Originally Posted by
gooselee
Are you saying that based on internal policy, airport check in agents actually should be waiving bag fees for companions of medallions on separate PNRs? What about companions of non-medallion Amex holders on separate PNRs?
Yes.
Here are several scenarios where companions on separate PNRs (but with completely
identical flight itineraries) enjoy bag fee waivers:
- Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Medallion customer traveling with up to 8 companions in separate PNRs all enjoy the Medallion customer's baggage allowance.
- Silver Medallion customer with Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express traveling with up to 8 companions in separate PNRs all enjoy 2 free bags up to 70 pounds each.
- Silver Medallion customer without the credit card traveling with up to 8 companions in separate PNRs all enjoy first free bag up to 70 pounds each.
- General SkyMiles customer with Delta SkyMiles credit card from American Express traveling with up to 8 companions in separate PNRs all enjoy first free bag up to 50 pounds each.
Remember, for companions to be eligible for the bag fee waiver, they must be traveling with the eligible customer on the exact same flights to the same final destination. Their flying itinerary must be completely identical.
Processing bag fee waivers for companions in separate PNRs is very easy to do now. There are specific waiver codes in the bag drop software that exist precisely for these situations (Medallion and AMEX companions in separate PNRs).
It's understandable if some bag drop agents deny the fee waiver since the overall attitude is to usually charge for bags, but any agent who really looks into the policy internally will find specific phrasing that up to 8 companions in separate PNRs are eligible. Since I'm not allowed to say what the internal policy is, all I can recommend is to politely ask for a Red Coat. Most agents (including myself) love to reward politeness with exceeded expectations, so even if you're getting screwed by a bag drop agent, being polite could get you more than you expected
After getting yelled at about seat changes or oversells, I love to go above and beyond for customers who have good reasons to be upset but still keep their cool.
Edit:
I also notice many, many Medallion customers who don't realize they're allowed 70 lbs per bag, not 50. When they get excited to see their bags at 49 lbs, I chuckle a little.
Medallion baggage allowances (and their 1-8 companions) for most domestic markets:
FO w/o AMEX: 1 bag, 70 lbs
FO w/ AMEX: 2 bags, 70 lbs
GM: 2 bags, 70 lbs
PM: 3 bags, 70 lbs
DM: 3 bags, 70 lbs