Baggage transfer between BA and SAA at LHR?
 

Thanks to BA being far too expensive in J for my next JNB trip, I have booked SAA from LHR T1.

My journey will start in Manchester, if I book a BA flight to LHR will they transfer my bags through (and same on return) to JNB?

Obvious option is to use BMI but would prefer BA for the TP's and lounge on the way back.

Separate tickets?

If so no.

If on separate tickets, then outbound BA won't interline to SAA (they can, but policy says they won't). bmi policy also says they won't interline on separate tickets I think, but in my experience there is a chance that they will within *A. Even if they won't then it's still an easier transfer than BA/SA.

For the return, then it is down to SAA's policy on this and not BA (as the 2nd carrier, BA have no control over it). Hopefully someone with knowledge/experience of SAA's policies will be along shortly to advise on that, otherwise you could check their forum or ask SAA directly maybe?

If you find out that SAA will interline to BA on the return, then perhaps the best of both worlds is bmi outbound for ease, and BA on the way back for the TPs/Avios and lounge.

Thanks guys. It would be two separate PNRs.

I have asked the interlining question between SAA and BA on the African FF forum.

bmi don't even interline on separate tickets between their own flights!

Even the most, naturally, flexible bmi employees here in BEY don't bend the rule... Apparently it's some kind of liability problem if one of the flights is delayed.

Which is interesting because if bags go missing then it's down to the last carrier to carry the can.