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Separate ticketing / PNR: AA, oneworld, through baggage & protection issues > 2016

Old Jun 18, 2016, 2:27 pm
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Last edit by: Prospero
oneworld announces alliance airlines no longer required to honor missed connections or interline baggage for those on separate PNRs

NOTE: See AA Protection on separate oneworld tickets / PNR

AA policy: Through Checked Baggage Policy Separate Tickets - see PDF available attached to post #1.

Background:
Originally Posted by OAG

According to OAGs most recent report, Self-Connection: The Rise and Roadblocks of a Growing Travel Booking Strategy, 40 percent of U.S. travellers are bypassing typical booking practices, such as through an airline, travel agency or OTA, and are beginning to self-connect when they travel.

Self-connecting passengers are defined as those that book separate tickets to fly from City A to City C, via City B.

Already popular in Europe, self-connecting is beginning to increase in popularity in the U.S. market as passengers look to save money. Passengers can mix and match airlines in order to score the best deal or connect through a city they would like to visit on the way to their final destination. But what are some of the roadblocks and challenges to successfully self-connect, and how can airlines or airports make this process easier?
oneworld airlines are not required to provide connecting passenger protection of through checked baggage to passengers on separate PNRs; individual airlines may still choose to do so, but it is not required. AA, BA, QF (9/2016) have modified their policies regarding connection protection and baggage through checking of passengers flying on separate PNRs. Read on. (Yes, it means on separate PNRs AA won't even through check on AA to AA - link to ODF.))

Qatar Airways / QR has verified as of 1 March 2017 they will interline baggage on separate PNRs. They must be the first airline (not one honoring the original oneworld policy) one checks in with, and the connection must meet MCT (usually two hours). See more in post quoted below, and link to Australian Business Traveller article. (26 Feb 2017)

MH / Malaysia Airlines STILL HONOR connection protection and through checking / interlining on separate PNRs.

Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon reversed their policy and through check baggage on separate PNRs as of 1 Jan 2017. See post #1.

JL / Japan Airlines began through checking to oneworld partners again in Oct 2016.

Qatar Airways will through check baggage to oneworld partners if its the trip origin airline.

See Wikipost for this thread in oneworld forum for the list of oneworld airlines and known through checking policies.

Link to American Airlines' policy on through checking baggage as of 1 Sep 2016. Notice that different protocols are followed in IROPS / OSO conditions.

As well, if you book an award ticket and a paid ticket at the same time, there are mixed reports here of well trained agents being able to combine these into a single PNR at the time of booking, which enables bags to be through checked. But this takes a good agent, probably several HUCAs, and can only be done at the time of booking. - JJeffrey

Code:
Through Checked Baggage Policy (AA, 1 Sep 2016) (link to PDF)

To align American Airlines (AA) with our oneworld partners and to reduce
baggage mishandlings, we will now only through check customers and
baggage when all the tickets are in the same PNR.

Through check-in will be honored between the following carriers only:
  • Code:
    American Airlines and American Eagle
    • Code:
       oneworld airlines and affiliates


Code:
What if I have separate tickets in the same PNR for itineraries with
American to a non-oneworld carrier?

"Our policy on American to non-oneworld airline tickets has not changed.
We will not through check customers or bags even if the tickets are in
the same PNR."

What would be the bag charges if the customer holds separate tickets
in separate PNRs?

American will not through check a customers bag, regardless if it is
a oneworld carrier. The customer will need to collect their bag at
the final destination on the AA ticket. They will pay for the bag on the
second ticket when they recheck it. This may involve exiting the secure
area, then claiming and re-checking the bags. The Minimum Connecting
Time (MCT) will usually not be sufficient when the customer has separate
tickets issued for each airline.

International flights on separate PNRs (or to non-oneworld carriers) will usually require claiming bags, clearing customs and rechecking bags on another carrier to be continued to their next destination.

What will customers be charged if we can through check the bag?

The charges would depend on what tickets the customer holds in the same PNR.

Do Alaska and our other codeshare/interline partners count as affiliate airlines?

No, the oneworld affiliate airlines are generally the regional partners of the other oneworld carriers. If a customer held an AS ticket and an AA ticket in the same PNR we would not through check the bag. They would need to reclaim then recheck their bag with AS.
When issuing separate tickets it is important your customer be informed that American is unable to through-check' bags with 2 separate tickets (PNRs) if they are traveling on American and non-oneworld carriers. This will result in an airport check-in representative collecting the required baggage fees based on each airline's established policies.

