Star Gold / Silver (*G / *S) checked baggage policy (2017 onwards)
#91
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I never suggested they should. I meant to say that since there was no advance seat selection and no preferred seat access, what else is left? "Special privileges wherever you choose to fly" is the advertisement that Star Alliance uses to describe *G status. I am just looking for these special privileges.
Seat selection was never part of the *A benefits and is implemented on an airline by airline basis. For instance, AC doesn't give away preferred seat selection to their elites, unless they're flying on a specific fare class and/or are super elite. On the other hand, United's program hands out preferred seating (i.e. Economy+) even if you are on the cheapest revenue ticket or an award ticket issued by another *A partner so long as your BIS is on a UA seat.
Did you or did you not get the free bag?
On the technical side, was this booked in X class, or was it a paid ticket? I've heard of this a lot with Aeroplan tickets, even booked by Super Elites, where OLCI asks for money. But the agents are usually very quick to accept bags without payment. If there's another reproducible case where you don't get your entitlement, I'm curious to know what it is.
On the technical side, was this booked in X class, or was it a paid ticket? I've heard of this a lot with Aeroplan tickets, even booked by Super Elites, where OLCI asks for money. But the agents are usually very quick to accept bags without payment. If there's another reproducible case where you don't get your entitlement, I'm curious to know what it is.
Safe Travels,
James
#92
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,384
The special privileges refers to things like priority everything (i.e. check in, baggage handling, security, immigration, boarding), access to lounges, free baggage allowance, IRROPs insurance on all instances of things going sideways, etc. So far my experience has been that these features are all Universal across all *A airlines with the only limiting factor being the airport in question (i.e. not all have a lounge or priority security).
Seat selection was never part of the *A benefits and is implemented on an airline by airline basis. For instance, AC doesn't give away preferred seat selection to their elites, unless they're flying on a specific fare class and/or are super elite. On the other hand, United's program hands out preferred seating (i.e. Economy+) even if you are on the cheapest revenue ticket or an award ticket issued by another *A partner so long as your BIS is on a UA seat.
In virtually all cases *A Gold will give you free baggage allowance regardless of what fare you're travelling on (even award travel). In fact a while back I was travelling on a domestic Aeroplan issued ticket with AC and after showing my MilagePlus card was able to check a bag in no problems. The only exception I can think of are the Economy Basic tickets issued by Lufthansa. That being said AC's IT system is a real dog (no offence to dogs), and have encountered situations where it demanded I fork over the $25. In those instances, I would continue with OLCI claiming to have 0 bags to check in and when I get to the airport head over to the check in counter to get my bag checked in. Aside from a couple regional airports where the agent wasn't aware of the *A Gold policy, I had no problem getting that bag checked for free.
Safe Travels,
James
Seat selection was never part of the *A benefits and is implemented on an airline by airline basis. For instance, AC doesn't give away preferred seat selection to their elites, unless they're flying on a specific fare class and/or are super elite. On the other hand, United's program hands out preferred seating (i.e. Economy+) even if you are on the cheapest revenue ticket or an award ticket issued by another *A partner so long as your BIS is on a UA seat.
In virtually all cases *A Gold will give you free baggage allowance regardless of what fare you're travelling on (even award travel). In fact a while back I was travelling on a domestic Aeroplan issued ticket with AC and after showing my MilagePlus card was able to check a bag in no problems. The only exception I can think of are the Economy Basic tickets issued by Lufthansa. That being said AC's IT system is a real dog (no offence to dogs), and have encountered situations where it demanded I fork over the $25. In those instances, I would continue with OLCI claiming to have 0 bags to check in and when I get to the airport head over to the check in counter to get my bag checked in. Aside from a couple regional airports where the agent wasn't aware of the *A Gold policy, I had no problem getting that bag checked for free.
Safe Travels,
James
For example, if I, as a Super Elite, book an X class segment, OLCI will try to charge me for my first bag. But check-in agents always (and easily) take the bag, priority tag it, and don't charge me.
But I've never heard of that happening with anything other than an Aeroplan ticket.
It's not about it being X class, it's the lack of the FQTV field on the PNR that causes OLCI to charge.
#93
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
Did you or did you not get the free bag?
On the technical side, was this booked in X class, or was it a paid ticket? I've heard of this a lot with Aeroplan tickets, even booked by Super Elites, where OLCI asks for money. But the agents are usually very quick to accept bags without payment. If there's another reproducible case where you don't get your entitlement, I'm curious to know what it is.
On the technical side, was this booked in X class, or was it a paid ticket? I've heard of this a lot with Aeroplan tickets, even booked by Super Elites, where OLCI asks for money. But the agents are usually very quick to accept bags without payment. If there's another reproducible case where you don't get your entitlement, I'm curious to know what it is.
#95
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,317
#97
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
#98
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Star Alliance Gold, Titanium Elite Marriott, Celebrity Elite, IHG, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 344
You can check the flight on Air Canada Website under baggage rules status Star Alliance Gold one additional bag 23 kg passenger only everyone else pays for an extra bag in economy.
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,317
So what the heck does this mean?
$60 for first bag, but 2nd free?
It actually says on Spanish OTAs that the fee will be 50 Euro (CAD76)....
So which is it?
#100
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Star Alliance Gold, Titanium Elite Marriott, Celebrity Elite, IHG, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 344
Your two bags are free. Economy pays. Try checking economy no status. Many of the Star Alliance carriers on certain routes only allow one check bag for free. Air Canada between United States and Canada there is a fee for checked bags.
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,317
United gives *G a free bag on these new joint venture fares, does AC?
https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/...nsatlantic.pdf
#102
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YWG
Posts: 2,272
My interpretation is +1 bag at the weight the fare allows. So it would be 1+1 for an economy (non-basic) ticket and 0+1 for a basic economy ticket. The tool just sucks.
#103
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Star Alliance Gold, Titanium Elite Marriott, Celebrity Elite, IHG, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 344
You have to look at the carrier’s rule that you are traveling on. I always try to fly United. When there are other carriers involved with my United flight tickets usually on a return flight or multi destination. I checked the baggage rules for all the available carriers.
Los Angeles to Singapore United
Duabi to Los Angeles Air Canada, Swiss and Lufthansa one bag two bags Air China and Turkish Air.
Los Angeles to Singapore United
Duabi to Los Angeles Air Canada, Swiss and Lufthansa one bag two bags Air China and Turkish Air.
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,317
Though it appears your second bag would be free
AC=fail.