Originally Posted by
channa
This is not unusual at all.
It depends on what you mean by unusual. Some US-based airlines have used US DOT rules as an excuse to behave likewise (e.g. US/AS/DL), because they fear losing some of their bag fees. Outside the US, it's one of the services that distinguishes legacy carriers from LCCs. I'm not aware of any Asian or Middle East carriers that won't interline bags.