Jun 18, 2016, 2:27 pm
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:
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
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.)
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:
NOTE: CX will still offer protection and baggage interlining between Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon.
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
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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
"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
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
"
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
- 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:
Link to full article on Australian Business Traveller
"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:
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)
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
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
Separate ticketing / PNR: AA, oneworld, through baggage & protection issues > 2016
Mar 4, 2018, 6:11 pm
#691
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
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AA will check bags through on multiple tickets if they are in the same PNR (reservation). A PNR can have up to 16 tickets. AA stubbornly refuses to check bags through if they are in two separate PNRs.
Let's assume two passengers are flying the same itinerary. Passenger #1 bought (somewhere) to ORD to LHR all on one ticket. Passenger #2 is flying exactly the same route, but on two separate tickets. WHY does pax #2 have to reclaim bags at the connecting point? What benefit is this, to AA, or to the passenger, or to the ramp workers, or to the other passengers, etc? I understand that it's a "rule", but I don't understand WHY it's a rule and WHO it benefits.
Is there any way to combine separate tickets into a single PNR (after purchase but before flight)? If not, then WHY not? What technical glitch prevents a customer from fixing the one thing which makes AA act ridiculously stubborn?
Let's assume two passengers are flying the same itinerary. Passenger #1 bought (somewhere) to ORD to LHR all on one ticket. Passenger #2 is flying exactly the same route, but on two separate tickets. WHY does pax #2 have to reclaim bags at the connecting point? What benefit is this, to AA, or to the passenger, or to the ramp workers, or to the other passengers, etc? I understand that it's a "rule", but I don't understand WHY it's a rule and WHO it benefits.
Is there any way to combine separate tickets into a single PNR (after purchase but before flight)? If not, then WHY not? What technical glitch prevents a customer from fixing the one thing which makes AA act ridiculously stubborn?
There is no way I’m aware of to combine separate PNRs into one, and if there is a price difference they wouldn’t do it anyway.
Like the writing of the Warsaw and Montreal conventions etc. in their favor, they did it because they could.
Mar 4, 2018, 8:22 pm
#692
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
If a person wants the benefits of a through booking, then make a through booking
You might as well argue that if one person has paid the price to have a fully flexible ticket that it is unfair for another person to be expected to pay change fees when they have the same itinerary and want to make a change
You might as well argue that if one person has paid the price to have a fully flexible ticket that it is unfair for another person to be expected to pay change fees when they have the same itinerary and want to make a change
The very idea of "you found a cheaper fare, so we're gonna make your flight miserable" just basically sucks. If we let them get away with this one item, there will be more in the future.
BTW I hardly ever check luggage so this is not a rant about about I am specifically affected. Instead, its the principal. If AA doesn't want us to book a cheap ticket, then why do they offer them for sale? And don't say that baggage handling is an extra benefit of an expensive ticket. It costs AA MUCH MORE time, effort and money to take your bag to the carousel, let you claim it, then take it to the ticket counter to re-check it, etc ... than it would cost to simply transfer the bag. The whole thru-bag thing costs AA at least THREE TIMES AS MUCH to implement than if they simply transferred the bags like they always used to do. AA doesn't save money with their new Misery Policy on Bags. Insetad, it COSTS them money, big time.
So, this whole bag thing is a new misery, imposed on customers for NO REASON and providing NO BENEFIT TO AA. They do it simply to be pricks.
Mar 4, 2018, 8:23 pm
#693
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
Then u should have bought it as one ticket. Problem solved. I created this yourself to save some $.
Mar 4, 2018, 8:25 pm
#694
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Posts: 44,620
There is nothing wrong with booking a cheap fare - if however you get it by circumventing the fares that the airline has listed for the journey by splitting into 2 or book one ticket but wont pay the change fee to change an original booking, why should the airline support and assist?
Mar 4, 2018, 9:07 pm
#695
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And therefore the checked bags, which come off of airplane #1 and go onto airplane #2 , need to be handle completely differently, due to ... exactly what?
