Dark Side Price Confusion

OK, so, to my great shame I'm currently in the process of pricing a trip with BA (look at some of my recent posts if you want to know why!) and have a wee quandry: Want to do MAN-LGW-BGI and back (Club for the BGI bits). If I book this as one trip it comes out over £200 more than if I book seperately for MAN-LGW, LGW-BGI etc.

I'm probably being a total prawn here and missing something, but is there a reason for this?

[preiffer]

Yup - it's the con that is the "through-ticket surcharge". Basically, they bump up the cost for the "luxury" of through bag check-in, etc.

Most airlines at the same, BMI certainly are. [n]

Originally posted by preiffer
Yup - it's the con that is the "through-ticket surcharge". Basically, they bump up the cost for the "luxury" of through bag check-in, etc.

Most airlines at the same, BMI certainly are. [n]

I just do not understand this as a "marketing " tool - surely it creates more work for the issuing airline and almost forces you to choose another carrier to do the internal flight?[:(!][:(!]

Thanks for that - had my suspicions. Is that to say, then, that if I book seperate tickets they won't let us check our bags through at all? Thing is, we normally do the same trip with VS for the BGI legs and BA for the domestic, and they let us check luggage from BGI through to MAN!

Originally posted by mdvipond
Thing is, we normally do the same trip with VS for the BGI legs and BA for the domestic, and they let us check luggage from BGI through to MAN!

I think this has all stopped. We usually book our luggage through from mco to edi (connecting with ba in lgw). This was allowed in Jan but not in June this year - even after the lady went to check with her supervisor as we were flying uc. It's just a total pain - especially with BA's new policy of only one bag per person on shuttles. Totally b*ggers up your uc baggage allowance.

Maybe another reason to look at BA for the next trip.

David

Is MAN-BGI direct on BD worth considering?

Originally posted by mdvipond
Is that to say, then, that if I book seperate tickets they won't let us check our bags through at all?

BA will still through-check your luggage on separate tickets, and also when flying BA and connecting onto a One World Alliance partner.

Originally posted by Strawberry Muppet

Originally posted by mdvipond
Is that to say, then, that if I book seperate tickets they won't let us check our bags through at all?

BA will still through-check your luggage on separate tickets, and also when flying BA and connecting onto a One World Alliance partner.

I think the key here is not the fact that the carrier would be the same for each leg but that the PNR/reference number would be different - I suspect that it's this that rules out interlining/through checking.

In respect of OP query, if you book on the same reference you get the higher of the baggage allowance. Not so much of an issue now but from Oct BA's checked baggage allowance drops to 23KG IIRC for domestic flights. If this rule had been in place on our recent return to MAN from SFO via LHR we would have been well over at 25 and 27.5 KG respectively - fortunately it was still on a piece basis (one bag each under 32KG) so we were OK. Has made me think about future bookings although too late for Dubai next Easter - I generally use airmiles for connecting flights where I need them so always have a separate PNR/booking ref.

Regards

Pat

[honey lamb]

Up until March I was able to check my bags through to and from ORK but then the new policy came in that it had to be on the same ticket. The flights that we were taking since then really did not matter as there was a 4/5 layover between flights but I really feel that if I am taking the SFO flight in future then I will do an overnight stay than risk it. It is the minimum connecting time from ORK and I have seen that early morning flight delayed too often to be comfortable.

The price of having it on the same ticket is around Û200. However if I can get that flight for Û9 or less it doesn't make sense to me to pay the extra [:0]

Having said that a couple of weeks ago we were doing SIN-HKG on SQ to connect with VS200 to SYD. Knowing the new policy and having checked some months ago I expected it to be a non-starter to interline the bags all the way through. However ensconced in that haven which is the First Class check-in lounge in SIN Aer John mentioned that we were going on to SYD and I casually asked about a through-check. Tippety-tap, clickety-clack and voila! There we were - all the way through to SYD. As it turns out it was a blessing as the SQ flight got delayed en route thus tearing my nerves to shreds and if we had had to reclaim and check bags - well, let us say it would have been very tight! [:0]

I think the key here is not the fact that the carrier would be the same for each leg but that the PNR/reference number would be different - I suspect that it's this that rules out interlining/through checking.

