Can BA refuse baggage transfer from Continental EWR - LGW - SPU
Aug 29th, 2006, 06:37 PM
#1
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Can BA refuse baggage transfer from Continental EWR - LGW - SPU
I'm flying from EWR on Continental to LGW South Terminal and transfering to BA in North Terminal for a connection to Split. I have 2 hours.
I brought the tickets separately (2 different PNRs) as I could not book the connections together. BA issued me tickets as they do not do etickets for Croatia.
I thought that I would just use the international transfer and had plenty of time to make the connection.
CO has told me that they can check the baggage to my final destination. However, when I talked to BA to confirm logistics, they told me that they will not interline the baggage and I would need to collect them in Gatwick and go thru immigations/customs/collect them and check them in! I had a long debate with the customer service agent but he was insistent this was the case.
I have seen some threads that indicate that BA can be a problem transferring luggage.
Anyone have this problem? Worried that 2 hours is now too tight to get thru immigrations although I'm flying in on a Sunday morning so hoping not too crazy in Gatwick.
I brought the tickets separately (2 different PNRs) as I could not book the connections together. BA issued me tickets as they do not do etickets for Croatia.
I thought that I would just use the international transfer and had plenty of time to make the connection.
CO has told me that they can check the baggage to my final destination. However, when I talked to BA to confirm logistics, they told me that they will not interline the baggage and I would need to collect them in Gatwick and go thru immigations/customs/collect them and check them in! I had a long debate with the customer service agent but he was insistent this was the case.
I have seen some threads that indicate that BA can be a problem transferring luggage.
Anyone have this problem? Worried that 2 hours is now too tight to get thru immigrations although I'm flying in on a Sunday morning so hoping not too crazy in Gatwick.
Aug 29th, 2006, 07:26 PM
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Are CO and BA partners - both part of the ONE-World Alliance? If not, you might certainly have problems. BA have refused to check my luggage through on STAR Alliance on a few occasions when I had separate tickets (don't blame them, they did not have to).
However, if CO are willing to do it, the bags will be tagged to final destination anyway, so I think BA will accept them anyway – that has been my personal experience. The baggage handlers look at the tags and schlep them onto the final destination. I have managed to check bags to final destination with Air Canada (Star Alliance) through to several destinations, on separate tickets, where the second carrier was BA (or other One World or other partners) and the bags have always arrived on the same flight as I have. The challenge was convincing AC to do it; once the bags were tagged, it was a done deal! The problem has always been on the return journey, where I had to convince BA to check the bags through with separate tickets to AC - they have refused (about four times).
I think it often comes down to the check-in agent. Two weeks ago I failed to convince an Iberia agent in Santiago (Spain) to tag my bags through to a BA flight to London, via Madrid ( I had separate tickets). Both are One World partners. I waited over an hour for my bags in Madrid and missed my connection on BA. The BA agent put me on a flight the next morning for London at no extra charge (I was pleased). I walked over to Iberia customer service and they told me the agent SHOULD have tagged my bags through to London, even though I had separate tickets, because they were “partner” airlines. He gave me a voucher for hotel, dinner and breakfast ( I was pleased!).
Despite the great customer service I received, I am now more confused then ever about the “RULES”!
Personally, if the CO agent is willing to check the bags right through, I would accept the offer. I would also bring a change of clothes for the next few days, just in case.
Regards Ger
However, if CO are willing to do it, the bags will be tagged to final destination anyway, so I think BA will accept them anyway – that has been my personal experience. The baggage handlers look at the tags and schlep them onto the final destination. I have managed to check bags to final destination with Air Canada (Star Alliance) through to several destinations, on separate tickets, where the second carrier was BA (or other One World or other partners) and the bags have always arrived on the same flight as I have. The challenge was convincing AC to do it; once the bags were tagged, it was a done deal! The problem has always been on the return journey, where I had to convince BA to check the bags through with separate tickets to AC - they have refused (about four times).
I think it often comes down to the check-in agent. Two weeks ago I failed to convince an Iberia agent in Santiago (Spain) to tag my bags through to a BA flight to London, via Madrid ( I had separate tickets). Both are One World partners. I waited over an hour for my bags in Madrid and missed my connection on BA. The BA agent put me on a flight the next morning for London at no extra charge (I was pleased). I walked over to Iberia customer service and they told me the agent SHOULD have tagged my bags through to London, even though I had separate tickets, because they were “partner” airlines. He gave me a voucher for hotel, dinner and breakfast ( I was pleased!).
Despite the great customer service I received, I am now more confused then ever about the “RULES”!
Personally, if the CO agent is willing to check the bags right through, I would accept the offer. I would also bring a change of clothes for the next few days, just in case.
Regards Ger
Aug 29th, 2006, 07:30 PM
#3
It is true, BA often won't cooperate and check bags through - but that isn't an issue for you. They are not involved at EWR in any way. As long as your bags have the right tags on them they will go through at LGW.
Aug 30th, 2006, 12:57 AM
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I agree with Janis..if the bags are tagged correctly nobody is going to stop them at Gatwick (why would they?).
Just be glad that CO is willing to do it in the first place and worry about other things now.
Just be glad that CO is willing to do it in the first place and worry about other things now.
Aug 30th, 2006, 05:25 AM
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Thanks, the BA agent insisted they would not interline baggage from a non-partner. He also indicated that even with a partner, if the tickets weren't combined, they would not accept bags. Frustrated, I then went to their own ba site to see faq's which indicated tickets could be booked separately and they would interline luggage if they are in the one partner alliance. Confusing. Anyway, thanks for the feedback, makes sense the if the bags are tagged correctly, folks in Gatwick shld just send them on. Just in case, I'll carry on some extra clothes in the tiny tiny carry-on bag that I'm allowed in the UK.
Don't have the issue returning since I plan on stopping off in London anyway. Now, just need to make sure the folks in EWR tag the bags to my final destination.
Don't have the issue returning since I plan on stopping off in London anyway. Now, just need to make sure the folks in EWR tag the bags to my final destination.
