Current disadvantages on code share flights
 

As a rule of thumb, I have avoided codeshares because they always seem to bring loads of practical problems. Sometimes it requires a little creativity to be able to book, say, HEL-LHR-DFW so that HEL-LHR carries the AY flight number and LHR-DFW the AA one.

Since I haven't flown codeshares for a long time, I thought it might be a good idea to make an update – what disadvantages remain and what have, hopefully, vanished.

Upgrades: not available on codeshare, only AY metal and AY flight number

Seat assignments: used to be problematic. Does it work now? If I fly AY metal with, say, AA flight number, will I be able to pick a seat online? Which site? What about the other way around, say BA metal with AY flight number? And what about the new Economy Comfort? Available if you have a JL flight number?

OLCI: used to be problematic but I believe this is mostly solved and you can OLCI even if you have a codeshare. But what about seat changes? Possible or not?

Pre-order meals: I've never tried. Do they work? If I fly HEL-JFK with IB flight number and AY metal, can I preorder my J meal?

Pre-order inflight sales: No experience. I would assume it works, though.

Irrops: when the operating carrier makes a schedule change or cancellation, the ticketing carrier should be the one that you deal with. But this is not always the case, and airlines seem to accuse each other. Any improvements here?

Anything that I have forgotten?

No improvements. I had a cancellation on AF flight with AY code shared ticket on September. When contacting AY they said it's not their problem and I should contact AF on this issue.

I'm now waiting for AF's reply for the reclaim. Handling it seems to be quite slow since it's already taken over a month. Maybe it's because of the AF pilot strike.

One serious advantage.
Earning points: Earns like any AY flight. That means you can earn twice as much on a codeshare than on bare metal. For instance, AY5841 HKG-SYD op by CX earns me 18430 AY+ points compared to the 9215 if it says CX on the ticket.

I agree, this is The main benefit, can make a huge difference when crediting to the ticketed carrier FFP.

Wishes from onboard AY81 at the gate...I feel for those HKG bound pax who are most likely waiting for their dep. 0800 tomorrow morning at the nearby hotel(s)..they should have been on this particular airframe, as we speak, bound to HKG..

How was the sauna?

I realised I've misread your post, you were only asking for disadvantages (or the lack there of)!

With the creation of the different joint ventures, this one has gotten even stranger.
The principle still is the same, but suddenly there are more codeshares and AY is more aggresively pushing tickets on non-AY-metal, adding confusion for it's memberbase.

Sadly, the JVs only covers revenue sharing and ticket sales. In my fantasy world, they should have included FF-stuff in the deal. AY+ members should have been able to do upgrades on all JV-routes, earn points according to AY table et.c. If they did that, then it truly would have been positive for us customers.

I think we can freely discuss both advantages and disadvantages here.

I hadn't really thought of the miles/point accrual thing since I seldom fly to Asia. To America, you earn the same number of AA miles on AA, AY and BA anyway, and that's where my miles go, so it's not an issue for me. But an important advantage for many, nevertheless.

Seat assignment is what interests me most. If I am booked on AY ticket but BA/AA/IB/JL/xx metal, how and where do I book my seats? And vice versa, if AY metal but AA/BA/xx ticket, how do I get a seat? And what about the costs, operating carrier's price list and policies?

It can not be done at time of booking. Can possibly be done later through QR. AY has issued a warning text on the homepage saying pre-selection of seats can only be done on AY operated and marketed flights, and offers you to select seat at check in.. :td:

This discussion is interesting. Oneworld is certainly better in codeshare aspect, whereas I (as many others too I suppose) have learnt the tough lessons on *A when codeshare and particularly when things go wrong...

However, there are two things that I don't get:
I can read in many threads people lookings especially for codeshares, I don't get that. I understand you may earn more AY points than on ticketing on operating carrier, but you will earn same points on AY anyway. And then, I see almost always the codeshared flights much more expensive (whY)? Perhaps J tix are cheaper with codeshare and then you don't need to care about inability to upgrade etc. What do I miss here?

Second q: Many times OTA tix are cheaper and often include codeshared flights. Usually I try to avoid OTA and especially codeshare due to IRROPS handling etc., especially when combining OTA AND codeshare, it will be a mess. Is it wise to continue that road or too much worry, has something changed there?

The answers probably differ depending on situation, but for me (flying J and having AY+ as main program) I look for codeshares only on routes where no AY flights are present. Like you said, this is due to earnings since a codeshare will earn twice as much (250%) as a OW partner coded flight (125%)

On routes where there are AY flights, I normally stay away from codeshares as I can't redeem on non-AY-metal. If a codeshare is cheaper and/or better, like on HEL-NRT (AY5811 = JL B788), I'd go for that. But then again, it is not the codeshare itself I'm looking for.

For someone flying Y and/or not crediting to AY+ I guess it can be the opposite.


As for OTAs, I have previously avoided them, but with AY's renewed price policy, I have changed my mind. I'm not paying a 10% premium for the delights of using AY webpages. Besides, OTAs offers connections AY won't sell at all. I may come to regret this during irrop, but then again AY hasn't been very good either.
Also, Expedia told me they are only an intermediary for Finnair. They called themselves "a frontend" or something like that, indicating that they are not actually involved. And infact, they don't even charge my creditcard - Finnair does.

Booking codeshares makes sense in some cases. Often both AY and US marketed AY operated flights to JFK cost the same. Those of us booking US coded discount economy tickets earn 100% Avios (also tier points)/AY Plus points while those booking AY coded discount tickets earn only 25-50% AY points or 25% Avios.

For non-status customers it probably makes much more sense to book codeshares as they can't book seats for free etc.

Of course with *A it makes much more sense to avoid codeshares because of the point lottery...

[QUOTE=miikkak;23873336] Those of us booking US coded discount economy tickets earn 100% Avios (also tier points)/AY Plus points while those booking AY coded discount tickets earn only 25-50% AY points or 25% Avios.

QUOTE]

This, if I got it right: Assuming US/AY prices about same, IF I book on US, the discount Y ticket earns me 100% AY points (my FFP) even if AY is carrier, whereas on booking the same on AY I may end up with 25/50%? I never thought about that trick. But then I guess I will not be able to upgrade Y->J with AY voucher/points if ticket is US even though carrier AY AFAIK.
Thanks!

As is the case for all/most (?) airlines - usually buying my tix on ebookers (1,9% cashback + 1% reward!) the charge always comes from the airline.

Right there with you. In my case JL/BA/IB codeshares on AY metal make much more sense - I get 200% Avios in discount Y vs 25% if AY coded (250% vs 125% in C) - if I could only get them posted...

Perhaps so, I just couldn't recall seeing it before.

When buying AY ticket on expedia, there are in fact 2 charges. They quote one price, say '1000€ and no fees', then Expedia charges 5€ and Finnair charges 995€. To me that looks like expedia has a 5€ commission on all tix that AY sells through this channel.