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

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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 OAG’s 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 it’s 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 customer’s 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 you’re 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 I’m not sure how they can retroactively apply it to tickets purchased before the new policy was implemented.

There’s 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 you’re booked on two separate PNRs on oneworld carriers, you’ve previously been able to check your bags through to your final destination
  • If you’re booked on two separate tickets on oneworld carriers, you’ve 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
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Separate ticketing / PNR: AA, oneworld, through baggage & protection issues > 2016

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Old Aug 22, 2016, 8:53 pm
  #196  
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Originally Posted by wandering_fred
I have an open issue with CX customer relations regarding a PHX-LAX-HKG-PER (long haul in PEY) ticket. If I enter PHX into the CX website, PER is not an allowed destination.

I note that there are numerous connecting flights PHX-LAX (including one that arrives 2.5 hours before my desired CX departure). It would appear that at least the CX web site can not generate an end-on-end ticket combination that is simple to construct as separate tickets. I asked if CX (USA) telephone sales could ticket and was given the USA 800 number. The connection time is likely long enough to re-check luggage but it is also short enough to incur a risk from delays (ATC?).

The other issue is that for the most part CX when ticketing in PEY (or business) will use premium fare classes for the AA connecting leg when a fare in Q/N/S will happily suffice.

Happy wandering

Fred

Getting a PHX-PER ticket from CX should not be that difficult - a search for PHX-PER shows up constructed fares

**** CONSTRUCTED ROUTING PHX-PER/CX EF-15AUG16 DIS-INDEF
**ADDON ORG PHX TPRG/3 PUBLISHED ROUTING 0192
**PUBLISHED LAX-PER TPRG/3 PUBLISHED ROUTING 0186
.
.

PHX-AA-LAX-HKG-CX-PER
.
.

I am not sure that it will offer end-on-end tickets where the airline publishes a fare
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Old Aug 22, 2016, 10:30 pm
  #197  
 
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There is an article in tomorrow's NYT reporting that mislaid baggage rates are at an indsutry-wide all-time low. So it seems that AA and Oneworld are addressing a problem which is already well on its way to be solved. In addition, I must say that I don't see how this new policy will actually save AA any money, while the impact on us passengers is clear. In particular
- Most trips are return, so presumably there is as much baggage coming from other airlines onto AA as there is going from AA to others. So, I don't see any "win" to AA from declining to through check, as overall, in/out baggage loss should even out.
- Forcing passengers to recheck will increase airline costs for 100% of the rechecked trips. (As you will have to re-checkin, and re-check bags, which incurs a cost).
Taking these two points together, it seems to me that AA might actually lose money on this new policy - unless of course, people move to buying more expensive through tickets. This analysis suggests that the latter is the true motive, and talk of costs saving is nothing but a smokescreen.
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Old Aug 22, 2016, 11:05 pm
  #198  
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Originally Posted by Wexflyer
There is an article in tomorrow's NYT reporting that mislaid baggage rates are at an indsutry-wide all-time low. So it seems that AA and Oneworld are addressing a problem which is already well on its way to be solved. In addition, I must say that I don't see how this new policy will actually save AA any money, while the impact on us passengers is clear. In particular
- Most trips are return, so presumably there is as much baggage coming from other airlines onto AA as there is going from AA to others. So, I don't see any "win" to AA from declining to through check, as overall, in/out baggage loss should even out.
But other airlines with which AA is partnered are nearly all declining to check through , so I doubt that there would still be as much baggage coming in from others as going out
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Old Aug 22, 2016, 11:31 pm
  #199  
 
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
But other airlines with which AA is partnered are nearly all declining to check through , so I doubt that there would still be as much baggage coming in from others as going out
The argument I made is against the new position by AA and its partners. It substantially weakens the case for flying Oneworld airlines.
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Old Aug 22, 2016, 11:35 pm
  #200  
 
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Originally Posted by JonNYC
D'oh
Roger that. I was wondering - can I still claim protection if I book before the policy change? AA currently charges the most on that route, but I'm willing to pay if it's protection money. (The flight is the Monday after Thanksgiving, so that may complicate things.)
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Old Aug 22, 2016, 11:53 pm
  #201  
 
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Originally Posted by eethan
Roger that. I was wondering - can I still claim protection if I book before the policy change? AA currently charges the most on that route, but I'm willing to pay if it's protection money. (The flight is the Monday after Thanksgiving, so that may complicate things.)
I'm not sure. When AA first announced that they wouldn't thru-check bags to non-oneworld carriers on separate tickets, they did specify that it was only for tickets purchased after the announcement. However, past performance is not necessarily a predictor of future results.
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Old Aug 23, 2016, 3:24 am
  #202  
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
From another forum, the following document was linked to ( https://ssc.aa.com/prmportal_enu/Age...%20Tickets.pdf ) which seems to suggest that AA has changed or is changing its policy

That the document is dated in July seems odd though



but then does go on to say - not in itself contradictory , but only referring to non OW flights



Not sure if this suggests that AA is going in line with most other OW carriers

(HT Calchas) looks like the July Agent's Notice has been unpublished and the February notice restored

https://ssc.aa.com/prmportal_enu/Age...%20Tickets.pdf

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...l#post27106051
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Old Aug 24, 2016, 12:08 am
  #203  
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From Australian Bussiness Traveller, 22 Aug 2026 re. AA & QF baggage through checking (1 Sep 2016 no more through checking on separate PNRs). Link.


