HA connecting flight bag charges (& MAJOR change to inter-line policy as of 6/1/12)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Honolulu, HI
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HA connecting flight bag charges (& MAJOR change to inter-line policy as of 6/1/12)
Flying HNL-OGG-DEN. HNL-OGG in Hawaiian Economy. OGG-DEN in United First. I'm trying to check two bags, but the system wants to charge me for them ($34).
I thought, according to IATA rules, the longer flight dictates the rules (if it crosses a region like Asia/Pacific to North America), hence I should not be charged.
On the other hand, I found this in the Hawaiian website, which clearly says I must pay:
"For reservations connecting with other airlines, the baggage fees and rules of the first marketing carrier applies throughout the itinerary. For example, if you are traveling roundtrip from Honolulu, Hawaii to Austin, Texas, and connecting from Hawaiian Airlines to United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines baggage fees and rules would apply both ways."
http://help.hawaiianair.com/app/answ...1922#codeshare
Am I not interpreting correctly IATA rules?
I thought, according to IATA rules, the longer flight dictates the rules (if it crosses a region like Asia/Pacific to North America), hence I should not be charged.
On the other hand, I found this in the Hawaiian website, which clearly says I must pay:
"For reservations connecting with other airlines, the baggage fees and rules of the first marketing carrier applies throughout the itinerary. For example, if you are traveling roundtrip from Honolulu, Hawaii to Austin, Texas, and connecting from Hawaiian Airlines to United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines baggage fees and rules would apply both ways."
http://help.hawaiianair.com/app/answ...1922#codeshare
Am I not interpreting correctly IATA rules?
Last edited by cblaisd; May 1, 2012 at 1:13 pm Reason: 1) Edited title to better signal the inter-line bag change policy. 2) Updated to 6/1 Thanks AZTravels the World
#2
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
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That be how Hawaiian rolls.
Here's a thread in the US forum which deals with this very issue. In a nutshell, they charge for your situation. I've been in the same situation, albeit with US instead of UA, and I pay for the bag on the inter-island segment.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...-pay-bags.html
Here is the Hawaiian page which specifically addresses this issue: http://help.hawaiianair.com/app/answ...1922#codeshare
It's worth noting that as of May 1, HA won't even inter-line bags to other airlines (including its 'partners') unless they are in the same reservation record. That's really a hassle if you're connecting to the mainland and have had to purchase a separate ticket for the inter-island leg. You're now going to have to reclaim your bag and check it in again.
From the same page linked above:
Here's a thread in the US forum which deals with this very issue. In a nutshell, they charge for your situation. I've been in the same situation, albeit with US instead of UA, and I pay for the bag on the inter-island segment.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...-pay-bags.html
Here is the Hawaiian page which specifically addresses this issue: http://help.hawaiianair.com/app/answ...1922#codeshare
It's worth noting that as of May 1, HA won't even inter-line bags to other airlines (including its 'partners') unless they are in the same reservation record. That's really a hassle if you're connecting to the mainland and have had to purchase a separate ticket for the inter-island leg. You're now going to have to reclaim your bag and check it in again.
From the same page linked above:
Beginning May 1, 2012, Hawaiian will not through check bags to other airline flights unless the other airline segments are on the PNR for which the passenger is checking in.
#3
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
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It's worth noting that as of May 1, HA won't even inter-line bags to other airlines (including its 'partners') unless they are in the same reservation record. That's really a hassle if you're connecting to the mainland and have had to purchase a separate ticket for the inter-island leg. You're now going to have to reclaim your bag and check it in again.
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
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I think this is just a money grab by HA. If they can pick up these fees for the outbound flights and cut their transfers in half, great. But unless they convince all their 'partners' not to inter-line unless it's a single PNR (good luck training all the UACO/US/etc agents on that nuance), it seems to me it will continue to work as it always has.
But I'll let you know in July, as I have one of these very situations booked.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA Plat/4MM, Marriott Lifetime Plat, HA Premier, SPG, UA, VX
Posts: 27
no more separate tix?