If the OP booked separate tickets on BA (ie with different PNRs) then that shouldn't matter. I just did a quick search on ba.com and found this answer.

From ba.com

Question
If I am travelling on a British Airways flight and connecting onwards with another British Airways flight or oneworld flight, can I check my bags in for the whole journey?

Answer
Yes, as long as you have a same day connection you will be 'through-checked' to your final destination, regardless of separate tickets.

What's the point of paying more just to have the same itinerary on one ticket when it's cheaper to book separate tickets? [?]

[Scrooge]

The point is if the MAN-LGW leg is delayed it's up to BA to get them there,as two seperate tickets with different PNR's there could be issues.

Check what type of ticket class they are booking you in. If you have done cheapet club then the booking system may not have done you a cheapest class for the internal and could well be a fully/partial flex ticket - gives you terraces access though but at £200 hardly worth it.

Originally posted by wood07
Is MAN-BGI direct on BD worth considering?

For us - no. Although we were sorely tempted, the inclusion in our party of mdvipond jr. - who'll be 19 months when we do this trip - makes some kind of flat bed set up a must. Our last 2 trips in UCS have taught us just how invaluable they are, not just as a bed, but as a playpen/cot. However, looks like my parents are going to go for the BD option when they go out there.

Originally posted by Strawberry Muppet
If the OP booked separate tickets on BA (ie with different PNRs) then that shouldn't matter. I just did a quick search on ba.com and found this answer.

From ba.com

Question
If I am travelling on a British Airways flight and connecting onwards with another British Airways flight or oneworld flight, can I check my bags in for the whole journey?

Answer
Yes, as long as you have a same day connection you will be 'through-checked' to your final destination, regardless of separate tickets.

What's the point of paying more just to have the same itinerary on one ticket when it's cheaper to book separate tickets?

Thanks SM. Was very close to agreeing wholeheartedly with you, till I found this on the BA site:

For any connecting journey, the most generous allowance will apply.

Now, does this mean that - should we book the flights as a single itinerary - that we'd get Club World baggage allowance on the domestic legs? Or would this apply even if we did book the tickets seperately? Oh, god, why can't VS bring their prices down so I don't have to go through all this s**t?!?

One of the biggest advantages of the 'through' ticket is not just making sure the baggage gets there should there be a problem, but the passengers as well.

If you buy two seperate tickets (especially on different airlines) and are delayed making the connection, officially neither airline has responsibilty to accomodate you (no hotel/ food/ rebooking).

This is becoming more common place... whilst I doubt it would happen with Two BA reservations... they could refuse help.

Originally posted by mdvipond
Now, does this mean that - should we book the flights as a single itinerary - that we'd get Club World baggage allowance on the domestic legs? Or would this apply even if we did book the tickets seperately?

Another quick search on ba.com reveals this:


Question
If I am travelling on a multi flight journey which has different baggage allowances - which allowance applies to my entire journey?

Answer
If you hold a through ticket for a multi journey trip which has different baggage allowances, you will be permitted the higher allowance for the entire journey.

If you hold separate tickets for multi journeys which have different baggage allowances, you will only be permitted to carry the free baggage allowance for each sector as stated on that ticket.

Please note : The information above only applies to journeys which are issued on a through ticket (i.e. one ticket).
If you hold separate tickets for any multi journey, the baggage allowance stated on each ticket will apply for that flight sector.

That's the price you pay if you're on separate tickets then - no increased allowance on the domestic portion.

A bit off-topic but contrast this to Qantas' baggage allowance on Australian domestic services. You're entitled to one bag weighing up to 32kg. However, any additional pieces are not charged by weight, it's a flat rate of AU$10 (approx 4 quid)per bag, up to 32kg. And Qantas usually waives this charge so you can often carry 2 bags free of charge on domestic services, despite the official one bag rule.

My god, Mr. Strawb, you're good! Thanks for that, all makes (some) sense now...