Baggage fee shakedown from Germanwings on UA ticket
May 5, 2016, 11:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
Posts: 884
Baggage fee shakedown from Germanwings on UA ticket
Flying EWR-LHR-TXL. Booked a long connection so I could spend the day in London. My boarding pass got a bit ragged in my pocket and the kiosk wouldn't recognize the barcode from the original to reprint and the wifi was being finicky so I just went to the desk instead of looking up the 4U confirmation code to enter.
I had checked in 3 bags in EWR as a 1K. The desk dragon wanted to charge me for 2 of the bags that are already in their possession and checked through. When I argued with her that they've already been interlined, she handed me th BP and told me to go to the 4U/LH ticket desk. They claimed "United put no bags in for your ticket" or some such nonsense and told me to go to the United desk, which was closed.
Since I have the BP, I just went past security and am in the senator lounge now.
If I hadn't wanted a new boarding pass or had decided to just stay in the transit zone, I doubt some random dragon would notice I had 3 bags checked in.
Just a shake down? Never had a problem like this during other UA to 4U connections when arriving on UA the same day.
I had checked in 3 bags in EWR as a 1K. The desk dragon wanted to charge me for 2 of the bags that are already in their possession and checked through. When I argued with her that they've already been interlined, she handed me th BP and told me to go to the 4U/LH ticket desk. They claimed "United put no bags in for your ticket" or some such nonsense and told me to go to the United desk, which was closed.
Since I have the BP, I just went past security and am in the senator lounge now.
If I hadn't wanted a new boarding pass or had decided to just stay in the transit zone, I doubt some random dragon would notice I had 3 bags checked in.
Just a shake down? Never had a problem like this during other UA to 4U connections when arriving on UA the same day.
May 5, 2016, 11:22 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Flying EWR-LHR-TXL. Booked a long connection so I could spend the day in London. My boarding pass got a bit ragged in my pocket and the kiosk wouldn't recognize the barcode from the original to reprint and the wifi was being finicky so I just went to the desk instead of looking up the 4U confirmation code to enter.
I had checked in 3 bags in EWR as a 1K. The desk dragon wanted to charge me for 2 of the bags that are already in their possession and checked through. When I argued with her that they've already been interlined, she handed me th BP and told me to go to the 4U/LH ticket desk. They claimed "United put no bags in for your ticket" or some such nonsense and told me to go to the United desk, which was closed.
Since I have the BP, I just went past security and am in the senator lounge now.
If I hadn't wanted a new boarding pass or had decided to just stay in the transit zone, I doubt some random dragon would notice I had 3 bags checked in.
Just a shake down?
I had checked in 3 bags in EWR as a 1K. The desk dragon wanted to charge me for 2 of the bags that are already in their possession and checked through. When I argued with her that they've already been interlined, she handed me th BP and told me to go to the 4U/LH ticket desk. They claimed "United put no bags in for your ticket" or some such nonsense and told me to go to the United desk, which was closed.
Since I have the BP, I just went past security and am in the senator lounge now.
If I hadn't wanted a new boarding pass or had decided to just stay in the transit zone, I doubt some random dragon would notice I had 3 bags checked in.
Just a shake down?
May 5, 2016, 11:27 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
Posts: 884
Yeah, I have the baggage tags from United but they were trying to say a different allowance applies for this segment even though they already have the bags.
FWIW, Border Force also marked my entry stamp as being In-Transit, so denying me boarding could get messy, because I do not wish to seek re-entry to the UK.
FWIW, Border Force also marked my entry stamp as being In-Transit, so denying me boarding could get messy, because I do not wish to seek re-entry to the UK.
May 5, 2016, 11:42 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
If EWR-LHR was the first leg on your *ticket*, the baggage rules of the first marketing carrier apply for the entire trip (US DOT Regulation 14 CFR 399.87).
How to explain that to a Eurowings dragon I cannot say. Good luck.
However, you could still file a complaint with the DoT after the fact. I hear good things about these complaint processes.
How to explain that to a Eurowings dragon I cannot say. Good luck.
However, you could still file a complaint with the DoT after the fact. I hear good things about these complaint processes.
May 5, 2016, 11:43 am
#5
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I'd suggest that if someone asks you to pay additional money your checked bags (seems unlikely) you pay with a credit card, perhaps indicate on the signature slip that you're signing under duress, then dispute the charge.
I once successfully disputed a charge with Meridiana on a MXP-LGW sector where their e-ticket itinerary receipt and documents they sent us after purchase said checked bags would carry a certain fee, and they tried to charge a higher (2x) fee at the airport saying "you needed to check in advance to get the lower rate". I paid, then immediately disputed the charge with Chase and supplied the document the airline had sent at purchase time explaining the bag fee I had been quoted in advance. It was no problem.
In this case, if you have any document at all from UA explaining your expected checked bag fee, that should be sufficient for a chargeback to work in the unlikely event that someone asks you to pay again for your bag that's already in transit.
May 5, 2016, 12:03 pm
#6
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May 5, 2016, 12:11 pm
#7
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If EWR-LHR was the first leg on your *ticket*, the baggage rules of the first marketing carrier apply for the entire trip (US DOT Regulation 14 CFR 399.87).
How to explain that to a Eurowings dragon I cannot say. Good luck.
However, you could still file a complaint with the DoT after the fact. I hear good things about these complaint processes.
How to explain that to a Eurowings dragon I cannot say. Good luck.
However, you could still file a complaint with the DoT after the fact. I hear good things about these complaint processes.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 5, 2016 at 12:17 pm
May 5, 2016, 12:33 pm
#8
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Unfortunately for OP, had the 4U agent wishes to press the issue, 4U was correct and 4U will likely raise the issue again at TXL on the return.