Please advise the customer to allow additional time to claim their baggage, present the required travel documents to enter the country, if relevant, and meet check-in requirements for the connecting flight. The Minimum Connecting Time (MCT) will usually not be sufficient when the customer has separate tickets issued for each airline.

Link

(One PNR can be comprised of several tickets - up to 16, if memory serves.)

Australian Business Traveller (in part): Despite the two airlines' (AA and QF) joint venture across the Pacific, check-in staff are no longer obliged to tag your baggage through to your final destination from September 1 2016 if your flights are booked separately (separate ONRs) rather than under the one reservation.

Instead, those bags will only be tagged as far as the destination shown on each individual booking not where youre actually headed at the end of the trip. Both Qantas and American Airlines have confirmed the new arrangements to Australian Business Traveller.
Those also announcing they will NOT HONOR connection protection and through checking / interlining on separate PNRs, even on oneworld airline partners. (AA still honors connection protection if your next flight is on AA.)

E.g. CX new policy in line with above:

"+ oneworld Ticketing and Disruption Policy 01 Jun 2016

Separate Ticket Policy - Revised Through Check in Handling

With effect from 01 Jun 2016, all oneworld carriers have agreed that through* check-in will apply ONLY to passengers travelling on an oneworld itinerary ticketed on a single ticket or where segments are ticketed separately but in the same PNR.

*=Through services are defined as the customer and their baggage being through checked to their final destinations.

To align with the change, disruption policy will also be revised to exclude protection for passengers holding separate tickets that is not booked under the same PNR."
NOTE: CX will still offer protection and baggage interlining between Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon.

Oneworld (sic) communications chief Michael Blunt tells Australian Business Traveller that individual member airlines are free to offer service above and beyond the (Oneworld) alliance minimum standard if they so choose, so some may continue to offer through check-in for customers travelling on separate bookings.

"All our member airlines will be delighted to continue to check them and their baggage through to any of the 1,000 plus destinations on the alliance network, on multiple sectors, Blunt says, provided the itinerary is all on one booking so we are aware of where they and their baggage want to end up and we can plan accordingly and ensure the best possible customer service delivery throughout the journey.

M. Blunt, as quoted in Australian Business Traveller
Gary Leff, View from the Wing, 16 Aug 2016: reached out to American and learned this new policy goes into effect September 1 although Im not sure how they can retroactively apply it to tickets purchased before the new policy was implemented.

Theres one small saving grace. Customers traveling on separate tickets where one segment is an award ticket and another has been purchased can through-check bags. Travel must be on American or oneworld partners, and not on partners outside the oneworld alliance (like Etihad or Air Tahiti Nui). Tickets much be in the same reservation. Link
"
  • If youre booked on two separate PNRs on oneworld carriers, youve previously been able to check your bags through to your final destination
  • If youre booked on two separate tickets on oneworld carriers, youve been protected in the event of a misconnect or cancelation


As of June 1, 2016, the oneworld alliance has eliminated these benefits for passengers booked on separate tickets. Oneworld carriers no longer have to check your bags through to other oneworld carriers if booked on a separate ticket, and no longer have to protect you in the event of a misconnect when on separate tickets."

Link to full article in Boarding Area
"In a move which could cause connection chaos for many travellers, airlines belonging to the Oneworld (sic) alliance ... are no longer required to check passengers and their baggage through to their final destination on some connecting flights.

"The new scheme, which came into effect from June 1st (2016), impacts passengers whose journey involves flights on more than one airline where their travel encompasses more than one booking, rather than all flights being listed under a single booking reference. "

But, good news for those flying Qatar Airways:

Originally Posted by JDiver
Important change! Qatar Airways has announced they will no longer adhere to oneworld's draconian baggage transfer policy when flights are booked on separate PNRs.

As long as MCT / minimum connection times are met, QR will interline baggage on separate oneworld PNRs as of 1 March 2017.

Australian Business Traveller found the change in the QR ground services manual issued 23 Feb 2017, verified by a QR spokesperson.

NOTE: If one is beginning travel with a one world airline adhering to the oneworld policy and continuing on Qatar, one flying on separate PNRs is still going to have to collect baggage and recheck with QR.

E.g. SFO-LAX on AA, LAX-DOH-CMB on QR, two PNRs - the first sector on AA, remainder on QR, AA will not respect QR ground handling rules so one will have to recover baggage at LAX and transfer it to the QR checkin counter.

(Added to Wikipost 26 Feb 2017)

Link to full article on Australian Business Traveller
Link to update of Aus BT article with airline announcements of their positions

On FT: oneworld no longer interlining between separate tickets / PNRs?