So this means I cannot book LIH-HNL direct with HA and then separate ticket with AA to mainland without picking up bags? Or can I call AA and have the two linked?
Big bother if that is the way it is to be.... Other direction seems to be ok...
Big bother if that is the way it is to be.... Other direction seems to be ok...
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Seattle
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Posts: 636
I had something similar happen. HA is entitled to the interline bag fees for flights that originate on HA. They are not entitled to the mainland fees, unless you are flying HA the whole way.
#7
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IATA rules are superseded by U.S. DOT rules for flights with an origin, destination (maybe stopover?) in the U.S of A. The baggage allowance of the marketing carrier of the first segment applies to the whole journey - effective 1/24/2012 or thereabouts.
Last edited by 3Cforme; Apr 13, 2012 at 6:35 am
#8
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This is a real drag.
Not much 'aloha' on the part of HA here. Unfortunately, it's an increasing trend.
#9
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
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Can AA do that? I know US cannot merge or even link PNRs. Best they can do is make a comment in one reservation that refers to another (such as minors flying on one ticket with adults on another), but that would not work for HA's purposes in this situation.
This is a real drag.
Not much 'aloha' on the part of HA here. Unfortunately, it's an increasing trend.
This is a real drag.
Not much 'aloha' on the part of HA here. Unfortunately, it's an increasing trend.
#10
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There are lots of airlines with interline baggage agreements. Many are happy to check bags through to another carrier on separate tickets. The prevalence of airlines that used to do this, but now refuse, suggests this is a business/fee revenue issue, not a systems issue.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: Delta, United, American
Posts: 215
I'd pay the baggage fee to not have to go baggage claim, recheck bag and go back through security.
Wish they could figure out a way everyone could get their money but save the passenger the headache and time.
Wish they could figure out a way everyone could get their money but save the passenger the headache and time.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: PHX
Posts: 4,787
I'm sure this is pretty significant revenue for HA. Who travels to Hawaii with only carry ons? Basically, they've found a way to get revenue for elites and F travelers flying over-ocean on non-HA flights, since they have the inter-island market cornered.
The interline thing is a real drag. I guess the good news is there are so many inter-island flights to HNL that it's usually easy just to pick one 30 minutes earlier. Hopefully, they will figure out a good system in HNL to do this -- like a dedicated bag check in desk or something for the big carriers. The place it might be a drag is for people flying direct to the mainland from OGG. If you're flying HA from, say, LIH to OGG and then connecting to US's OGG to PHX red eye fight, OGG is not the place you really want to be collecting bags, checking them, and re-clearing security in the pre-red eye period if you don't have some extra time. I think AA, US and maybe another all have flights around the same time and things can get a little backed up. (Although, I'm basing that on the very small sample size of the times I've been there, which are only a few.)
I once had to collect bags and recheck on a flight home from hawaii and it really stunk. Better than having to do it on the way there, I guess.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
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That be how Hawaiian rolls.
It's worth noting that as of May 1, HA won't even inter-line bags to other airlines (including its 'partners') unless they are in the same reservation record. That's really a hassle if you're connecting to the mainland and have had to purchase a separate ticket for the inter-island leg. You're now going to have to reclaim your bag and check it in again.
From the same page linked above:
It's worth noting that as of May 1, HA won't even inter-line bags to other airlines (including its 'partners') unless they are in the same reservation record. That's really a hassle if you're connecting to the mainland and have had to purchase a separate ticket for the inter-island leg. You're now going to have to reclaim your bag and check it in again.
From the same page linked above:
Beginning May 1, 2012, Hawaiian will not through check bags to other airline flights unless the other airline segments are on the PNR for which the passenger is checking in.
I will call our corporate rep from HA on Monday to verify that this is correct.
#15
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I'm not sure why you say that....
I just clicked on http://help.hawaiianair.com/app/answ...1922#codeshare
and it still says
I just clicked on http://help.hawaiianair.com/app/answ...1922#codeshare
and it still says
Beginning May 1, 2012, Hawaiian will not through check bags to other airline flights unless the other airline segments are on the PNR for which the passenger is checking in.