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Luggage rules for *G on UA-TG
Searched both UA and *A forums but couldn't really find the answers (and .bomb seems to make me even more confused )
I have an upcoming SFO to TPE trip on UA and then TG. How much can each one of my luggages weight? 70lbs or 50lbs if I check in @ UA?
p.s. I used .bomb and it showed all legs to be 70lbs * 3 even the intra-asia one on JL? Is it true?
Thanks
Last edited by YoYoGodMom; Nov 26, 12 at 11:41 pm..
I thought that they are determined by the airline with the longest segment based on star alliance rules
Most Star Alliances airlines have something about that on their website, but try telling that to a Lufthansa agent if you are connecting within Germany before getting on UA for the TATL!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by keisari
I thought that they are determined by the airline with the longest segment based on star alliance rules
Flights to/from the US are the exception. The US follows the rules of the first (check-in) carrier. The rest of the world, or most of it, follows the most-significant carrier rule: basically the carrier with the longest segment determines the rules.
I am not sure about this... my flights are almost all domestic US. Almost all exceptions are to/from the US.
Flights to/from the US are the exception. The US follows the rules of the first (check-in) carrier. The rest of the world, or most of it, follows the most-significant carrier rule: basically the carrier with the longest segment determines the rules.
I am not sure about this... my flights are almost all domestic US. Almost all exceptions are to/from the US.
the problem is not everyone at the overseas stations are well informed and many times they will want to charge and go stand there and try and convince them you are right and they are wrong.
I dont forsee myself walking up to check in with Carrier X with 3 bags @ 70 lbs each (which UA will give me as a 1K) w/o being prepared to pay alot for being over both weight and in # of allowed bags, flying in Coach
Most Star Alliances airlines have something about that on their website, but try telling that to a Lufthansa agent if you are connecting within Germany before getting on UA for the TATL!
I had that discussion with a LH CSR at check-in at MAD a couple of years ago. It took some doing, but I stood my ground and asked for a supervisor.
The supervisor apologized and I got my 2 50+ pound bags checked for free.
It seems the OP is doing SFO-ICN-TPE and return and ICN-TPE on TG.
The US rule, as I understand it, is based on the first marketingcarrier, not operating carrier. So, in theory it will be 3x70 lbs since OP is Platinum.
The allowances are supposed to be attached to the eticket images - just like the old ALLOW fields on the ticket. So, theoretically, all the airlines should be able to see it. What I am not sure is that how the *A Gold extra allowances (i.e. 70 lbs intead of 50 and 1 extra piece) are handled with the eticket information.
Great! Thanks a lot! Either way I should be fine since both TPAC legs are on UA
no your Outbound to TPE where you originate on UA should be no problem, but your return where you begin on TG well who knows what they will say,Im not saying you arent entitled to lets say 3 x 70 but if TG allows 2 @ 50 thats where the problem will be convincing them you are entitled to 3 @ 70 since the main seg is UA TPAC or even 2 @ 70
I was recently surprised to learn that even Air Canada will only let you check 3 x 50 lb bags for *G of non-AC. I had wrongly assumed that every airline was similar in the 3 x 70 lb bag rule for *G. So heads up here.
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To be real picky, the US DOT rule does allow the rules of the first marketing carrier, *ignoring any elite or credit card benefits* for the subsequent airlines.
So TG could be within their rights, even as a USA-flying carrier (even though not on your itin) that has to play nice with the USA, to give you only what UA would give a non-elite.
I believe that the IATA now has a database and the etickets now have a field where the carrier who determines the baggage rules and charges stores them, and all carriers in the "journey" (the term in the rules - not "ticket", not PNR, but I guess instantiated as "ticket") can access them.
To make it even more confusing, the USA DOT rule does allow the US-touching journeys to be charged based on the MSC Most Significant Carrier concept of IATA res 304, as long as the MSC is modified by the US regulation saying "use the marketing not the operating carrier if they differ", and "apply the outbound rules on every leg of the journey" - but made that optional. United and most USA airlines have chosen to ignore that option, because they can make more money using their own more expensive "originating carrier" fees.
The idea of the IATA MSC rule was great. The idea of the US DOT rule was great. The lack of coordination between them and the MSC-as-modified-is-optional of the DOT, has made this a total crapshoot every flight if any of the airlines have anything to do with the USA. Unintended consequences strike again.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by craz
no your Outbound to TPE where you originate on UA should be no problem, but your return where you begin on TG well who knows what they will say
My outbound is in fact UA and then TG (transit only), so I think my only problem will be UA because I just learn that even though the whole trip showed up at .bomb, they do have three different but consecutive ticket numbers Anyway...I will print the info from .bomb
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Quote:
Originally Posted by craz
the problem is not everyone at the overseas stations are well informed and many times they will want to charge and go stand there and try and convince them you are right and they are wrong.
I dont forsee myself walking up to check in with Carrier X with 3 bags @ 70 lbs each (which UA will give me as a 1K) w/o being prepared to pay alot for being over both weight and in # of allowed bags, flying in Coach
I have found that most *A follow piece concept which allows for 2x50lb bags as *G and not weight concept of 70lb that UA offers. My policy for international is not to exceed 50lb - agree with you, showing up in EU with a 70lb bag is asking for pain.
To be real picky, the US DOT rule does allow the rules of the first marketing carrier, *ignoring any elite or credit card benefits* for the subsequent airlines.
So TG could be within their rights, even as a USA-flying carrier (even though not on your itin) that has to play nice with the USA, to give you only what UA would give a non-elite.
I believe that the IATA now has a database and the etickets now have a field where the carrier who determines the baggage rules and charges stores them, and all carriers in the "journey" (the term in the rules - not "ticket", not PNR, but I guess instantiated as "ticket") can access them.
To make it even more confusing, the USA DOT rule does allow the US-touching journeys to be charged based on the MSC Most Significant Carrier concept of IATA res 304, as long as the MSC is modified by the US regulation saying "use the marketing not the operating carrier if they differ", and "apply the outbound rules on every leg of the journey" - but made that optional. United and most USA airlines have chosen to ignore that option, because they can make more money using their own more expensive "originating carrier" fees.
The idea of the IATA MSC rule was great. The idea of the US DOT rule was great. The lack of coordination between them and the MSC-as-modified-is-optional of the DOT, has made this a total crapshoot every flight if any of the airlines have anything to do with the USA. Unintended consequences strike again.
This is a very informative post. Thank you.
I have always thought this whole change was supposed to simplify everyone's life but it seems to add more confusion.
The problem is not limited to US. My family recently had a dispute with AC in Canada when connecting to EVA. The AC agent insisted on charging for the 2nd bag as her computer did not show the 2nd piece was free on her screen.
When my sister said OK, charge me but print out the documentation, the agent printed the ETKT and it did show the 2nd piece was free. So, somehow the field is on one part of the system but not on the other.
I just did a US flight connecting to TPAC. The way I understood it with US for *G was that:
1 - 3 pieces
2 - no piece can be over 50 lbs unless you are in C/F
So, UA's 70 pound rule is definitely not widespread.
)