Sec. 399.87 applies to the "allowance" for the marketing carrier of the first segment and not to waivers granted for status, credit card holders and other flotsam. Few carriers make this distinction, especially when bags have been interlined, but they are free to do so. Even if 4U were a *A carrier, OP's allowance as a UA 1K would be as a *G and that would be 2 bags, not 3, so there would be an add/collect.
Bottom line is that an eagle-eyed and nasty 4U agent could have off-loaded 2 of OP's bags (or had OP held at the gate for payment). On return, if OP departs on 4U, he may be hit up for 2 bags.
Sec. 399.87 applies to the "allowance" for the marketing carrier of the first segment and not to waivers granted for status, credit card holders and other flotsam. Few carriers make this distinction, especially when bags have been interlined, but they are free to do so. Even if 4U were a *A carrier, OP's allowance as a UA 1K would be as a *G and that would be 2 bags, not 3, so there would be an add/collect.
Bottom line is that an eagle-eyed and nasty 4U agent could have off-loaded 2 of OP's bags (or had OP held at the gate for payment). On return, if OP departs on 4U, he may be hit up for 2 bags.
May 5, 2016, 12:49 pm
#9
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Unfortunately for OP, had the 4U agent wishes to press the issue, 4U was correct and 4U will likely raise the issue again at TXL on the return.
Sec. 399.87 applies to the "allowance" for the marketing carrier of the first segment and not to waivers granted for status, credit card holders and other flotsam. Few carriers make this distinction, especially when bags have been interlined, but they are free to do so. Even if 4U were a *A carrier, OP's allowance as a UA 1K would be as a *G and that would be 2 bags, not 3, so there would be an add/collect.
Bottom line is that an eagle-eyed and nasty 4U agent could have off-loaded 2 of OP's bags (or had OP held at the gate for payment). On return, if OP departs on 4U, he may be hit up for 2 bags.
Sec. 399.87 applies to the "allowance" for the marketing carrier of the first segment and not to waivers granted for status, credit card holders and other flotsam. Few carriers make this distinction, especially when bags have been interlined, but they are free to do so. Even if 4U were a *A carrier, OP's allowance as a UA 1K would be as a *G and that would be 2 bags, not 3, so there would be an add/collect.
Bottom line is that an eagle-eyed and nasty 4U agent could have off-loaded 2 of OP's bags (or had OP held at the gate for payment). On return, if OP departs on 4U, he may be hit up for 2 bags.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; May 5, 2016 at 12:58 pm
May 5, 2016, 12:57 pm
#10
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I thought the airlines (IATA) had agreed that the MSC baggage rules would count (ie "first carrier crossing IATA Areas or Sub-areas")
Which in this case is indeed the airline flying TATL. Although the answer remains the same in this case, I am surprised DOT rules and IATA rules do not match -
As for the allowance, it does seem to include any FT perks - the 2011 PR quoted "IATA stated that this move was necessary because "more and more airlines were defining their own baggage allowances and charges depending on the number of bags checked, class of travel, frequent flyer status and routing. " "
Which in this case is indeed the airline flying TATL. Although the answer remains the same in this case, I am surprised DOT rules and IATA rules do not match -
As for the allowance, it does seem to include any FT perks - the 2011 PR quoted "IATA stated that this move was necessary because "more and more airlines were defining their own baggage allowances and charges depending on the number of bags checked, class of travel, frequent flyer status and routing. " "
If EWR-LHR was the first leg on your *ticket*, the baggage rules of the first marketing carrier apply for the entire trip (US DOT Regulation 14 CFR 399.87).
How to explain that to a Eurowings dragon I cannot say. Good luck.
However, you could still file a complaint with the DoT after the fact. I hear good things about these complaint processes.
How to explain that to a Eurowings dragon I cannot say. Good luck.
However, you could still file a complaint with the DoT after the fact. I hear good things about these complaint processes.
Last edited by dand99; May 5, 2016 at 1:50 pm
May 5, 2016, 3:01 pm
#11
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May 5, 2016, 3:04 pm
#12
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May 5, 2016, 3:06 pm
#13
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May 5, 2016, 4:40 pm
#14
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I thought the airlines (IATA) had agreed that the MSC baggage rules would count (ie "first carrier crossing IATA Areas or Sub-areas")
Which in this case is indeed the airline flying TATL. Although the answer remains the same in this case, I am surprised DOT rules and IATA rules do not match -
As for the allowance, it does seem to include any FT perks - the 2011 PR quoted "IATA stated that this move was necessary because "more and more airlines were defining their own baggage allowances and charges depending on the number of bags checked, class of travel, frequent flyer status and routing. " "
Which in this case is indeed the airline flying TATL. Although the answer remains the same in this case, I am surprised DOT rules and IATA rules do not match -
As for the allowance, it does seem to include any FT perks - the 2011 PR quoted "IATA stated that this move was necessary because "more and more airlines were defining their own baggage allowances and charges depending on the number of bags checked, class of travel, frequent flyer status and routing. " "
That first carrier could apply MSC. But, for what it's worth, no US carrier does.
As to what IATA says about status, that is completely irrelevant for tickets originating / terminating in the US. If you read the law, cited twice in this thread alone, you will see that exemptions based on status need not apply (although other carriers are free to apply them).
May 5, 2016, 4:45 pm
#15
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...As for the allowance, it does seem to include any FT perks - the 2011 PR quoted "IATA stated that this move was necessary because "more and more airlines were defining their own baggage allowances and charges depending on the number of bags checked, class of travel, frequent flyer status and routing. " "
