HA connecting flight bag charges (& MAJOR change to inter-line policy as of 6/1/12)
Apr 17, 2012, 6:51 pm
#32
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: KOA, ITO, LAX
Programs: HA Pualani Platinum, UA Premier Silver
Posts: 83
Dude: with apologies but "that dog don't hunt'. First, HA only flies to a few mainland locations and none in the midwest. Second, HA collects the bag fees now when anyone checking in to an HA flight connecting to a partner flight checks in (status customers excepted as always). Third, HA as the originating airline is still only responsible for the bags UNTIL the handoff to the next carrier, at which point that carrier is liable for the bags. So, what is the real reason for this stupid decision?
Second, if one checks in via a partner airlines that connects to a HA flight, HA doesn't get to collect any baggage fees. HA wants to be able to collect baggage fees for these flights, plain and simple. Some folks might find that it's increasing difficult to book a connecting flight on the same PNR that falls within the 4 hour "time limit" to avoid having it considered a "stopover."
Third, if the originating carrier is not HA and the bags are mishandled, HA gets to hear the brunt of the customer complaints, even if the originating carrier is liable. If the customer is responsible for the "handoff" of the baggage to HA, HA gets to hear complaints for their own mishandling of baggage, not another carrier's.
In 2010, HA raked in $54 million in from baggage fees, which amounted to almost half of its $110 million profit. Thus, the real reason for this "stupid" decision is money. Someone at HA realized that while they might alienate some folks with the change in baggage policies, they can milk customers for another several million dollars.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/2...l?id=123798699
One can simply avoid flying on HA, purchase a "Premier Club" membership for $249 and check up to 2 bags (if they don't have status), fly First Class, pay the baggage fees, or not check any bags. In any event, HA's going to try to extract revenue from passengers that have the temerity to check baggage one way or another.
Apr 17, 2012, 7:29 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD Skymiles DM MM, a+ rewards lifetime elite, AS, Marriott plat, PC plat, HH gold
Posts: 1,275
Frustration -It would be interesting to see the metrics behind this decision. It almost makes no sense. I guess it will save some gas and wear and tear on the carts from the interisland terminal at HNL. But, if even one connecting bag was on the same PNR they will still have to drive the tug over to the overseas terminal at HNL.
If they wanted to collect more fees they would not accept interline on the incoming flight and collect the baggage fees in Hawaii.
I would even be willing to pay an interline baggage fee rather than having to go back through the check-in and security process.
Wait until the first family that booked their 1:15 OGG (HA)-HNL (DL)-ATL connection finds out they will have $2000 in change fees at the DL counter when they miss the 45 minute check-in time and have to wait 2 days for the next available flight.
If they wanted to collect more fees they would not accept interline on the incoming flight and collect the baggage fees in Hawaii.
I would even be willing to pay an interline baggage fee rather than having to go back through the check-in and security process.
Wait until the first family that booked their 1:15 OGG (HA)-HNL (DL)-ATL connection finds out they will have $2000 in change fees at the DL counter when they miss the 45 minute check-in time and have to wait 2 days for the next available flight.
Apr 18, 2012, 4:35 am
#34
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 73
I have to say I am a bit angry about this.
I am flying at the end of May, Hawaiian to Honululu and then Island Air to Lana'i.
I priced up the costs of separate tickets and booking all through Hawaiian, and separate tickets were significantly cheaper, and I had included the inter-lining of bags in this.
Now, the additional cost of having to pay for my bags twice, as well as the hassle of collecting them in Honolulu and re-checking in, outweighs a large part of the saving I'd made.
I can't believe they are applying to this to past bookings made when the old Rules applied.
Shocking, and not a good first impression for an airline I've never flown before.
I am flying at the end of May, Hawaiian to Honululu and then Island Air to Lana'i.
I priced up the costs of separate tickets and booking all through Hawaiian, and separate tickets were significantly cheaper, and I had included the inter-lining of bags in this.
Now, the additional cost of having to pay for my bags twice, as well as the hassle of collecting them in Honolulu and re-checking in, outweighs a large part of the saving I'd made.
I can't believe they are applying to this to past bookings made when the old Rules applied.
Shocking, and not a good first impression for an airline I've never flown before.
Apr 18, 2012, 5:50 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: NW gold
Posts: 24
I have to say I am a bit angry about this.
I am flying at the end of May, Hawaiian to Honululu and then Island Air to Lana'i.
I priced up the costs of separate tickets and booking all through Hawaiian, and separate tickets were significantly cheaper, and I had included the inter-lining of bags in this.
Now, the additional cost of having to pay for my bags twice, as well as the hassle of collecting them in Honolulu and re-checking in, outweighs a large part of the saving I'd made.
I can't believe they are applying to this to past bookings made when the old Rules applied.
Shocking, and not a good first impression for an airline I've never flown before.
I am flying at the end of May, Hawaiian to Honululu and then Island Air to Lana'i.
I priced up the costs of separate tickets and booking all through Hawaiian, and separate tickets were significantly cheaper, and I had included the inter-lining of bags in this.
