I hadn't heard that, but I do see that listed on their site. That's ridiculous...they're really starting to nickel and dime. I thought they anyways get reimbursed by the other airline.

To be clear though, OnePass Silver Elite and Mileage Plus Premier (2P) still retain the two 50 lb. bag benefit when flying CO/UA. I guess they lose that when flying other *A airlines then

They didn't get reimbursed before -- and still don't get reimbursed -- for fee waivers for bags. Whether for *G nor not for *S, no such mythical reimbursement.

Additional free baggage allowance has never been an alliance-level *Silver benefit, so any additional free baggage allowance granted to *S was generous to begin with as it went above and beyond what was required.

Most other * airlines have not granted OAL *Silvers any additional free baggage allowance as a matter of policy or even general practice. Can't lose what wasn't there to be lost. *S just don't have a guarantee that free baggage allowance granted to them when flying other * airlines is to be the same as the free baggage allowance granted to other * elites on partner * airlines.

I always got that benefit on *A

As a * Silver? Sounds nice when it happens, but -- unlike for *Gold -- additional free luggage allowance is not guaranteed to *Silver across * Alliance.

Hi fellas! Just flew TATL ARN-EWR on CO in M and I'm currently SK Silver and I saw a sign at check in that said 2 free bags for *A S. I was surprised to see this and since I was in the long (and slow) economy line I just left and went over to the C-class check in line. No problem.

But when I look at both CO and UA website's they mention nothing about priority check in or extra baggage.

It would be really helpful in one of you experts out there could help me out and tell me what benefits you have as a *A S (on SK if that makes a difference) member on UA, CO and US Airways.

http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...ralliance.aspx
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,53229,00.html

Thanks guys!

On UA/CO/US you get 2 free checked baggage. I recently took flights on all three carriers and didn't pay a cent extra for my two checked baggage. For priority check-in you will most likely use the regular economy line unless there is a *S line. For flights out of ORD, there is a priority check-in and security line for *S members on UA flights.

Continental Airlines - Checked Baggage Fees says:
United Airlines - U.S./Canada checked baggage fee exceptions says:
United Airline - Premier Access travel services is the new name for UA's and CO's Elite Access/Premier Access. This includes using the elite check-in desk, priority screening (at applicable airports,) priority boarding by allowing you to board first OR come back later during regular boarding and board via the blue carpet, bypassing regular boarding, and bags will be priority tagged. This applies to *S as well.

The official rule is to allow only one free checked bag for *S that are not OnePass Silver Elite or Mileage Plus Premier. Whether in practice they let it slide at check-in is something else, but not the actual rule. (Can't comment for US.)

There's no *S line; the priority line INCLUDES *S. (This is how it's been for CO, but new for UA, so may not be applicable yet in all UA hubs.)

Thanks for this guys!

As far as I can read the chart clearly states that the first bag (and the first bag only) is exempted from fees for *S but since this was an international flight I'm guessing that everyone gets one free bag and therefor the second bags fee is waive instead.

Also, just to clarify one thing about the United Airlines - Premier Access travel services I as a *S I get access to this. The list on the site doesn't include *S, but the image of the sign does.

BTW what the H**l is "Star Alliance Elite" members?

Just to take a real life example. Next weekend I'm flying JFK-LAX on UA on one of their Premium Service flights (in M). What in terms of benefits can I expect, security lines, check in, bagage, anything?

(I have this vague feeling that I've been standing a lot in lines lately that I didn't have to stand in)

thanks!

Incorrect. You get the first bag fee waived. So if you were to fly, for example, CO EWR-TLV, where anyways you get 2 free bags, the benefit doesn't apply. Where the first bag is free anyways, that's all you get. The benefit only kicks in when there's a fee for the first bag as well.

*S IS included. Don't worry

*G and *S

I'm pretty sure you'll get it all, but in this, I'm not 100% sure because that's the new policy, not the old one for UA. You're better off asking this specific question in the pre-merger UA forum.

Thanks for clearing this up for me! Much appreciated!

I have updated the baggage allowance on CO & UA.

But to me it seems there is much of goodwill happening to *S not flying their ffp-carrier regarding the baggage allowance and waving extra fees for more than one piece of checked luggage.

When I fly domestic on TG in Thailand, as a SK *S, I always get Priority on my luggage.
I think it is only an official perk for TG *S, and some kind of goodwill or misunderstanding at check-in, but it has worked for me the 4 years I have being *S. My travelpartners not even being member of any program also gets it when we check-in together.

Great.. they changed the baggage allowance. Now I have to pay for my second checked baggage even though it was free less than a month ago.

Priority Security Line to enter Ataturk (Istanbul) Airport
 

I've heard that you have to go through security to get INTO Ataturk airport but that there is a Priority Line for Turkish Airlines Business & First Class passengers.

As Star Silver, I can check in at the Business class desk but does anyone know if this also gives me access to the Priority Security Line to enter the airport?