On FT: BA no longer interlining baggage with separate tickets

On FT: CX will not interline to other oneworld airlines if travelling on separate PNRs

On FT: JAL will continue to interline to other oneworld carriers on separate PNRs (4 Oct 2016)

On FT: Qantas - no checking of luggage separate itineraries from 1 Sep (2016) [some exceptions]

Archived previous thread: ARCHIVE: Change to through-checking Oct 2014 (interlining) baggage on separate tickets

Updated 26 Feb 2017 - JDiver
Print Wikipost

Separate ticketing / PNR: AA, oneworld, through baggage & protection issues > 2016

Old Mar 18, 2018, 12:31 pm
  #706  
 
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Does American interline baggage to Alaska?
Daniel Solis is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2018, 1:03 pm
  #707  
 
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Originally Posted by beyond
There's nothing to prevent an agent/agency from pricing/issuing 2 or more separate tickets in the same PNR. I presume they don't because they don't know how and/or are instructed not to, even on award tickets. They can price/ticket segments individually or in combination by segment selecting - so regardless of the reason they created the new rule about separate PNR's [whether technical, financial, or a combination] - the way it stands now there's nothing against the rules from having multiple tickets in the same record. And if they're all OneWorld - voila! Problem solved.
Do you know if there are any OTAs that will do this? Do you know if you specifically ask AA reservations for this, if they'll do it?
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 1:46 pm
  #708  
 
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Originally Posted by Daniel Solis
Does American interline baggage to Alaska?
Yes if on one PNR, no if not

Originally Posted by donotblink
Do you know if there are any OTAs that will do this? Do you know if you specifically ask AA reservations for this, if they'll do it?
Yes, AA phone agents can combine (for example) a revenue ticket and award ticket onto one PNR.
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 6:20 pm
  #709  
 
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Originally Posted by no1cub17
Yes if on one PNR, no if not



Yes, AA phone agents can combine (for example) a revenue ticket and award ticket onto one PNR.
So you are saying if I have a revenue ticket from IND-ORD and an award ticket from ORD-LHR (two separate PNRs obviously), an AA phone agent can combine them into one so we wont have to claim bagge in ORD and recheck??
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 6:29 pm
  #710  
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Originally Posted by ceebee100

So you are saying if I have a revenue ticket from IND-ORD and an award ticket from ORD-LHR (two separate PNRs obviously), an AA phone agent can combine them into one so we won’t have to claim bagge in ORD and recheck??
No, they cannot

2 PNRs cannot be turned into 1

If, by some miracle, you were to be able to get AA to create a single PNR containing an award and paid booking when booking both at same time, then it would entitle through baggage checking

I am not aware of anyone managing to do this , regardless of whether it is potentially feasible in the booking system
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 6:41 pm
  #711  
 
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble

If, by some miracle, you were to be able to get AA to create a single PNR containing an award and paid booking when booking both at same time, then it would entitle through baggage checking

I am not aware of anyone managing to do this , regardless of whether it is potentially feasible in the booking system
Mixing award & revenue tickets in a single PNR, booked in a single transaction? Upon simple request, EXP desk would do this for me all the time... I'd receive two separate e-ticket receipts, both mentioning the same PNR. And, FWIW, I vaguely recall that they were also able to add revenue bookings to a PNR already containing ticketed award segments, but that adding award segments to a PNR with already ticketed revenue tickets was impossible.
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 7:04 pm
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Some are saying it’s possible and some are saying not. I was told it was not possible to join them into one PNR a while ago, so maybe it’s a case of YMMV. Either way, it’s no big deal for me to go to baggage claim and recheck as we have 3 hrs in ORD anyway.
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 10:02 pm
  #713  
 
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
No, they cannot

2 PNRs cannot be turned into 1

If, by some miracle, you were to be able to get AA to create a single PNR containing an award and paid booking when booking both at same time, then it would entitle through baggage checking

I am not aware of anyone managing to do this , regardless of whether it is potentially feasible in the booking system
I've combined award+revenue tickets into a single PNR multiple times on AA/oneworld

Originally Posted by ceebee100

So you are saying if I have a revenue ticket from IND-ORD and an award ticket from ORD-LHR (two separate PNRs obviously), an AA phone agent can combine them into one so we wont have to claim bagge in ORD and recheck??
Not quite - if you've already purchased two separate tickets, then no, AA can't (won't) combine them into one PNR. However, they can do this at the time of purchase - it takes some patience and luck to find a phone agent competent enough to do this, but 100% it is possible. Unfortunately you can't (as far as I'm aware) combine two tickets into a single PNR after the fact.