Now, the additional cost of having to pay for my bags twice, as well as the hassle of collecting them in Honolulu and re-checking in, outweighs a large part of the saving I'd made.
I can't believe they are applying to this to past bookings made when the old Rules applied.
Shocking, and not a good first impression for an airline I've never flown before.
Apr 18, 2012, 12:58 pm
#36
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 16
This subject is being discussed on the Trip Advisor forums (Hawaii) too. Three of us have emailed HA regarding this new policy and have all received the SAME answer:
>>>>"Aloha,
We appreciate your time to contact Hawaiian Airlines Web Support. In response to your inquiry, apparently in-order for us to interline your baggage with other airlines it should be in the same PNR or reservation.
If we can be of further assistance you can contact our General Reservations Department at 1-800-367-5320 open 24 hours daily.
Mahalo!
Jay
Hawaiian Airlines Web Support""<<<<
What a mess HNL is going to be, the security lines are going be horrible. Which brings up another subject. The AG inspection (back to mainland). You have your checked bags inspected at LIH, OGG etc. There is a sticker put on them. Now you need to re-check your bags at HNL, are you going to need to go thru AG inspection again? I would think so....
>>>>"Aloha,
We appreciate your time to contact Hawaiian Airlines Web Support. In response to your inquiry, apparently in-order for us to interline your baggage with other airlines it should be in the same PNR or reservation.
If we can be of further assistance you can contact our General Reservations Department at 1-800-367-5320 open 24 hours daily.
Mahalo!
Jay
Hawaiian Airlines Web Support""<<<<
What a mess HNL is going to be, the security lines are going be horrible. Which brings up another subject. The AG inspection (back to mainland). You have your checked bags inspected at LIH, OGG etc. There is a sticker put on them. Now you need to re-check your bags at HNL, are you going to need to go thru AG inspection again? I would think so....
Apr 18, 2012, 2:56 pm
#37
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 361
What a mess HNL is going to be, the security lines are going be horrible. Which brings up another subject. The AG inspection (back to mainland). You have your checked bags inspected at LIH, OGG etc. There is a sticker put on them. Now you need to re-check your bags at HNL, are you going to need to go thru AG inspection again? I would think so....
Apr 18, 2012, 3:29 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 16
No, since HA isn't going to interline your bag, it's only going to be tagged to HNL ---- interisland, thus no Ag inspection at origin. You would have to Ag clear after retrieving your bags and before check-in/bag drop in HNL, adding more hassle and priming you for another wonderful TSA experience to immediately follow.
Apr 18, 2012, 4:26 pm
#39
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
It surprises me that HA is going to do this. They could not have thought it all the way through.
Such a large percentage of these situations are people flying from Hawaii to mainland destinations HA does not serve.
They are already charging their baggage fee for that inter-island segment that connects to the mainland flight (and it's worth noting, mostly with HA "partners"), so there is no additional money to be grabbed here.
I suspect this will have the impact of reducing HA's revenue from where it is today. Initially people will have no idea of the policy change. They'll book and travel as they always have, then when they go to check in and check their bag all the way through on their 45 minute connection, they'll be told it can't be done. They'll have to claim their bag at OGG at 10:00 PM and fight the crowds back through security to make their connecting flight. Many will simply miss their redeye home; most of the rest will be absolutely frazzled racing to the gate.
That will make people so angry, they'll either forgo these outer-island excursions when they go to Hawaii (loss of revenue to HA), or they'll swear off HA forever as a result of the experience and their customer-unfriendly rules (also a loss revenue to HA). Then they'll tell all their friends on Facebook and Twitter about it.
I hope the cost savings of inter-lining bags, and loss of goodwill, is worth it.
Like US Airways trying to charge for water -- this is a step too far.
Such a large percentage of these situations are people flying from Hawaii to mainland destinations HA does not serve.
They are already charging their baggage fee for that inter-island segment that connects to the mainland flight (and it's worth noting, mostly with HA "partners"), so there is no additional money to be grabbed here.
I suspect this will have the impact of reducing HA's revenue from where it is today. Initially people will have no idea of the policy change. They'll book and travel as they always have, then when they go to check in and check their bag all the way through on their 45 minute connection, they'll be told it can't be done. They'll have to claim their bag at OGG at 10:00 PM and fight the crowds back through security to make their connecting flight. Many will simply miss their redeye home; most of the rest will be absolutely frazzled racing to the gate.
That will make people so angry, they'll either forgo these outer-island excursions when they go to Hawaii (loss of revenue to HA), or they'll swear off HA forever as a result of the experience and their customer-unfriendly rules (also a loss revenue to HA). Then they'll tell all their friends on Facebook and Twitter about it.
I hope the cost savings of inter-lining bags, and loss of goodwill, is worth it.
Like US Airways trying to charge for water -- this is a step too far.
Apr 18, 2012, 6:20 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Here Today, There Tomorrow
Programs: 2.96MM DL DM, Hyatt Globalist, AA Plat Pro, UA Silver, HH Lifetime Diamond, Marriott TE
Posts: 1,318
Hmm. HA flies to LAX, LAS, SEA, SAN, SFO, OAK, SJC, SMF, PDX, PHX, and soon JFK. That's eleven mainland locations, so far. Depending on how the JFK/HNL flight does, ORD might be the next mainland airport to receive HA flights.
