Apr 1, 2024, 7:46 pm
Last edit by: ChrisA330
AC updated their policy in 2022 relating to baggage interline on seperate tickets. The policy is:
As per IATA recommendations, Air Canada will follow suit with our airline partners and, effective immediately, we will no longer offer the ability to through-check customers and/or baggage to the destinations of the second ticket, except in the following scenarios:
Notwithstanding this policy, data points continue to be inconsistent, and
Baggage Through-Check on Separate Tickets
As per IATA recommendations, Air Canada will follow suit with our airline partners and, effective immediately, we will no longer offer the ability to through-check customers and/or baggage to the destinations of the second ticket, except in the following scenarios:
- Purchase individual Air Canada (014) tickets.
- Purchase individual tickets from Pacific Coast (8P) or Air North (4N)
- An approved and documented regulatory or legal exception on the customer's file
- During irregular operations, two tickets were issued as a result of a single coupon reissue (including Air Canada to Other Airlines)
- For instance, a customer may have an original YUL-AC-YYZ-LH-FRA ticket that has been reissued due to IROP on two tickets: YUL-AC-YYZ on AC (014) and YYZ-LH-FRA single coupon reissued on LH (220).
Notwithstanding this policy, data points continue to be inconsistent, and
Will Air Canada Check Through Baggage On Separate Tickets/PNR (AC-AC or Interline)?
Oct 30, 2022, 11:45 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
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My first time posting - need some direction. I have an upcoming flight on Nov 04 via AC YYZ - DOH (book via Aeroplan) and on a separate ticket, QA DOH - LHE (booked directly with QA). Time between two flights is about 4 hours. After booking tickets, I called AC (on Oct/21) and the agent on the phone advised that AC will be able to through-check the baggage - I made the agent note on the ticket/file. After reading the above few posts, I am a bit concerned that the baggage might not be through-check specially because Qatar has suspended visas due to FIFA World Cup. Can someone please advise if I have a good chance of baggage being through-check as the agent on the phone advised despite the policy above?
They couldnt even get a bag checked thru on a 014 single PNR AC->QR connection because of a long layover and an after midnight departure technically 2 days after leaving YYZ. It took a while to find a supervisor who could finally make it work. And even then he only said it worked because it's the same PNR as of new policy.
Nov 1, 2022, 4:22 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Canada's worst airport....YYJ
Programs: AC: E75K, Marriott :Titanium, National: EXEC ELITE
Posts: 594
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t being implemented consistently. Just tried to tax a bag through on 2 AC PNR’s from LAX (Revenue flight to YVR, reward hop to the island) and the agent said they no longer do that as of a few weeks ago. Which I interpreted as “I don’t want to”….
So, as always, the truth is in the middle. There was a policy change, but my flights would have qualified. So, a little I don’t want to, mixed with a dab of lack of knowledge.
So, as always, the truth is in the middle. There was a policy change, but my flights would have qualified. So, a little I don’t want to, mixed with a dab of lack of knowledge.
Nov 1, 2022, 4:31 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,506
I can understand AC not wanting to do this for everyone and there are issues that can be created as a result (for example, a baggage fee on the next airline that needs to be paid because pax has no entitlement). However they should have flexibility to do this for *G connecting to *A flights (which is what UA does for example)
You can also have a singular PNR with multiple tickets (for each carrier), so I'm not sure how they are handling that either.
Send your feedback in. I would also send a note directly to the Flight Pass team as FP-specific feedback. If this policy change would cause people to no longer buy a FP, they likely want to know.
You can also have a singular PNR with multiple tickets (for each carrier), so I'm not sure how they are handling that either.
I spoke to a Concierge today who said AC has discontinued all checking through of baggage to other airlines on a separate ticket. For me this makes things difficult as I often use AC Flight Passes and then connect to another airline to continue to destinations AC doesn't fly. This would mean you would need to go through customs, retreive your baggage and recheck it making tighter connections impossible. He said it doesn't matter if Star Alliance or not. Anyone know more on this.
