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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 11:14 am
  #12  
Andriyko
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Originally Posted by Apieinthesky
If I booked something like STL-ORD-LHR, all with AA flight numbers but with ORD-LHR on BA metal, wouldn't everything be on one record locator (with a separate, corresponding BA record locator?
All flights would be on one record locator (all AA flights) but there won't be a corresponding BA locator per se. BA will create an operational PNR for its operated flight. You don't normally get the operational PNR number (you need to call the operating carrier and ask them to find you on the flight if they have access because many code-share agreements only require submitting the passenger list 24 hours before the flight). We are very fortunate that BA and AA have a created a system where you're taken to the respective carrier's website to select a seat and manage your itinerary so we don't even have to call in case we book a code-share on one of these two carriers, but it is not as straightforward with other carriers. It works differently when you book a prime flight and a code-share flight.

For example, when you book LAX-JFK(AA)-JFK-LHR(AA*BA)-LHR-FCO(BA) on BA stock. The original BA PNR will have all 3 flights, then there will be an AA PNR for its prime LAX-JFK flight and then BA (as an independent process) will create an operational PNR for the JFK-LHR flight operated by it. BA can't create an operational PNR for its flight in the original PNR as it will look like this:

LAX-JFK(AA)
JFK-LHR(AA*BA)
JFK-LHR (BA)
LHR-FCO(BA)

But the real reason is that BA does not even know that it is a code-share when the booking is made. The operational PNR is created independently. And in instances when you have prime BA flights and an AA code-share on BA flight in the same itinerary there will always be a separate PNR for the code-share flight (not only that, but each code-share flight will be in a separate operational PNR for the operating carrier - this is how these flights are managed).

Last edited by Andriyko; Nov 6, 2013 at 11:53 am
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