Qantas baggage policy change: codeshare flights now get Qantas allowances

UPDATE: Qantas has alerted us to a recent change in its baggage policy that now allows passengers flying on a QF coded flight to get Qantas baggage allowances, regardless of the airline being flown.

This is a great step in the right direction towards standardisation of baggage allowances on codeshare flights.

Unfortunately, Qantas Frequent Flyer club/silver/gold/platinum baggage allowance bonuses still do not apply on any codeshare flights.

A Qantas spokersperson told Australian Business Traveller, "Qantas is currently working with oneworld partner British Airways to look at opportunities to deliver greater baggage allowance consistency for our customers"

Original story: Qantas cuts could lead to baggage allowance confusion

Qantas' decision to stop flying some international routes in favour of selling codeshare flights on partner airlines may result in passengers being hit with unexpected excess baggage fees.

The problem -- as many travellers who have been stung in the past will know -- is that Qantas baggage allowances only apply on Qantas aircraft.

Anyone who flies with another airline, even under a "QF" coded flight, will be subject to the other airline's baggage rules.

For example, British Airways has a strict one-bag policy for economy class passengers without frequent flyer status, and a two-bag policy for business class.

However, Qantas still allows passengers to check any number of bags on international routes (except USA), provided they add up to a specific total weight.

So, for example, a passenger flying Qantas to Bangkok and then to London with British Airways under Qantas' new changes would be able to check four bags to Bangkok but only two bags onwards to London without paying extra fees.

Qantas upgrades the baggage limit for silver frequent flyers and Qantas Club members substantially -- but British Airways doesn't.

The International Air Transport Association has recognised the problem with inconsistent baggage allowances between airlines, and introduced new rules in April to try to make airlines offer more reasonable policies for passengers flying with multiple airlines on one trip.

But the policy is complicated to understand for travellers.

If the allowances of both airlines are the same, then that allowance applies.

If the allowances are different, the allowance of the most significant carrier for the route checked in for applies.

However, "the most significant carrier" depends on where airlines cross over certain international zones as defined by the IATA.

The association explains that the baggage policy for a multi-airline trip is determined by: "The first carrier that crosses from one zone to another, such as from America to Europe, from Europe to Africa, or from South to North America, or the first international carrier within a zone when travel is within a sub-area, such as a journey from Santiago to Lima."

Got that?

It's possible that Qantas' amended joint services agreement with British Airways could include consistent baggage limits for both airlines' customers, but Qantas' announcement of it doesn't mention anything about it

danwarne