Jul 8, 2016, 2:22 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
UPDATED FOR 15 NOVEMBER 2016: BA will no longer accept interlining on BA-BA separate tickets / PNRs.
From 1 June 2016, the oneworld policy on accepting customers travelling on separate tickets was changed. BA, along with some other oneworld partners, has implemented this change in policy which is as follows:
Only those customers that have separate tickets issued in the same PNR/booking will be accepted for through check-in. Furthermore all sectors must be BA / oneworld / other carrier, but BA to/fron Vueling is specifically NOT allowed even on the same ticket. Aer Lingus is not specified but some be covered by "other carrier".
A PNR is a wrapper, and it can have several tickets, and other items such as hotels, in one PNR, so long as it was built that way at the time of purchase. Another (new) ticket can be inserted into an existing PNR after purchase, it is easiest to do this at a BA airport, and there is a small fee for doing this (Ł15 in the UK). However you cannot merge 2 existing PNRs into one PNR - once a reservation has reached ticketed status it can't be moved. If you have 2 PNRs you need to allow time to collect and re-check any bags at the transfer airport.
There is one exception: BA to BA transfers, on 2 PNRs, are allowed. See post 643 for details.
___
From post 947. Select "do not have IATA number"
http://www.speedbirdclub.com/ch/reservations-ticketing/rulesregulations/separatetickets/
From 1 June 2016, the oneworld policy on accepting customers travelling on separate tickets was changed. BA, along with some other oneworld partners, has implemented this change in policy which is as follows:
Only those customers that have separate tickets issued in the same PNR/booking will be accepted for through check-in. Furthermore all sectors must be BA / oneworld / other carrier, but BA to/fron Vueling is specifically NOT allowed even on the same ticket. Aer Lingus is not specified but some be covered by "other carrier".
A PNR is a wrapper, and it can have several tickets, and other items such as hotels, in one PNR, so long as it was built that way at the time of purchase. Another (new) ticket can be inserted into an existing PNR after purchase, it is easiest to do this at a BA airport, and there is a small fee for doing this (Ł15 in the UK). However you cannot merge 2 existing PNRs into one PNR - once a reservation has reached ticketed status it can't be moved. If you have 2 PNRs you need to allow time to collect and re-check any bags at the transfer airport.
___
From post 947. Select "do not have IATA number"
http://www.speedbirdclub.com/ch/reservations-ticketing/rulesregulations/separatetickets/
BA no longer through checking baggage with separate tickets
Jul 8, 2016, 6:28 am
#631
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
The biggest beef I have with this change is that it's been brought in by stealth.
A very common practice across major airlines has just been withdrawn by BA without notice.
I would expect people to still get caught out on this in a year or two from now.
I found someone on Twitter the other day who's claiming she bought a BA ticket to 'connect' with her QF flight because she thought oneworld practice would cover her baggage getting checked through. She was quite surprised to find otherwise.
A very common practice across major airlines has just been withdrawn by BA without notice.
I would expect people to still get caught out on this in a year or two from now.
I found someone on Twitter the other day who's claiming she bought a BA ticket to 'connect' with her QF flight because she thought oneworld practice would cover her baggage getting checked through. She was quite surprised to find otherwise.
Jul 8, 2016, 6:40 am
#632
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Fair enough and you are of course correct.
But there is always some chance of arrangements changing, whether within or outside of your control. That chance might vary, but its always greater than zero!
Which leaves the custom and practice piece. People do get annoyed when something is taken away for nothing in return. And that is happening rather a lot as BA hurtles down the LoCo/unbundling slide where every task/process is a transaction.
The more complex and nuanced a pricing model gets, the more opportunities exist to arbitrage it. That is unavoidable. You could take the view that all is fair in love and war, and if people are trying to play BA at their own game they get what they deserve, but there will always be collateral damage to those who weren't trying to game the system, and even for those that were, they have build up a long experience of how they expect to be treated by BA and any change to this is a rude awakening.
All I hope is that it finally puts to bed the inherent anti-Ryanair snobbishness that used to be endemic around here. They are pretty much two peas in a pod at the minute (although Ryanair do manage to get places on time more frequently).
But there is always some chance of arrangements changing, whether within or outside of your control. That chance might vary, but its always greater than zero!
Which leaves the custom and practice piece. People do get annoyed when something is taken away for nothing in return. And that is happening rather a lot as BA hurtles down the LoCo/unbundling slide where every task/process is a transaction.
The more complex and nuanced a pricing model gets, the more opportunities exist to arbitrage it. That is unavoidable. You could take the view that all is fair in love and war, and if people are trying to play BA at their own game they get what they deserve, but there will always be collateral damage to those who weren't trying to game the system, and even for those that were, they have build up a long experience of how they expect to be treated by BA and any change to this is a rude awakening.
All I hope is that it finally puts to bed the inherent anti-Ryanair snobbishness that used to be endemic around here. They are pretty much two peas in a pod at the minute (although Ryanair do manage to get places on time more frequently).
I agree the 'custom and practice' issue is a difficult one, but then again eventually everything changes somehow.