<snipped>
So, this whole bag thing is a new misery, imposed on customers for NO REASON and providing NO BENEFIT TO AA. They do it simply to be pricks.
<snipped>
So, this whole bag thing is a new misery, imposed on customers for NO REASON and providing NO BENEFIT TO AA. They do it simply to be pricks.
Of course there is a reason. Possibly more than 1.
This encourages people to put it all on a single ticket.
I can see how it also might limit exposures of AA to misconnecting bags.
Mar 4, 2018, 9:25 pm
#696
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Oh, grasshopper if it was that easy, it's an award ticket, if I tacked on PHX to the beginning of our trip, I would lose the F class portion of the trip. even if it was in coach on the first segment. I've never seen this neither had the agent. So I had to purchase the ticket. It's really no biggie, I'll just retrieve the bag, while hubby sit's in FD, I'll get our bag, and use Flagship check-in to speed through everything.
Mar 4, 2018, 10:48 pm
#697
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: American EXP; British Airways Gold
Posts: 1,896
Oh, grasshopper if it was that easy, it's an award ticket, if I tacked on PHX to the beginning of our trip, I would lose the F class portion of the trip. even if it was in coach on the first segment. I've never seen this neither had the agent. So I had to purchase the ticket. It's really no biggie, I'll just retrieve the bag, while hubby sit's in FD, I'll get our bag, and use Flagship check-in to speed through everything.
Mar 4, 2018, 11:35 pm
#698
Join Date: Feb 2003
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There is nothing wrong with booking a cheap fare - if however you get it by circumventing the fares that the airline has listed for the journey by splitting into 2 or book one ticket but wont pay the change fee to change an original booking, why should the airline support and assist?
What's the next logical extension? If you found a bargain airfare, the airline hires someone to prick you with a needle every few minutes, to teach you a good lesson? Don't laugh: These two scenarios are one and the same. You saved money on tickets, so the airline spends extra money to make you miserable.
Is there even one customer, anywhere in the world, who says "HURRAY! The airline made me go to the baggage claim, get my bag, haul it to the check in counter, check it in again, then go back through security!! I'm so happy with that level of great service!!!".
Who pays the baggage handlers, the employees who attend the baggage carousel, the check-in counter folks, and (indirectly) the security screening? That's an awful lot of expense, simply for the purpose of teaching people a good lesson because they found a cheap ticket.
The people at Uber became bazillionaires because they took a common process (Taxi Travel) which was FULL of misery. EVERY step of a taxi trip is miserable. They found a way to remove almost all of the misery. Well, the scene is set for someone to find a way to remove the misery and needless hassle from air travel. They can start with the crazy rules which make passengers go through contortions FOR NO REASON and AT MUCH ADDITIONAL COST to the airline.
Mar 5, 2018, 12:31 am
#699
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I don’t see why it’s so difficult to understand that different ticket types for the same travel service have different features.
If you bought cheap tickets to a concert but notice that an expensive seat is vacant at the front, you don’t get to sit there just because it doesn’t cost the organiser anything.
If you bought cheap tickets to a concert but notice that an expensive seat is vacant at the front, you don’t get to sit there just because it doesn’t cost the organiser anything.
Mar 5, 2018, 12:40 am
#700
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You save money by buying separate tickets, so the airline retaliates by incurring extra cost to add misery to your trip. It makes zero sense.
What's the next logical extension? If you found a bargain airfare, the airline hires someone to prick you with a needle every few minutes, to teach you a good lesson? Don't laugh: These two scenarios are one and the same. You saved money on tickets, so the airline spends extra money to make you miserable.
.
What's the next logical extension? If you found a bargain airfare, the airline hires someone to prick you with a needle every few minutes, to teach you a good lesson? Don't laugh: These two scenarios are one and the same. You saved money on tickets, so the airline spends extra money to make you miserable.
.
