Originally Posted by
number_6
For IATA carriers the "most significant carrier" rule applies for connections, in your example the MSC is AC on the TATL leg.
Wow that really complicates things! The lawyers must be loving the MSC concept!
Does "TATL" mean transatlantic?
Originally Posted by
number_6
MSC went into effect a few months ago (April 2011), so not many pax have experience with it, and it is quite complex, so those interested can google the full rules -- rarely is the first leg the MSC, though it can be. Also US DOT has separate (more favourable) rules, which only apply for flights on US flag carriers or if O/D is in the USA (neither of which is the case for the OP).
I did some looking, and I can see that ANA (Japan Airlines, which are in the Star Alliance)
mentions MSC, but Brussels Airlines does not. I also see that MSC does not apply to the US (ANA says flights with a departure or destination in the US simply use the first leg).
If I consider what you're saying, and also the fact that SN's website states that the policy of the
operator is used, does this mean the MSC is a factor of who the
operators are? Is it the operator who goes the most cummulative or consecutive miles? Or the operator with the longest single flight? This almost contradicts
this thread where someone says MSC comes into play when multiple "carriers" are involved.
If everyone is correct, this would mean multiple carriers
triggers the MSC concept, which then is based on who the operator is. But by the name "most significant carrier", it would seem not to matter who the operators are.
Although I suppose it doesn't matter in my case since the US is my destination, and
US DOT Order 2009-9-20 seems to negate using MSC for baggage policy, correct? But I'm now considering choosing an itinerary that uses SN as much as possible and then mixes the other airlines as evenly as possible, for good measure. SN is the only airline with favorable rules.
BTW, what does "OID" mean?
And when you say "US flag carriers", do you mean airlines headquartered in the US?