QR connecting to BA -- QR won't through check me or give me boarding pass
Oct 24, 2014, 11:30 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
QR connecting to BA -- QR won't through check me or give me boarding pass
I am on my very first QR flight (business class), which connects in JNB to a domestic BA flight on the same ticket (and QR through fare).
QR has denied me through check-in of the baggage telling me that they can't check bag to the final destination in South Africa (which this guide to connecting in JNB on FT shows it's a lie).
Further, I asked for the connecting boarding pass, and was denied that one too. After talking to the supervisor, he told me that although he couldn't print it, I was checked in for that segment, which is an utter lie: the travel agent pulled up the e-ticket (which he had issued) and the BA coupon still shows as OPEN as opposed to CKIN.
Of course, if there's a delay I am now screwed, as I can't simply drop off my bags after doing customs in JNB and walk to the gate: I now have to go find the check-in desks and risk being left behind for failure to meet BA's local check-in timeline. It's as if instead of arriving at JNB on QR I arrived on the equivalent of RyanAir.
This seems to be a disaster on the making. Is this typical QR disservice? Any advice?
Obviously, I am very pissed at the treatment I received by QR and the personnel's lying -- and these are both oneworld airlines. Nice first impression--not!
QR has denied me through check-in of the baggage telling me that they can't check bag to the final destination in South Africa (which this guide to connecting in JNB on FT shows it's a lie).
Further, I asked for the connecting boarding pass, and was denied that one too. After talking to the supervisor, he told me that although he couldn't print it, I was checked in for that segment, which is an utter lie: the travel agent pulled up the e-ticket (which he had issued) and the BA coupon still shows as OPEN as opposed to CKIN.
Of course, if there's a delay I am now screwed, as I can't simply drop off my bags after doing customs in JNB and walk to the gate: I now have to go find the check-in desks and risk being left behind for failure to meet BA's local check-in timeline. It's as if instead of arriving at JNB on QR I arrived on the equivalent of RyanAir.
This seems to be a disaster on the making. Is this typical QR disservice? Any advice?
Obviously, I am very pissed at the treatment I received by QR and the personnel's lying -- and these are both oneworld airlines. Nice first impression--not!
Oct 24, 2014, 5:16 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PER
Programs: BA Gold, QF Gold, VA Gold, IC Diamond Amb., HH Diamond
Posts: 777
I am on my very first QR flight (business class), which connects in JNB to a domestic BA flight on the same ticket (and QR through fare).
QR has denied me through check-in of the baggage telling me that they can't check bag to the final destination in South Africa (which this guide to connecting in JNB on FT shows it's a lie).
Further, I asked for the connecting boarding pass, and was denied that one too. After talking to the supervisor, he told me that although he couldn't print it, I was checked in for that segment, which is an utter lie: the travel agent pulled up the e-ticket (which he had issued) and the BA coupon still shows as OPEN as opposed to CKIN.
Of course, if there's a delay I am now screwed, as I can't simply drop off my bags after doing customs in JNB and walk to the gate: I now have to go find the check-in desks and risk being left behind for failure to meet BA's local check-in timeline. It's as if instead of arriving at JNB on QR I arrived on the equivalent of RyanAir.
This seems to be a disaster on the making. Is this typical QR disservice? Any advice?
Obviously, I am very pissed at the treatment I received by QR and the personnel's lying -- and these are both oneworld airlines. Nice first impression--not!
QR has denied me through check-in of the baggage telling me that they can't check bag to the final destination in South Africa (which this guide to connecting in JNB on FT shows it's a lie).
Further, I asked for the connecting boarding pass, and was denied that one too. After talking to the supervisor, he told me that although he couldn't print it, I was checked in for that segment, which is an utter lie: the travel agent pulled up the e-ticket (which he had issued) and the BA coupon still shows as OPEN as opposed to CKIN.
Of course, if there's a delay I am now screwed, as I can't simply drop off my bags after doing customs in JNB and walk to the gate: I now have to go find the check-in desks and risk being left behind for failure to meet BA's local check-in timeline. It's as if instead of arriving at JNB on QR I arrived on the equivalent of RyanAir.
This seems to be a disaster on the making. Is this typical QR disservice? Any advice?
Obviously, I am very pissed at the treatment I received by QR and the personnel's lying -- and these are both oneworld airlines. Nice first impression--not!
It's quite possible they simply couldn't provide you with your connecting BP which seems odd since QR and BA both use the same reservations system but some airlines just won't do it.
Why not try and do a mobile or online check in with BA for the JNB-CPT segment and have either of those handy?
Nov 29, 2014, 6:30 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
On a positive note, and probably as a result of asking to and speaking with a manager after checking-in (who muttered something about their inability to print connecting BA boarding passes) at the gate what I believe was the station manager produced such a boarding pass, to my relief.
And on an even more positive note, after following up with QR, they wrote:
We do agree that baggage must have been tagged up to your final destination in Cape Town and only to be cleared at first point of entry for customs clearance at Johannesburg.
Absolutely excellent follow-up on their part. ^ 5-stars indeed; will definitely choose QR again.
Dec 1, 2014, 2:14 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
But I am sure you didn't mean to post this as an excuse for QR: since they represent QR, and it's QR's sole decision how to staff an airport, QR is the only party responsible for their actions.
Dec 1, 2014, 4:28 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,727
You would be surprised at how much the standard has dropped when they switched to a third party. I met someone at a lounge at how some check in staff are so ignorant of the procedures and even claimed to have 5 years of experience. He went crazy and talked to the duty manager who apologized. The agent refused to tag the bag to ADE as the passenger was flying via Melbourne.