Baggage Policy on Swiss/UA Code Share
 

Hi All,

I have spent a good part of the day on the United/Swiss/Star Alliance sites and the rest of it on the phone with agents trying to figure out what baggage policy would apply to my itinerary.

I am flying ORD-ZRH-DEL in November and I am a 1K/*G member. All ticket numbers (4PAX) start in 016 and the flights are all Operated by Swiss. Here are the flight numbers on the reservation

ORD-ZRH -> UA7681
ZRH-DEL -> LX146
DEL-ZRH -> LX147
ZRH-ORD -> UA7681

My question is simple, what baggage allowance would apply? When I check with Swiss in March, they said that United's policy would apply but now that I am 1K and I checked with United Premier Line they are saying the *G additional baggage benefit would apply.

Any insight here would be helpful. I am hoping for United 1K baggage policy applying since that is the most generous from my research.

In general it's the marketing carrier for the first segment, so UA in your case... but they don't have to include anything that would be included as extra for status if you were flying on that marketing carrier's metal (the *A extra bag). Ultimately it's going to be up to the check in agent. I've had it go both ways, though the time they tried to deny it it didn't matter. The way they were talking, a supervisor could have overridden the computer, but since I had a companion with me who was only using 1 bag from her allowance we just shifted my extra to hers.

This is the best answer. The rules are extremely unclear and ultimately, contradictory.

What does your ticket say?

Provided all flights are on the one ticket, UA rules apply for the whole itinerary.

US DOT requires that the baggage allowance for ex-US itineraries is whatever the allowance is of the first "marketing carrier."

If OP was booked as ORD-(LX)-ZRH then LX allowance applies. If it was EWR-(UA)-ORD-(LX)-ZRH then UA international allowance applies.

When the ticket was booked I did not have status high enough so ticket says 1 Bag per passenger.

So given the flight codes I posted, who is the marketing carrier? My understanding is that since the ticket is beginning in 016 and the first leg is on a UA flight code, the marketing carrier is United but I am unclear.

The marketing carrier is UA. It's UA ticket stock on a UA flight number. That is true even if another carrier operates the aircraft. Thus, the UA allowance will apply to all segments of the ticket, both outbound to DEL and on the way back to ORD.

OP's separate problem is the the baggage allowance on his e-ticket is established as of the date the ticket was issued. If his status has "increased" since that date, he should reprint his e-ticket receipt and see if the allowance has caught up with the change. If it has not, he should get that fixed now, not at the airport.

For *A, the agent will see a baggage allowance as specified on the e-ticket receipt. That will same time fighting at ORD (where it may eventually get fixed) and with LX at DEL (where it will be futile to argue).

The receipt on United.com still shows 1Bag/50lbs each. What is the best way to get this updated? Premier Line?

That is not completely correct. IATA Resolution 302 goes on to state that "In case of code share flights [Marketing Carrier] will be the Operating Carrier, unless that carrier publishes a rule stipulating that it will be the Marketing Carrier."

That's why I say the rule is ultimately contradictory, and basically allows the marketing carrier to do whatever it likes.

OP, I would count on two bags at 23kg each (economy allowance + *G allowance). Anything beyond that there's a good chance they will charge you for it.

Baggage Policy on Swiss/UA Code Share
 

I think the answer the OP is looking for that no one is giving:
what it actually says on your reservation online is not what matters. that says the standard baggage allowance, it would never show the extra baggage you get with status. There is no need to call to get it changed, as there is nothing to change. If for some reason they try to charge you for the second bag (though the computer will likely recognize you dont have to at checkin), just speak up.

Thanks, I called United back and they specifically notated the account for 2 complementary bags per passenger. I am on the phone with the travel agency right now to try and have them address the issue where the receipt does not reflect the MP number.

First of all, I do not understand on what basis, UA agent is notating the PNR with 2 free bags (per passenger no less).
UA's baggage rules for the route: (a) no-status is 1 bag at 23kg; (b) 1K is 3 bags at 32kg.

This itin is subject to DoT rules. DoT rules say the marketing carrier rules apply. We do not know whether they speak of (a) or (b). I would lean towards to (a), i.e., the basic rule.

Swiss rule is: (c) no-status is 1 bag at 23kg; (d) *G is 2 bags at 23kg.

So the question for OP is what exactly the end result OP wants to achieve. It may just be huge efforts for nothing.

The agent I spoke to said that in case I was still charged in error on checkin, I should save the receipts and have United refund me the excess baggage fee. I am hoping to not go down that route hence doing all the leg work a few months before the actual date of travel.

Also, I had another UA reservation (domestic) which did reflect the 1K baggage benefits minutes after I added the MP number on there. The big differences between the flights are:
1. Domestic UA only vs International code share
2. Online Receipt shows the MP number for domestic vs. no MP number on the international flight.

I am sorry, but I am do not follow a 100%. Should I follow up with United at a later point of time or should I be asking the airline and/or the travel agent to mark it for follow-up?

That was a mark for myself to follow up. I have updated my OP to add more comments.