses like "oh, we cant due to SECURITY reason".
RedChili
Jun 26, 12, 4:30 am
So we all had to go through security and recheck in ZRH.
Next trip on Thai? don't think so. Great to have a choice!
Star Alliance makes travel easier, yeah right.
Every single passenger doing a transfer in ZRH (or any airport that follows EU security regulations) with a flight from BKK (or any airport that does not follow EU security regulations) will have to go through security in ZRH. So, if you're flying from New Zealand to Spain via ZRH, you will have to go through security in ZRH no matter what Thai or Star Alliance or Oneworld or Skyteam or Darth Vader do.
Creole Spirit
Jun 26, 12, 5:08 am
Every single passenger doing a transfer in ZRH (or any airport that follows EU security regulations) with a flight from BKK (or any airport that does not follow EU security regulations) will have to go through security in ZRH. So, if you're flying from New Zealand to Spain via ZRH, you will have to go through security in ZRH no matter what Thai or Star Alliance or Oneworld or Skyteam or Darth Vader do.
this applies to all airports within "Schengen"-Europe and Switzerland has adopted this policy for some years as well: whenever you arrive from an airport "outside Schengen" you will have not only to proceed immigrations but also another security check for your "domestic destination within Schengen countries". It's something far beyond the responsibility of any airline or any single airport authority but affects all passengers in all transit points within Schengen-Europe!