It isn't doing anything to make you miserable. If the drawbacks of 2 separate tckets make you miserable, then perhaps they are not for you
The customer may not be going hurrah at the drawbacks, but I spect there are a fair number feeling smug at saving money by knowing that the 2 tickets is cheaper than a through fare or being able to get a stopover without having to potentially pay for a higher through fare that allows stopovers
Mar 5, 2018, 2:35 am
#701
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Let A = the airline's effort to simply transfer the bag to the onward flight
Let B = the airline's effort to bring the bag to baggage claim, and then re-check the bag at the counter
B is always greater than A, because B CONTAINS all of A. B is at probably two or three TIMES A.
And the difference (B minus A) is the amount the airline goes OUT OF THEIR WAY to make the customers' trip miserable.
Why does the airline spend time and effort and money to make their customers' trip miserable? Is the airline interested in saving money? Is the airline interested in making people's trips pleasant?
Mar 5, 2018, 4:54 am
#702
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it can indeed cost the airline a lot more money when things go astray
for example, book ORD-MIA on a very cheap ticket on AA and then continue on with , say, QR to CMB via DOH. If the airline checks bag through to CMB it can be on the hook for costs of getting the bags to CMB in the case of a misconnect for a ticket where it is getting no revenue
If doing it to save money, then again it could impact revenue since it is removing any disincentive to booking separate tickets
for example, book ORD-MIA on a very cheap ticket on AA and then continue on with , say, QR to CMB via DOH. If the airline checks bag through to CMB it can be on the hook for costs of getting the bags to CMB in the case of a misconnect for a ticket where it is getting no revenue
If doing it to save money, then again it could impact revenue since it is removing any disincentive to booking separate tickets
Mar 5, 2018, 6:40 am
#703
Join Date: Feb 2003
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it can indeed cost the airline a lot more money when things go astray
for example, book ORD-MIA on a very cheap ticket on AA and then continue on with , say, QR to CMB via DOH. If the airline checks bag through to CMB it can be on the hook for costs of getting the bags to CMB in the case of a misconnect for a ticket where it is getting no revenue
If doing it to save money, then again it could impact revenue since it is removing any disincentive to booking separate tickets
for example, book ORD-MIA on a very cheap ticket on AA and then continue on with , say, QR to CMB via DOH. If the airline checks bag through to CMB it can be on the hook for costs of getting the bags to CMB in the case of a misconnect for a ticket where it is getting no revenue
If doing it to save money, then again it could impact revenue since it is removing any disincentive to booking separate tickets
When two customers are flying the exact same route, on the exact same aircraft, checking identical bags ... and both customers bought two separate tickets ... and one customer has the two tickets in a single PNR ... those bags are identical to the human eye. One customer gets a nice pleasant connection and the other customer gets an hour and a half of pure misery and hassle. To add insult to injury, it costs the airline MORE (A LOT MORE) to inflict the misery and hassle on that one customer.
I understand that it happens. I understand the rules. I just have no idea WHY the airline spends extra time, effort and money for the sole purpose of heaping misery upon a customer.
It's time for a "Contact AA" campaign.
Mar 5, 2018, 11:41 am
#704
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,620
No it isn't. The last carrier can have responsibility for dealing with the customer, but is not necessarily the one accountable for the issue
There is no reason to contact AA, just book a through ticket and not worry about it.
When two customers are flying the exact same route, on the exact same aircraft, checking identical bags ... and both customers bought two separate tickets ... and one customer has the two tickets in a single PNR ... those bags are identical to the human eye. One customer gets a nice pleasant connection and the other customer gets an hour and a half of pure misery and hassle. To add insult to injury, it costs the airline MORE (A LOT MORE) to inflict the misery and hassle on that one customer.
I understand that it happens. I understand the rules. I just have no idea WHY the airline spends extra time, effort and money for the sole purpose of heaping misery upon a customer.
It's time for a "Contact AA" campaign.
I understand that it happens. I understand the rules. I just have no idea WHY the airline spends extra time, effort and money for the sole purpose of heaping misery upon a customer.
It's time for a "Contact AA" campaign.
Mar 9, 2018, 8:50 pm
#705
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, DL GM, AS MVP75K
Posts: 72
One PNR/Two Tickets
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.