Connections w/ multiple PNRs
 

I've always wondered who takes responsibility for missing connections if the connecting-to-flight was booked on a different PNR and possibly on a different airline and worse still on a different alliance. Suppose one was going from AAA to BBB to CCC. AAA to BBB was on carrier AB while BBB to CCC was on carrier BC. Now imagine that AB delays its flight so much that BC takes off before AB arrives at BBB. Suppose the following scenarios: (1) AB and BC are the same carrier; (2) AB and BC are not the same carrier but they are members of the same alliance; (3) AB and BC do not belong to the same group. And of course we are assuming that the two flights are booked on different PNRs.

The general question I am asking is how do these three scenarios affect one's ability to go from AAA to CCC via BBB, where BBB is merely a connecting point? More specifically (i) Will AB take responsibility for the misconnection and readily try to rebook one for continuing flights to CCC--a question especially pertinent for scenarios (2) and (3). (ii) Or will it simply shrug its shoulders? (iii) Can one work with BC to get to CCC even though AB or weather is to be blamed? If so how much delay will seem reasonable? (iv) When booking multiple PNRs how much time would one like to allow in between connections so that the case for AB to accommodate becomes more compelling.

Thanks!

i don't know other than its a bad idea......i tried a search in the wn forum thinking that the situation would be more likely w/them as 1 of the pnrs, but didn't spend much time...i wonder what search argument would be best to use?

Thanks clacko! Well, we all know it is a bad idea but the question is how bad really is it? Sometimes you can save a lot just by booking on multiple PNRs. So cost minimizing economics is on the side of multiple PNRs. But this of course comes at some risk and just how big are these risks?

i've done it a few times, but all on international flights. i usually book it with 8-12 hour layover just in case and most time the first airport will not send my bags all the way through. however, i did have one disaster where i didn't make it to the 2nd city in time for that flight. it was a pain dealing with 2 different airlines to get it sorted out. so i personally will probably not do it again unless i'm saving hundreds of dollars per tix.

With different reservations/PNRs you are totally out of luck and on your own if you miss a connection/flight, even on the same airline.

Even if you buy a ticket from a place like Expedia or a travel agent that spans multiple airlines, the single PNR you receive is from the GDS. The individual legs on different airlines will be considered different reservations with different PNRs on each airline.

If you read through the forum, you will see several threads from people complaining about playing phone tag between a site like Travelocity/Expedia and two different airlines, because no-one is willing to accept responsibility for connections not part of that airline's reservation.

Once I flew on 2 separate PNRs with *A carriers and had my luggage tagged all the way to the final destination.

When it was announced my first flight would be delayed significantly, I told an airline rep that I had an important business meeting that could not be rescheduled. She managed to put me on different route with another *A carrier and got me to the transit city in time before my flight to the final destination.

As a bonus, she booked me on a higher type of fare on the substitute flight (still in Y) which got me more miles. ^

This post is correct. You take the responsibility. There is no connection between these different flights, since they are on different PNRs.

The airline is only responsible to get you from point A to point B, and they have no liability if they fail to get to you point B in time to make a separate booking from point B to point C. Be careful booking this way.

Your post, by the way, was exhausting to read. You can tell it's Friday.

I agree - not a very good idea. Most agents will place a call on your behalf to assist you in your rebooking.

I can't even begin to advise you on how much connecting time would be best.

The only exception might be if:

- You can do free same day changes with your second carrier. (E.g. C*G.)

- It will become obvious that you will miss your connection when you are somewhere that you can do something about it. (E.g. an airport within 24 hours of the second flight, rather than half way across the Atlantic out of phone coverage.)

I've been doing this for several years, usually on trips between the US and Europe with a LCC as positioning flight. My advice is to have 5+ hours at least between flights - specially if its a TATL. Avoid doing this during winter if possible, snow storms are very likely to wreak havoc with very short notice and little time to change schedule. Several major airports (EWR, LHR, MAD,...) have cheap hotels nearby, and spending some 60USD/EUR and getting plenty of time to make the connection on the following morning is priceless :)

Usually you can get your bags sent to the final destination even on different PNR's / alliances, most airlines have agreements allowing this, just ask during check-in.

As others pointed out with different PNR's you'll be out of luck if something goes wrong. But, at least with AA (as PLT), I've been waived fees on a couple of occasions (due to weather and due to getting late on the check-in counter!), with two AA PNR's (paid and miles). They also allowed on two occasions to merge two paid PNR's into one, as usual YMMV.

If you are not a seasoned traveler with good elite status don't do it. If you like the adventure and can adjust to the risk of being stranded somewhere, have fun. I have an upcoming mileage run with a 8 hour layover involving transit from nrt-hnd. A missed connection would be highly inconvenient and involve a last minute mileage award. Luckily, I have sufficient miles in multiple alliances to allow for this risk. If you are not comfortable with a potential delay or high cost last minute ticket, avoid these issues by booking as a single pnr.

+1

As others said, neither airline takes responsibility. Using separate PNRs, I got stranded at CAN for two days. It was an expensive adventure and only somewhat fun.

thoughts on this: I have a m/r from HKG-IST-lax(direct/non stop)-ist-hkg. at lax i have 2.5 hours to clear immigration and get to the gate for IST all at TBIT. I will be using global entry and only carry on, hopefully with a internet printed boarding pass. all segments on turkish air with same pnr. If the flite from IST was substantially delayed and i misconnect in LAX what is the responsibility of Turkish air? The next flite out is the next day at 6 am to jfk then ist. rite now from lax-ist-hkg i am ticketed with no stop overs but may add a stop in IST for a few days right after I start the first segment from HKG.

If (1) 2.5 hours is a valid transit time per TK and (2) it is all on the same PNR as you've said there should be no problem if you miss the connecting flight. If you do end up missing the flight it's up to them to provide accommodation and put you on the next flight since they sold you the ticket. IMHO 2.5h is a tight connection and leaves very little room for delays if you can't afford missing a day. I'd make sure to have all BP's printed prior to departure, otherwise I'd reconsider the current schedule...

thanks, ticket was booked on their web site with this turn around time. I know TBIT can be slow getting thru immigration and time will be tight (hope global entry helps) but if i make the flite it it gives me a non stop to IST and no hotel over nite in lax.