But I think the real point is if you took out those deliberately trying to 'game the system' as you put it, the numbers involved are actually miniscule. Presumably BA would consider that as acceptable collateral damage in the quest to crack down on ex-EU type activity.
Jul 8, 2016, 7:44 am
#633
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BA Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 3
Just checked in at GLA. Asked about new interlining policy and apparently they've made a change and now allow BA-BA. Didn't help me today as I'm connecting to AY.. At least I don't have to take the T5-T3 bus 
Jul 8, 2016, 8:09 am
#634
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
), so this is a promising development ^Welcome to FT raaq - I'm sure one of our esteemed Ambassadors will be along soon to extend the welcome also. Edit - I see you joined some time ago, but this is your first post, so welcome from the shadows.
Jul 8, 2016, 8:18 am
#635
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,200
Anyway...I was always under the impression there was no guarantee of having bags through checked on separate tickets unless both sectors were on BA. Similarly when flying IB-IB on separate tickets I always make sure there is enough connection time at MAD to collect and re-check them in if I have to although I've not been refused through checked bags yet.
Jul 8, 2016, 8:39 am
#636
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,891
Especially when it works out cheaper which lets face it is the usual reason....it is for me.
Anyway...I was always under the impression there was no guarantee of having bags through checked on separate tickets unless both sectors were on BA. Similarly when flying IB-IB on separate tickets I always make sure there is enough connection time at MAD to collect and re-check them in if I have to although I've not been refused through checked bags yet.
Anyway...I was always under the impression there was no guarantee of having bags through checked on separate tickets unless both sectors were on BA. Similarly when flying IB-IB on separate tickets I always make sure there is enough connection time at MAD to collect and re-check them in if I have to although I've not been refused through checked bags yet.
Jul 8, 2016, 8:48 am
#637
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,200
Jul 8, 2016, 9:51 am
#638
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,959
Excellent news - the team in GLA are usually up-to-speed with policy developments (it used to be my home airport, maybe I have some rose tinted specs ), so this is a promising development ^
Welcome to FT raaq - I'm sure one of our esteemed Ambassadors will be along soon to extend the welcome also. Edit - I see you joined some time ago, but this is your first post, so welcome from the shadows.
), so this is a promising development ^Welcome to FT raaq - I'm sure one of our esteemed Ambassadors will be along soon to extend the welcome also. Edit - I see you joined some time ago, but this is your first post, so welcome from the shadows.
Jul 8, 2016, 9:55 am
#639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Jul 8, 2016, 10:35 am
#640
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,552
Buying a non changeable/non refundable ticket when plans may change and then buying another ticket can still be done, just will be treated as exactly what it is - a separate unrelated journey
Jul 8, 2016, 12:21 pm
#641
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,737
I'm not overly surprised that they modified this, indeed I said so upthread, whatever the FLY issues are with unrelated PNRs, BA to BA is readily connectable, so long as the passenger has the second PNR handy.
Jul 8, 2016, 12:53 pm
#642
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: DL-Silver; BA-Bronze
Posts: 1,162
I am thankful for all the updates in this thread. I booked 5 IAD-LHR-IAD cash tickets on BA in J for August last year for the family. We decided we wanted to add a side trip to Rome so I booked separate tickets LHR-FCO return. We fly from FCO on the same day as our LHR-IAD departure and currently have an hour and 45 min connection at LHR. Flights arrive and depart from terminal 3 so I wasn't initially worried about making the connection (assuming our bags could get checked through which was policy at the time of booking).
I've been monitoring this thread hoping the policy would get changed to allow for BA-BA interlining. Otherwise, it's going to cost me about $400 to change flights to the night before along with hotel rooms.
I am assuming it would be crazy to actually try and collect bags and recheck with only 1:45 at LHR if this becomes necessary?
Again, many thanks for all the updates and data points!
I've been monitoring this thread hoping the policy would get changed to allow for BA-BA interlining. Otherwise, it's going to cost me about $400 to change flights to the night before along with hotel rooms.
I am assuming it would be crazy to actually try and collect bags and recheck with only 1:45 at LHR if this becomes necessary?
Again, many thanks for all the updates and data points!
Jul 8, 2016, 2:12 pm
#643
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,737
I have had it confirmed via direct sources that BA to BA checked baggage transfers, on 2 PNRs (and indeed 1 PNR) are now being allowed.
A few caveats:
- this has only just been decided, some locations will not be aware of it.
- it is theoretically at Airport Manager discretion (Airport Manager is the current job title for station managers, typically the only BA employed ground staff employee).
- the relevant online guidance within FLY has already been amended to reflect this.
- the note I saw suggested it wasn't necessarily a permanent move, but I may be reading too much into the choice of wording.
- I doubt that this can apply from BA metal to BA codeshare baggage transfers; it may well apply on BA codeshare to BA metal, but would depend on the operating carrier / airport.
- as with all BA flights involving 2 PNRs, you cannot assume that flights are protected. If you miss the second flight due to the first being late, even if BA was at fault, you cannot assume that you will be rebooked. However unofficially BA may well assist at the airport (not via the Contact Centres). You will not get EC261 Right of Care benefits either. This aspect has not changed recently.