Originally Posted by ceebee100
Some are saying its possible and some are saying not. I was told it was not possible to join them into one PNR a while ago, so maybe its a case of YMMV. Either way, its no big deal for me to go to baggage claim and recheck as we have 3 hrs in ORD anyway.
Again if you've already purchased the tickets, then unfortunately you're SOL. Doesn't hurt to ask though, a sympathetic check-in agent may tag your bags through (but probably won't for fear of angering Dougie). 3 hours would be my bare minimum if doing this at ORD, just sayin. I'd highly consider going standby on an earlier flight if possible.
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Old Mar 18, 2018, 11:38 pm
  #714  
 
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Originally Posted by no1cub17
...if you've already purchased two separate tickets, then no, AA can't (won't) combine them into one PNR. However, they can do this at the time of purchase - it takes some patience and luck to find a phone agent competent enough to do this, but 100% it is possible. Unfortunately you can't (as far as I'm aware) combine two tickets into a single PNR after the fact...
This.
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Old Mar 29, 2018, 4:24 pm
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Data point: I tried to have through checked bags on 2 PNR at DFW. A supervisor tried, but said there is no way. Apparently, there used to be a loophole that has been closed. Stupidest. Policy. Ever.
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Old Mar 29, 2018, 7:22 pm
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Originally Posted by kit125
Data point: I tried to have through checked bags on 2 PNR at DFW. A supervisor tried, but said there is no way. Apparently, there used to be a loophole that has been closed. Stupidest. Policy. Ever.
Going for great!
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Old Apr 2, 2018, 4:28 pm
  #717  
 
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All In One

Originally Posted by checkerboard
Mixing award & revenue tickets in a single PNR, booked in a single transaction? Upon simple request, EXP desk would do this for me all the time... I'd receive two separate e-ticket receipts, both mentioning the same PNR. And, FWIW, I vaguely recall that they were also able to add revenue bookings to a PNR already containing ticketed award segments, but that adding award segments to a PNR with already ticketed revenue tickets was impossible.
There are 2 distinct different situations: 1) all revenue, but splitting fares results in a lower total [which happens more and more as airlines specifically make rules preventing automatic low-fare combinations to increase revenue] and 2) revenue/mileage ticket combination for bag-check purposes.

For 1) you have to either check yourself if different individual combinations results in lower fares, then ask a phone agent to do that for you or have a great travel agent who will automatically do that for you.

For 2) you need to have done the research in advance to determine what revenue ticket you want connected with a mileage ticket [usually because mileage space isn't available on the short segments], and ask the agent to book them at the same time in the same record. They may need to go to their support desk to get it done, but it can be done.

Trying to combine records after the fact is impossible from a computer point of view. Previously agents would/could use a manual over-ride to create a bag tag [often by inserting pseudo flights into one record] that would be thru-checked. But management specifically is forbidding them from doing that now, alliances be damned. In typical fashion, they're expecting the public to understand their arcane rules and archaic computer systems, which is nearly impossible. All in service of less liability for themselves [lost bags on misconnections] and slightly less work on ticket issuance, and also in the case of revenue - a lot more $$ by preventing most fare combinations.

Airlines are NOT on the side of the customer/passenger or even logic, no matter what they say. They're after personal longevity/income/status, then company/stockholder revenue. Everything else is incidental.
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Old Apr 16, 2018, 7:29 am
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I have an AA award ticket from DCA (AA F) > JFK - 12+ hour overnight layover (CX F) > HKG > TPE on one AA PNR.

My understanding is that they WILL through check it all the way to TPE. But can I request a short check from DCA to JFK and re-check at JFK?
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Old Apr 16, 2018, 8:03 am
  #719  
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Originally Posted by jayoxd
I have an AA award ticket from DCA (AA F) > JFK - 12+ hour overnight layover (CX F) > HKG > TPE on one AA PNR.

My understanding is that they WILL through check it all the way to TPE. But can I request a short check from DCA to JFK and re-check at JFK?
Absolutely, with a 12+ hr overnight connection I'm guessing your bags would be checked just to JFK by default.
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Old Apr 16, 2018, 8:07 am
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Originally Posted by JJeffrey
Absolutely, with a 12+ hr overnight connection I'm guessing your bags would be checked just to JFK by default.
Fantastic, thank you for the quick reply!
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