Revised free baggage allowances
 

Saw this on the MPC website. Any ideas what the new rules are?

I suspect is a switch to bag based system. JAL already announced the switch.

From a search on the IATA website, the way how interline baggage allowance and associated excess charges are calculated will be changed. The allowance will be based on the rules of the 'most significant carrier' of the itinerary.

This (and the message above) implies that the allowance and charges for CX-only itinerary will not be affected at this time.

This announcement by CX is ridiculous. Either tell us what the changes are, or wait until 1 April to announce what the changes are. Telling us there are going to be changes, without telling us what they are, is completely useless. :td:

I agree. In addition, why is it on the MPC page but not on CX main page?

I hope this means that flights where CX connects to another airline for a short hop means that Marco Polo allowances will apply for the whole route. In the past when connecting to/from BA for UK connections, there has always been aggro when checking in with BA.

I've booked and ticketed my booking a couple of days ago and had multiple airlines contained in the booking.

Can anyone give me a link on IATA's announcement?

I never had a problem going CX --> MU with baggage weight or numbers (3). However, I do run into trouble on the return trip if I don't lower the baggage weight or number (down to 2), last time MU wanted 400RMB out of me!

CX press release on this issue, with some examples on how the interline allowance / excess fee will change.

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...000ad21c39____

The definition of the 'most significant carrier' and further examples are available here.

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...000ad21c39RCRD

Although rules are better defined now, they are getting more complicated.

They better have good IT to do it automatically for the check-in agents. I doubt they will master this "MSC" rule on crossing tariff regions, and there will be many arguments from pax who knows the rules vs. ignorant check-in agents who doesn't know the rules and want to charge excess baggage allowance from pax.

Unfortunately there is no specific mention that I could find that says that marco polo benefits apply across the whole journey when CX is the most siginificant carrier. I hope I don't come across arguing with BA when checking in at a UK domestic airport.

That's an interesting question. Is it that the published baggage rules of the Most Significant Carrier that apply, or the published baggage rules plus any benefits extended by the Most Significant Carrier to the particular passenger?

I suppose the other question is whether this is being taken up by other airlines? IATA resolution or not, I've not seen any word from anyone else that they will be moving to the MSC approach. As far as BA is concerned they might continue to apply their existing rule of first operating carrier.