erwin123

Hi,
I have booked an award ticket in Y BKK - MNL via united airlines
It shows that the baggage allowance is 20 kg

I would have expected it to be 30 kg (same as a flex ticket) .

Is the 20 kg correct, or is it 30 kg ?
Thanks

flyerby

Where have you seen the allowance? On UA or TG website? If on UA then get TG PNR from UA website and try to see the allowance on TG�s.

Thai-Kiwi

On a TG issued award it is 30kg for an economy award (X class). This should be the same for a UA issued award. Course suggested above endorsed.

My most recent TG award:

erwin123

hi,
it said 20 on the UA website and eticket, so I guess that is what transferred to TG.

flyerby

Then I advise you nevertheless to check on TG website for 2 reasons (as said get the TG�s PNR for your flight from UA website): (1) to see how much allowance you actually have. There might be some mismatches and the info with TG is more accurate and prevalent (2) and more importantly, you may have a reservation with UA, but no ticket with TG. This can actually happen (although rarely). In such rare cases, you will need to buy an expensive ticket at the last minute at the airport if you don�t detect the error beforehand.

erwin123

Hi,
I have the ticket on the thai website, all ok there
i've emailed the thai contact center and this is their reply

Dear Erwin Claeys,
Thank you for your email.

Regarding your enquiry under reservation code xxxxx,
Please be informed that as your ticket was issued by United Airlines, we are unable to check
the baggage allowance for you. Please contact United Airlines for further information.



For further information or assistance required please simply let us know
or you can contact THAI Contact Center : +662-356-1111 (24 Hours of service).

Thank you for flying THAI.

Best regards,
Tanapat I.
THAI Contact Center

so, looks they don't know

thai has three classes : saver, flexi and full flexi. saver allows 20 kg, flexi allows 30 kg and full flexi allows 35 kg

not sure how the united award maps to these for knowing the allowance

Thai-Kiwi

All I can add is that whilst UA have issued the ticket (Marketing Carrier), TG are the Operating Carrier.

I had thought that with Star Alliance the Operating Carrier�s rules apply.

In this case of a single sector, IATA resolution302 indicates the Operating Carrier is deemed to be the Most Significant Carrier, and their rules on luggage allowance applies.

See this Air New Zealand link.
https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/most...ficant-carrier

Finally, per my post earlier, TG�s economy award tickets have a 30kg luggage, and that is what I expect will apply.

bpe

Lat year I flew BKK-KIX on a United award and the allowance listed was only 20 kg. I didn't need more so I didn't press it but I did check at the airport because I was curious. They did confirm it was 20 kg but couldn't explain why, just that that's what the computer told them.

flyerby

There are whole threads in UA and TK forums that give UA award on TK metal no allowance at all. A few FT fellows suggest it�s because of an IT glitch on UA side. Maybe here it�s also an IT glitch by UA.

SilverChris

The marketing carrier is TG, because it's their code on the flight number. The ticketing carrier is not automatically the marketing carrier.

You're correct that TG's rules apply here, but the ticketed allowance of 20kg already reflects that, even if it seems wrong. From experience, these disputes are very hard to remedy. UA will probably say "that's the allowance that TG offered at the time of ticketing", whereas TG, as expected, referred the OP back to the issuing carrier. If the OP can convince UA there was a glitch somewhere, they could try revalidating the ticket to see if an updated allowance shows. But convincing an agent/supervisor to do so is easier said than done. If UA doesn't play ball, then it'll come down to the discretion of the TG check-in staff.

I agree it *should* be 30kg, but if push comes to shove, there's really no leg to stand on if the check-in staff decide to apply the ticketed allowance of 20kg. There are many unpublished fares that don't necessarily offer the standard baggage allowance. Check-in staff aren't in a position to second guess whatever appears on their screen (it can come back to bite them after an audit), unless they're very lenient or are faced with a glaringly obvious error.

Kacee

UA is rather persistently wrong in displaying luggage allowance on partner operated flights.

Unfortunately, there's no way for you to know for sure what TG will allow until you hand over your bag at the airport.