(in part) Despite the two airlines' 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 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 you’re actually headed at the end of the trip.
Both Qantas and American Airlines have confirmed the new arrangements to Australian Business Traveller.
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Old Aug 24, 2016, 3:09 am
  #204  
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Originally Posted by JDiver
From Australian Bussiness Traveller, 22 Aug 2026 re. AA & QF baggage through checking (1 Sep 2016 no more through checking on separate PNRs). Link.
It seems with the reinstated Feb 24 notice, AA will check into QF even if QF does not reciprocate. I wonder does the Ausbt piece need updating?
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Old Aug 24, 2016, 5:04 am
  #205  
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The article implies that the author was informed by AA that it will be implementing it on 1 Sep
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Old Aug 24, 2016, 11:34 pm
  #206  
 
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Why get protection?

For practical purposes, what is the benefit of being protected when you also have same-day standby?

Let's say I arrive 2 hours late - I can invoke AA's flat-tire rule and get free standby, which seems to be the best AA can do to "protect" me anyways.
- If I'm elite, it seems my best course of action is to standby for a later flight as soon as I know I'm arriving late. I should do this even if I'm protected.

Unless "protected" means that AA is going to pay UA to put me on an earlier flight, I don't see any added value. Am I missing something or are we all too caught up with being "protected."
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Old Aug 24, 2016, 11:42 pm
  #207  
 
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Originally Posted by eethan
For practical purposes, what is the benefit of being protected when you also have same-day standby?

Let's say I arrive 2 hours late - I can invoke AA's flat-tire rule and get free standby, which seems to be the best AA can do to "protect" me anyways.
- If I'm elite, it seems my best course of action is to standby for a later flight as soon as I know I'm arriving late. I should do this even if I'm protected.

Unless "protected" means that AA is going to pay UA to put me on an earlier flight, I don't see any added value. Am I missing something or are we all too caught up with being "protected."
Not at all the point.
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Old Aug 25, 2016, 2:56 am
  #208  
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Originally Posted by eethan
For practical purposes, what is the benefit of being protected when you also have same-day standby?

Let's say I arrive 2 hours late - I can invoke AA's flat-tire rule and get free standby, which seems to be the best AA can do to "protect" me anyways.
- If I'm elite, it seems my best course of action is to standby for a later flight as soon as I know I'm arriving late. I should do this even if I'm protected.

Unless "protected" means that AA is going to pay UA to put me on an earlier flight, I don't see any added value. Am I missing something or are we all too caught up with being "protected."
To start with, late arrival standby is a discretionary offering - so cannot rely on it being offered and quite feasible that a late arriving flight will not be something for which it chooses to show discretion on

Also, it requires arriving no more than 2 hours late at the airport , so a 2+ hour delay would make the passenger ineligible

Aslo, it applies only to domestic flights ; no late arrival standby is offered for international services

Plus of course, does require that there be another flight that day where there is space
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Old Aug 25, 2016, 7:58 pm
  #209  
 
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Originally Posted by Dave Noble
Getting a PHX-PER ticket from CX should not be that difficult - a search for PHX-PER shows up constructed fares
..
PHX-AA-LAX-HKG-CX-PER

I am not sure that it will offer end-on-end tickets where the airline publishes a fare
The issue was that the CX website would not offer any routing options at all - constructed or otherwise. PHX was not a valid departing point for PER.

The other issue with PEY CX fares has been that premium AA fare classes (ie flexible) have been mandatory - inflating the cost to interesting levels even though the PEY fare classes (E) are premium but NON-flexible.

Happy wandering

Fred
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Old Aug 25, 2016, 8:34 pm
  #210  
 
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Originally Posted by wandering_fred
The issue was that the CX website would not offer any routing options at all - constructed or otherwise. PHX was not a valid departing point for PER.

The other issue with PEY CX fares has been that premium AA fare classes (ie flexible) have been mandatory - inflating the cost to interesting levels even though the PEY fare classes (E) are premium but NON-flexible.

Happy wandering

Fred
Yup. But according to some posters here that makes us bad customers!
no1cub17 is offline  


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