I have got a list of places where this policy has already been implemented, which includes a number of key airports, but that list does not yet include the two big ones, LGW and LHR - purely due to lack of data. It is definitely being allowed through these airports starting from elsewhere (and works physically), I'm referring here to bags that start their trips at these 2 hubs. It would be good if anyone checking in at these airports can double check via casual conversations. My guess is that LGW would have no problem implementing this, and LHR's difficulty will only be due to the pace of training.
A few caveats:
- this has only just been decided, some locations will not be aware of it.
- it is theoretically at Airport Manager discretion (Airport Manager is the current job title for station managers, typically the only BA employed ground staff employee).
- the relevant online guidance within FLY has already been amended to reflect this.
- the note I saw suggested it wasn't necessarily a permanent move, but I may be reading too much into the choice of wording.
- I doubt that this can apply from BA metal to BA codeshare baggage transfers; it may well apply on BA codeshare to BA metal, but would depend on the operating carrier / airport.
- as with all BA flights involving 2 PNRs, you cannot assume that flights are protected. If you miss the second flight due to the first being late, even if BA was at fault, you cannot assume that you will be rebooked. However unofficially BA may well assist at the airport (not via the Contact Centres). You will not get EC261 Right of Care benefits either. This aspect has not changed recently.
I have got a list of places where this policy has already been implemented, which includes a number of key airports, but that list does not yet include the two big ones, LGW and LHR - purely due to lack of data. It is definitely being allowed through these airports starting from elsewhere (and works physically), I'm referring here to bags that start their trips at these 2 hubs. It would be good if anyone checking in at these airports can double check via casual conversations. My guess is that LGW would have no problem implementing this, and LHR's difficulty will only be due to the pace of training.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Jul 8, 2016 at 4:01 pm
Jul 8, 2016, 5:09 pm
#645
formerly mattking2000
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: DXB
Programs: BA|AC|AZ|SPG|H|FPC
Posts: 1,184
I have had it confirmed via direct sources that BA to BA checked baggage transfers, on 2 PNRs (and indeed 1 PNR) are now being allowed.
A few caveats:
- this has only just been decided, some locations will not be aware of it.
- it is theoretically at Airport Manager discretion (Airport Manager is the current job title for station managers, typically the only BA employed ground staff employee).
- the relevant online guidance within FLY has already been amended to reflect this.
- the note I saw suggested it wasn't necessarily a permanent move, but I may be reading too much into the choice of wording.
- I doubt that this can apply from BA metal to BA codeshare baggage transfers; it may well apply on BA codeshare to BA metal, but would depend on the operating carrier / airport.
- as with all BA flights involving 2 PNRs, you cannot assume that flights are protected. If you miss the second flight due to the first being late, even if BA was at fault, you cannot assume that you will be rebooked. However unofficially BA may well assist at the airport (not via the Contact Centres). You will not get EC261 Right of Care benefits either. This aspect has not changed recently.
I have got a list of places where this policy has already been implemented, which includes a number of key airports, but that list does not yet include the two big ones, LGW and LHR - purely due to lack of data. It is definitely being allowed through these airports starting from elsewhere (and works physically), I'm referring here to bags that start their trips at these 2 hubs. It would be good if anyone checking in at these airports can double check via casual conversations. My guess is that LGW would have no problem implementing this, and LHR's difficulty will only be due to the pace of training.
A few caveats:
- this has only just been decided, some locations will not be aware of it.
- it is theoretically at Airport Manager discretion (Airport Manager is the current job title for station managers, typically the only BA employed ground staff employee).
- the relevant online guidance within FLY has already been amended to reflect this.
- the note I saw suggested it wasn't necessarily a permanent move, but I may be reading too much into the choice of wording.
- I doubt that this can apply from BA metal to BA codeshare baggage transfers; it may well apply on BA codeshare to BA metal, but would depend on the operating carrier / airport.
- as with all BA flights involving 2 PNRs, you cannot assume that flights are protected. If you miss the second flight due to the first being late, even if BA was at fault, you cannot assume that you will be rebooked. However unofficially BA may well assist at the airport (not via the Contact Centres). You will not get EC261 Right of Care benefits either. This aspect has not changed recently.
I have got a list of places where this policy has already been implemented, which includes a number of key airports, but that list does not yet include the two big ones, LGW and LHR - purely due to lack of data. It is definitely being allowed through these airports starting from elsewhere (and works physically), I'm referring here to bags that start their trips at these 2 hubs. It would be good if anyone checking in at these airports can double check via casual conversations. My guess is that LGW would have no problem implementing this, and LHR's difficulty will only be due to the pace of training.
I will be checking luggage in next Wednesday originating LHR, will try to bring it up as a hypothetical.
I'm curious though, under what circumstances would luggage originate in LHR for two BA-BA trips on one PNR? The only situations I can envision are:
1. Back to back/turnarounds or LHR-xxx-LGW/LCY to get around minimum stay requirements
2. Second PNR for a tag flight [e.g., Caribbean routes]
3. ?