Originally Posted by
bedelman
Last month I flew on Alaska. One segment US domestic, basic economy. Booked on Alaska's site. Provided my AA Platinum (Oneworld Sapphire) frequent flier number at the time of purchase.
Alaska recognized my elite status, in that both online checkin and kiosk let me check two free bags at no charge. BUT, Alaska's web site and kiosk sought to charge bag fees for any bags checked by my companions. Screenshot and photo below.
(screenshot showing bag fees waived for me, but chargeable for my companions)
(kiosk showing bag fees waived for me, but chargeable for my companions; my "3 checked items" are 2 free bags plus 1 free stroller)
In contrast, the Alaska site plainly states that the free baggage allowance of oneworld alliance elite members extends to companions traveling in the same reservation. See https://www.alaskaair.com/content/tr...ers-exceptions at heading “Baggage fee waivers”, indicating “free” first and second bags for “oneworld Ruby and Sapphire members*, and companions traveling in the same reservation” (emphasis added).
Have other people here seen similar problems? Could Alaska's computers be overcharging? Presumably airport staff could have fixed this, but that requires a customer to notice, not to mention wait in line. Really the computers should honor the promised benefit in the ordinary course.
But what about the * in the quotation from the Alaska site you quoted above (and I highlighted):
* Includes companions traveling with and booked in the same reservation as the Alaska Airlines elite level Mileage Plan™. oneworld elite level members do not receive companion baggage benefits. For group bookings made by the Alaska Airlines group desk, only the actual elite member receives the baggage fee waiver.