And all those mentioned are West Coast with exception of soon to start DC. Chicago is nothing more than a rumor, so I stand by my comment.
Second, if one checks in via a partner airlines that connects to a HA flight, HA doesn't get to collect any baggage fees. HA wants to be able to collect baggage fees for these flights, plain and simple. Some folks might find that it's increasing difficult to book a connecting flight on the same PNR that falls within the 4 hour "time limit" to avoid having it considered a "stopover." :roll eyes:
Huh? We're talking about HA being the originating inter island airline passing the bags off to a partner airline for a mainland flight after HA has collected it's pound of flesh. So, again, your comment makes no sense.
Third, if the originating carrier is not HA and the bags are mishandled, HA gets to hear the brunt of the customer complaints, even if the originating carrier is liable. If the customer is responsible for the "handoff" of the baggage to HA, HA gets to hear complaints for their own mishandling of baggage, not another carrier's.
Only thing I can see here is if Go or Island Air was the originating interisland carrier. That sort of makes sense if you want to hamstring your local competition.
In 2010, HA raked in $54 million in from baggage fees, which amounted to almost half of its $110 million profit. Thus, the real reason for this "stupid" decision is money. Someone at HA realized that while they might alienate some folks with the change in baggage policies, they can milk customers for another several million dollars.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/2...l?id=123798699
One can simply avoid flying on HA, purchase a "Premier Club" membership for $249 and check up to 2 bags (if they don't have status), fly First Class, pay the baggage fees, or not check any bags. In any event, HA's going to try to extract revenue from passengers that have the temerity to check baggage one way or another.
And all those mentioned are West Coast with exception of soon to start DC. Chicago is nothing more than a rumor, so I stand by my comment.
Second, if one checks in via a partner airlines that connects to a HA flight, HA doesn't get to collect any baggage fees. HA wants to be able to collect baggage fees for these flights, plain and simple. Some folks might find that it's increasing difficult to book a connecting flight on the same PNR that falls within the 4 hour "time limit" to avoid having it considered a "stopover." :roll eyes:
Huh? We're talking about HA being the originating inter island airline passing the bags off to a partner airline for a mainland flight after HA has collected it's pound of flesh. So, again, your comment makes no sense.
Third, if the originating carrier is not HA and the bags are mishandled, HA gets to hear the brunt of the customer complaints, even if the originating carrier is liable. If the customer is responsible for the "handoff" of the baggage to HA, HA gets to hear complaints for their own mishandling of baggage, not another carrier's.
Only thing I can see here is if Go or Island Air was the originating interisland carrier. That sort of makes sense if you want to hamstring your local competition.
In 2010, HA raked in $54 million in from baggage fees, which amounted to almost half of its $110 million profit. Thus, the real reason for this "stupid" decision is money. Someone at HA realized that while they might alienate some folks with the change in baggage policies, they can milk customers for another several million dollars.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/2...l?id=123798699
One can simply avoid flying on HA, purchase a "Premier Club" membership for $249 and check up to 2 bags (if they don't have status), fly First Class, pay the baggage fees, or not check any bags. In any event, HA's going to try to extract revenue from passengers that have the temerity to check baggage one way or another.
Apr 19, 2012, 6:47 am
#44
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here today gone tomorrow
Programs: *G, ow Saph
Posts: 2,865
Is HA able to change the policy retroactively? I would think one would have a good case for a cancellation of the ticket (and/or chargeback) based on the service that was promised as part of the ticket not being provided.
I'm livid with this change given that I have a short connection in HNL to an airline that doesn't codeshare with HA, and buying the segment as part of the itinerary wasn't even a remote possibility. It will get ugly if this is enforced at checkin...
I'm livid with this change given that I have a short connection in HNL to an airline that doesn't codeshare with HA, and buying the segment as part of the itinerary wasn't even a remote possibility. It will get ugly if this is enforced at checkin...
Apr 19, 2012, 9:32 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: 40.6413° N, 73.7781° W
Programs: moka Lifetime
Posts: 142
+1
My idea is to book a ticket now before the 1st via a website that offers courtesy cancellations i.e. Orbitz, then call HA and say I booked the ticket prior to the 1st and had no idea. A supervisor said that they may be able to put notes on the reservation to make an exception. Your thoughts?
Edit: Didn't work. Supervisor said the May 1 wording was on the website since Jan 24th. Screw em', just gonna book a flight directly through UA to the mainland instead of the red-eye.
My idea is to book a ticket now before the 1st via a website that offers courtesy cancellations i.e. Orbitz, then call HA and say I booked the ticket prior to the 1st and had no idea. A supervisor said that they may be able to put notes on the reservation to make an exception. Your thoughts?
Edit: Didn't work. Supervisor said the May 1 wording was on the website since Jan 24th. Screw em', just gonna book a flight directly through UA to the mainland instead of the red-eye.
Last edited by moka; Apr 19, 2012 at 10:16 am