[/mod hat] Originally posted in the QF forum but since it applies to BA moved over there. [/mod hat DownUnderFlyer, moderator QF forum]


Its really REALLY not that simple. I have a booking on BA, EDI-LHR-HKG-MEL, all one trip, no stop overs. The last leg is QF metal but BA flight number. Long story short, BA says "We allow baggage of 2 X 23 KG but we don't know what QF will allow". So I responded "But you are checking in my bags, so what is the allowance as a BA employee will check them in, not a QF one". The response was "Please check with Qantas".....

Your ticketed allowance applies, and the BA baggage website is quite clear regarding other carrier allowances. You have just confused the issue with wanting the extra allowance that BA provides to oneworld Sapphire, and that Qantas does not officially give additional allowance to non-Qantas oneworld Sapphires.

Actually, I would be perfectly happy with 2 X 23KG. The BA CS person said "Well I see on the booking that QF only allows 1 X 23KG so you will need to check with them".

Now if I can get 2 X 32KG as sapphire, great. But that is not clear either as the CS person said they "might" allow it, but she is not sure.

When I spoke with QF they actually said "We will be perfectly happy with 2 X 23KG for all legs as you are sapphire" (including the QF flight to SIN on the way back where the MSC does not apply, or the QF one does, which says 1 X 23 on by booking) however the booking says I am only owed 1 X 23. So if I read the website carefully it says one thing, BA CS says another and QF CS say a third thing and QF has a fourth policy which is not documented.

I really just want it to be clear. If its 1 X 23kg, I will pay the extra at checkin for the additional bag, no problem. I would just love to know what it actually is....

So back to the OP's problem.....it really is not clear...

It is quite simple, your entitlement is the BA ticketed allowance which is 1 x 23 Kg when checking in with BA; for the flight MEL-SIN the allowance should be 30Kg and for SIN back to UK, should be 1x23Kg

The BA Silver allowance is only an entitlement when travelling on BA/AA/IB only ( same as how Qantas's additional allowances for status only apply on Qantas only ) - there is no Sapphire extra luggage allowance benefit in OneWorld

Yours is an example though of how the non DOT rules are not as good since your allowance changes en-route and the excess baggage fees are very different

e.g. if you turn up with 46Kg at Edinbugh over 2 bags would expect to pay �65 at the airport for the extra bags.

If then checking in in Melbourne with the same baggage , then Qantas can apply its allowance of 30Kg and charge $30 a Kg = $480

(I do recall that in your case you are not bringing as much back, but most people do bring luggage back with them)

If the DOT rules applied, if the allowance is 1PC at the start of the journey, that must apply the whole way and if the extra piece charge is �65 , that must also be the charge the whole way

It seems to me, a lot fairer a rule to passengers than IATA's approach and avoids unexpected large charges

But my booking states, clearly, that I am entitled to 2 X 23 KG. Its on the MMB with BA. So while you state it is perfectly clear, its really not as there are more factors at play than just DOT rules.

Now interestingly Qantas have stated that as its a "piece" booking and not a KG booking, then the piece rule is used, even for the MEL->SIN leg, not the KG rule they normally have. And as they have an undocumented allowance for sapphire FF members I am entitled to 2 pieces, not the 30KG. You are right though, I will only be coming back with one checked in about 10kg so don't actually care.

I fully take on board what you are saying which is if you go with the DOT rules (which I thought were MSC but I think you are now saying no to, perhaps) then I am entitled to 1 X 23KG even though my booking says 2 X 23 KG and the BA site says 2 X 32KG. Clear as mud

My point is this, Unless you are an expert in the DOT rules, its VERY easy to get caught out in the confusion of all of this give the MSC, your status on airline one vs on the same booking - both with airline one booking codes, the starting point for that leg and who is the metal Vs the booking code, etc etc etc for each leg can be different and have different rules. A simple "based on your booking / status / travel / metal / booking numbers etc etc you are entitled to X allowance for the entire trip for each leg" printed on your booking, would make life far simpler for the masses....I don't see why that is so hard for airlines to do..

savitar & Dave Noble
You guys are getting off topic (BA luggage)
Ther topic is a luggage allowance for JQ domestic flight followed by a QFi flight (then to AA?)

