Different baggage allowances on connecting flights?
Nov 1, 2009 | 3:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Different baggage allowances on connecting flights?
I am flying from Copenhagen to New Zealand via LHR next month on two different airlines. The CPH-LHR leg of the flight is operated by SAS airlines and the remainder is Air New Zealand. The baggage allowance for the first leg is only 20kg, while my Air NZ allowance is 2x23kg bags.
The flights were booked together through Air NZ and are on the same ticket, but under the baggage allowance of the SAS flight it says I must refer to the operating airline. Will SAS honor the Air NZ allowance?
I emailed SAS and they said as they are the initial carriers, I must follow their baggage rules. But Air NZ says that their 2x23kg baggage allowance applies to the whole trip.
I'm still waiting to hear back from SAS a second time, but are there any international regulations regarding situations like these where connecting flights have different allowances? And which one should I follow?
The flights were booked together through Air NZ and are on the same ticket, but under the baggage allowance of the SAS flight it says I must refer to the operating airline. Will SAS honor the Air NZ allowance?
I emailed SAS and they said as they are the initial carriers, I must follow their baggage rules. But Air NZ says that their 2x23kg baggage allowance applies to the whole trip.
I'm still waiting to hear back from SAS a second time, but are there any international regulations regarding situations like these where connecting flights have different allowances? And which one should I follow?
Nov 1, 2009 | 8:36 am
#2
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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lanao, welcome to FlyerTalk! Since both of your carriers are members of the Star Alliance, let me move this thread to our Star Alliance forum where the readers will surely be able to offer advice. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
Nov 1, 2009 | 11:44 am
#3
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Welcome to Flyer Talk lanao 
Is your LHR-AKL flight via LAX or via HKG? If it is via LAX then piece baggage allowance applies, if via HKG the weight baggage allowance applies.
Since it is all on one ticket the same type of allowance applies for the entire trip. However, individual airlines' policies can affect what you can bring.
If the piece allowance applies then you have 2 pieces. NZ limits each piece to 23kg. SAS limits each piece to 23kg also.
If the weight allowance applies then you have 20kg total allowance, and this applies for both airlines.
If you have star alliance gold (*G) status or are flying in business class then allowances are higher.
If you were flying SAS CPH-LHR on a ticket that does not include North America then the 20kg allowance applies. This may be where there is confusion.
Is your LHR-AKL flight via LAX or via HKG? If it is via LAX then piece baggage allowance applies, if via HKG the weight baggage allowance applies.
Since it is all on one ticket the same type of allowance applies for the entire trip. However, individual airlines' policies can affect what you can bring.
If the piece allowance applies then you have 2 pieces. NZ limits each piece to 23kg. SAS limits each piece to 23kg also.
If the weight allowance applies then you have 20kg total allowance, and this applies for both airlines.
If you have star alliance gold (*G) status or are flying in business class then allowances are higher.
If you were flying SAS CPH-LHR on a ticket that does not include North America then the 20kg allowance applies. This may be where there is confusion.
Nov 1, 2009 | 2:00 pm
#6
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Dec 13, 2009 | 9:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Posts: 200
Sorry to jump on, but similar question
I was just able to book a very flyertalk worthy (I believe 
) Star Alliance Business Class Award with the following routing:
Outbound
Saturday:
DCA-LGA in US Shuttle First
LGA-JFK in taxi
JFK-FRA in SQ Business
Sunday:
FRA-NCE in LH Business
Return
Friday:
NCE-ZRH in LX Business
Saturday:
ZRH-FRA in LH Business
Sunday:
FRA-JFK in SQ Business
JFK-LGA in taxi
LGA-DCA in US Shuttle First
Whew. Any idea what my baggage allowances would be on this bad boy? I assume that I'll be limited by the US sectors, but I couldn't find anything on they're website about *A travel. All travel (minus the taxis) are on one PNR.
Thanks!
) Star Alliance Business Class Award with the following routing:Outbound
Saturday:
DCA-LGA in US Shuttle First
LGA-JFK in taxi
JFK-FRA in SQ Business
Sunday:
FRA-NCE in LH Business
Return
Friday:
NCE-ZRH in LX Business
Saturday:
ZRH-FRA in LH Business
Sunday:
FRA-JFK in SQ Business
JFK-LGA in taxi
LGA-DCA in US Shuttle First
Whew. Any idea what my baggage allowances would be on this bad boy? I assume that I'll be limited by the US sectors, but I couldn't find anything on they're website about *A travel. All travel (minus the taxis) are on one PNR.
Thanks!