Originally Posted by
RB211
If an airline charged an amount in addition to the originally quoted price, I believe that would get reversed pretty quickly. I'm pretty sure it's against business' agreement with the credit card companies, and the card holder is not agreeing to some "unknown surcharge" when they provide their CC info. If airlines really cared about this (i.e. if it really cost them a significant amount) they would authorize an additional known amount as a "deposit" and then refund that after the last leg is flown, a la some car rentals, hotel reservations etc. But they don't, because it's not really that big of a problem on the grand scheme of things.
rb211.
Tell that to hotels who have been doing this for decades. You check out, settle the bill and then mysteriously a few days later £XX or $YY appears and you have to deal with the fall out.
As a once or twice a year ex EU traveller I follow the advice on here with regard to last segments. Always book the last segment for much later the same day or ideally over night within the 24 hour rule. Switch from LHR to XYZ to LGW to XYZ as you must get your bags back at LHR.
Worse case scenario take the flight and enjoy a few days in a civilised relaxed European capital with all the cultural and social benefits that brings. Then return to dear old blighted blighty!
To be honest In the last 10 years I have never once been challenged in the USA or Asia when requesting that my bags only be shipped to LHR. I have had multiple EU To Hawaii flights and many EU to Asia. The biggest issue now is getting BA to tag bags BA to BA on separate tickets so they are just best avoided.
QR have a very clear rule that bags cannot be tagged to DOH when transiting, irrespective of the transit time unless a specific stopover has been booked. To my knowledge that is rigorously enforced but there may be others who know more