Checked my bags on someone else’s reservation
Jan 28, 2019, 5:15 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Silver,
Posts: 151
Checked my bags on someone else’s reservation
Needed a last minute flight from YYC to London and as the AC flight was hideously expensive thought I’d give WestJet a try. Overall I was quite impressed yes the 767 are old but crew were very friendly and WiFi good.
I prepaid for two bags yet at check in they couldn’t seem to find this. It is only when I’ve looked at my baggage tags this morning having arrived that they are labelled for someone else. Same surname as me but different PNR and first name. Is this something I should report as it seems a little lax from a security point of view or does it happen often ?
Edit: apologies force of habit posting in BAEC not WestJet. Please can this be moved. Although would be interesting to hear thoughts of my fellow BAEC members
I prepaid for two bags yet at check in they couldn’t seem to find this. It is only when I’ve looked at my baggage tags this morning having arrived that they are labelled for someone else. Same surname as me but different PNR and first name. Is this something I should report as it seems a little lax from a security point of view or does it happen often ?
Edit: apologies force of habit posting in BAEC not WestJet. Please can this be moved. Although would be interesting to hear thoughts of my fellow BAEC members
Last edited by ThrowingBoeing; Jan 28, 2019 at 5:17 am Reason: Wrong Section
Jan 28, 2019, 8:08 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YOW/HBA
Programs: Qantas Silver, MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 418
Needed a last minute flight from YYC to London and as the AC flight was hideously expensive thought I’d give WestJet a try. Overall I was quite impressed yes the 767 are old but crew were very friendly and WiFi good.
I prepaid for two bags yet at check in they couldn’t seem to find this. It is only when I’ve looked at my baggage tags this morning having arrived that they are labelled for someone else. Same surname as me but different PNR and first name. Is this something I should report as it seems a little lax from a security point of view or does it happen often ?
Edit: apologies force of habit posting in BAEC not WestJet. Please can this be moved. Although would be interesting to hear thoughts of my fellow BAEC members
I prepaid for two bags yet at check in they couldn’t seem to find this. It is only when I’ve looked at my baggage tags this morning having arrived that they are labelled for someone else. Same surname as me but different PNR and first name. Is this something I should report as it seems a little lax from a security point of view or does it happen often ?
Edit: apologies force of habit posting in BAEC not WestJet. Please can this be moved. Although would be interesting to hear thoughts of my fellow BAEC members
Jan 28, 2019, 9:31 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Silver,
Posts: 151
Maybe I didn't explain properly but I was not with this mystery person. I've absolute no idea who they are. Just noticed their surname is the same as mine and the staff at check in couldn't seem to find that I had pre booked baggage?
Jan 28, 2019, 12:11 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YOW/HBA
Programs: Qantas Silver, MileagePlus Silver
Posts: 418
I wonder if the other passenger happened to be right in front of you in line and the agent thought you were travelling together, just not checking in together.
Jan 28, 2019, 11:45 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Needed a last minute flight from YYC to London and as the AC flight was hideously expensive thought I’d give WestJet a try. Overall I was quite impressed yes the 767 are old but crew were very friendly and WiFi good.
I prepaid for two bags yet at check in they couldn’t seem to find this. It is only when I’ve looked at my baggage tags this morning having arrived that they are labelled for someone else. Same surname as me but different PNR and first name. Is this something I should report as it seems a little lax from a security point of view or does it happen often ?
Edit: apologies force of habit posting in BAEC not WestJet. Please can this be moved. Although would be interesting to hear thoughts of my fellow BAEC members
I prepaid for two bags yet at check in they couldn’t seem to find this. It is only when I’ve looked at my baggage tags this morning having arrived that they are labelled for someone else. Same surname as me but different PNR and first name. Is this something I should report as it seems a little lax from a security point of view or does it happen often ?
Edit: apologies force of habit posting in BAEC not WestJet. Please can this be moved. Although would be interesting to hear thoughts of my fellow BAEC members
That same principle does not apply if the airline (for its own reasons decides to separate the passenger and the bags). At that point the bags don't have to travel with the passenger.
In your case, it should not have happened. Not certain reporting it will be all that helpful in avoiding it again.
On a side I have had BA misplace my bags a few times but its never happened with either WS or AC louse bags. Not certain why as I travel far more on WS and AC than BA. Perhaps random luck.
Jan 29, 2019, 8:20 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Silver,
Posts: 151
Okay, now I understand what you mean When did you prepay for the baggage fees? at the check-in counter? or online? Either way it definitively sounds like a mix up.
I wonder if the other passenger happened to be right in front of you in line and the agent thought you were travelling together, just not checking in together.
I wonder if the other passenger happened to be right in front of you in line and the agent thought you were travelling together, just not checking in together.
Jan 29, 2019, 8:38 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
Most likely the agent just picked the name from the guest manifest, taking the first instance without checking your PNR. If your name is not common, they may have assumed incorrectly that they had selected you correctly from the manifest. It would only be an issue if the other person wasn’t on the same flight. It isn’t a security issue due to the fact that you have been associated with the bag at checkin and all bags go through the backend scanning process.
Jan 30, 2019, 1:27 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Silver,
Posts: 151
Most likely the agent just picked the name from the guest manifest, taking the first instance without checking your PNR. If your name is not common, they may have assumed incorrectly that they had selected you correctly from the manifest. It would only be an issue if the other person wasn’t on the same flight. It isn’t a security issue due to the fact that you have been associated with the bag at checkin and all bags go through the backend scanning process.
Jan 30, 2019, 1:31 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 669
YOU are correct. This happened to me with US air that they checked me in under the wrong person and then they cancelled my return flight because they said Ino showed my first flight.
Jan 30, 2019, 8:37 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Practice for Canadian airlines is that if the passenger is a no show at the gate then the bags are to be pulled off the aircraft. In principle if the other person ended up not showing they should have pulled your bags.
That same principle does not apply if the airline (for its own reasons decides to separate the passenger and the bags). At that point the bags don't have to travel with the passenger.
In your case, it should not have happened. Not certain reporting it will be all that helpful in avoiding it again.
On a side I have had BA misplace my bags a few times but its never happened with either WS or AC louse bags. Not certain why as I travel far more on WS and AC than BA. Perhaps random luck.
That same principle does not apply if the airline (for its own reasons decides to separate the passenger and the bags). At that point the bags don't have to travel with the passenger.
In your case, it should not have happened. Not certain reporting it will be all that helpful in avoiding it again.
On a side I have had BA misplace my bags a few times but its never happened with either WS or AC louse bags. Not certain why as I travel far more on WS and AC than BA. Perhaps random luck.