Indeed... But I did think it made a good example on how the DOT rules are more fair than the standard IATA 302 in that the luggage allowance on that trip plus the excess bag fees can be greatly different for each check in of the journey in the 1PC/GBP65 excess outbound vs 30Kg/$30 per Kg excess inbound

What I am trying to say is that yours is an example where the ticketed allowance can change from check in to check in

1PC/30Kg/1PC would be quite possible and that excess fees can be very different ; the DOT regulation was put in place specifically to avoid that situation

Yours is a different situation since you are concerned (as far as I remember) with the extra piece allowed by BA for travel on BA as a BA silver member

It is what your e-ticket states, not what MMB states. The BA ticketed allowance is 1x23kg. The BA baggage website clearly states the additional allowance for BA Silver is for BA flights only. It is well known that MMB is often wrong with baggage, lounge access, etc.

It is not an 'undocumented' QF allowance, they have seemingly waived their stated policy allowance and granted you an exception.

You are confusing yourself. The DOT rule is simple, first carrier allowance applies. IATA Resolution 302 includes MSC.
However in your case DOT does not apply.

Not quite; for journeys covered by DOT the 1st marketing carrier can choose whether it applies its rules or that of MSC, but otherwise right

Not quite so simple then

If the OP's ticket is Australia-Canada and transiting USA does DOT actually apply?

It is quite simple; DOT does also require that the allowances be clearly detailed on the eticket , but that part I am not so sure if can be forced on foreign carriers where tickets are sold outside USA

Hey Nux....well you have "assumed" my e-ticket says 1X23Kg....it does not, my ticket says :

Flight number BA1447
From Edinburgh To Heathrow (London) Terminal 5
Operated by British Airways
Checked baggage Adults and children: 2 bags at 23kg (51lbs) per bag per passenger
You may be charged for extra or overweight bags.

Flight number BA0027
From Heathrow (London) Terminal 5 To Hong Kong Terminal 1
Operated by British Airways
Checked baggage Adults and children: 2 bags at 23kg (51lbs) per bag per passenger
You may be charged for extra or overweight bags.

Flight number BA7410
From Hong Kong Terminal 1 To Melbourne Terminal 2
Operated by QANTAS AIRWAYS
Booking status Confirmed
Checked baggage per passenger Adults and children: 1 bag (weight restrictions apply)
You may be charged for extra or overweight bags.

So I have "assumed" I will get the 2 X 23kg when checking in as there are no stop overs. However when talking to BA, they are "not sure" as there is Qantas metal in there but all BA flight numbers.

In relation to the Qantas call, The CS person actually said "Qantas has a policy that we will consider this booking a "piece" booking so will apply a piece rule. BUt as you are sapphire we allow 2 pieces for OW Sapphire members as per the Qantas policy". This was a quote from them.

Sorry JimOZ for hijacking your thread. I just find it very frustrating that baggage rules just don't seem clear, across lots of situation.

LOL its ok. Im pretty much done with it.

I feel your frustration. Any amount of what some people might consider 'common sense' when it goes against everything you see as immoral or unfair, just adds to the frustration. If i was loaded or flying 20 times a year, i wouldnt have these issues.

To make things worse, some people carry more weight over their belts than i want to take in extra baggage, including 2 pairs of skis, boots and poles! They fly with all that for FREE!!! ;-)

Trouble is here is that the agent has definitely given you erroneous information regarding a sapphire allowance ; the only allowance is for Qantas members and so I would have concerns over the rest too

It does seem moot though since 1x23Kg piece allowance is lower than Qantas's normal 30Kg policy so the piece allowance would be lower.

Perhaps it would be better if you sent your rants to Qantas, or even Today Tonight.
This was my favourite sentence though: "No one can argue that the longest flight or international flight will USUALLY be the MSC, in most peoples opinions". Luckily the rules are stated and it is not down to the customers opinion, interpretation or perception.

Your e-ticket clearly states your allowance for the Qantas flight, and it is not 2x23kg which was my point. The 2x23kg allowance is clearly shown as only applicable to the BA metal flights.
Not sure how this could be made more clear, I have bolded the section for you.

Qantas used the 'piece' allowance concept for tickets issued prior to 26 Feb 2013, then moved to a weight allowance.

There is no Qantas policy to provide additional baggage allowance to non-Qantas oneworld Sapphire's, but it seems a Qantas CS rep has waived the official policy and provided this to you. This is an exception, not stated policy.
http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...r-destinations