Originally Posted by
garyschmitt
My memory might be failing me.
It was only recently that I began using ITA software (which indicates who the operator is). Previously I'm not sure how I would know where to go, other than the flight number, or the airline on the receipt. Maybe I've not bought many codeshare flights.
If you haven't bought a codeshare flight before, then the ticketing airline and the operating airline are one and the same, and thus there's no confusion. I fly codeshare flights from time to time and the ticket always states to check in with the operating carrier. As an example, I'm flying a codeshare next month. I have a ticket that was issued by UA and is on UA ticket stock, but all the flights are operated by CO. So when I go to the airport, I will be checking in with CO and getting on a CO plane.
Originally Posted by
garyschmitt
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.
My understanding is that the MSC is usually whichever operating airline is flying the longest segment of the ticket.
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.
You seem to be getting a little confused here. A ticket can only be issued by one carrier, but it can have several flights operated by several different carriers.
If there's just one operating carrier for all the flights, then the operator's rules prevail. If there's multiple operators, then it's the MSC whose rules apply to all the flights (to the best of my understanding)
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.
I'm not sure how that provision might affect the baggage rules.