Last edited by Adam Smith; Nov 1, 2022 at 6:46 pm Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same user
Dec 10, 2022, 3:47 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,543
Successful AC-AC through check baggage international to transborder
The title says it. Origin is a European airport and the destination is in US.
The checkin agent (not AC, contractual I believe) was confused and initially said not possible on separate tickets. After she made a few phone calls, a concierge came in and did it for her. Took half an hour because the system was confused by my immigration status, but it eventually got resolved.
So it is still possible (as per the current policy) for an AC-AC interline, but do not expect it always goes smoothly especially in an outstation.
The checkin agent (not AC, contractual I believe) was confused and initially said not possible on separate tickets. After she made a few phone calls, a concierge came in and did it for her. Took half an hour because the system was confused by my immigration status, but it eventually got resolved.
So it is still possible (as per the current policy) for an AC-AC interline, but do not expect it always goes smoothly especially in an outstation.
Dec 30, 2022, 7:07 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 139
AC interline bag on separate tickets?
Just checked into AC98 YUL-BOG. Have a connecting flight (separate ticket) on Avianca BOG-CTG. Check in agent says AC no longer interlines separate ticket bags anymore. Anyone know if this is official policy? Bummer
Dec 30, 2022, 7:46 pm
#24
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Moderator note: merged with existing thread on this topic.
Dec 31, 2022, 1:52 am
#25
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,791
Ib was told the same at YYC the other day. AC to LH, no they no longer do this anymore. Too many problems.
Jan 6, 2023, 2:41 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
Will AC check bags through on separate PNRs
I have a friend who is travelling SYD-YVR-YYC but the YVR-YYC sector is on a separate PNR to the SYD-YVR one - will the agent check her bag through and provide a boarding pass for the separate sector (departing 2.5 hours after arriving in YVR).
You may ask why did she book her trip like this - well she wanted SYD-YVR-YYC then YVR-SYD back home as required by a tour she is taking. Booking SYD-YVR-SYD then YVR-YYC separately was almost $1000 cheaper on a PE fare than booking it as on open-jaw.
You may ask why did she book her trip like this - well she wanted SYD-YVR-YYC then YVR-SYD back home as required by a tour she is taking. Booking SYD-YVR-SYD then YVR-YYC separately was almost $1000 cheaper on a PE fare than booking it as on open-jaw.
Jan 6, 2023, 2:58 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 545
Yes. Simply mention at check-in that you're continuing to YYC and they should be able to check in both legs and the bag will go through all the way. They've even done this for me on a different ticket on Air France. Meant that I could take 3 bags on an AF economy ticket... 
Jan 6, 2023, 3:34 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: UA, QF, VS, AA, US, HH, SPG
Posts: 974
Ok thanks - in this case both segments / PNRs were booked on the AC website so hopefully AC will check bags through. Do you think it would help to call AC in advance and ask them to link the PNRs? Departing from SYD the check-in staff would be contract agents not AC staff.
My friend (actually 2 friends travelling together) are not very experienced travellers and it would be good if this was possible so as to smooth their entry into Canada (first time for both of them).
My friend (actually 2 friends travelling together) are not very experienced travellers and it would be good if this was possible so as to smooth their entry into Canada (first time for both of them).
Jan 6, 2023, 4:39 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: BOS
Programs: AC SE (P); Marriott Plat; Accor Plat; KQ Plat
Posts: 76
PNR cannot be linked in advance but during checkin. They need to checkin for the first PNR but not be second one and the agent at the airport will be able to link the PNRs and check the bags through the final destination. Make sure to verify the bag tag with the agent so that the correct rooting is displayed.
They did it for me 2 days ago. Admittedly, it was very smooth because Concierge did this even before I arrive at the airport right after I checked in for my first leg on the app.
They did it for me 2 days ago. Admittedly, it was very smooth because Concierge did this even before I arrive at the airport right after I checked in for my first leg on the app.
