Qantas / LATAM 'interlining'

[RooFlyer]

I am asking my Travel Agent if they can add a new PE SCL-MVD-SCL LATAM ticket onto my existing J SYD-SCL-SYD one; connection time in SCL on the way over is 4 hours.

Answer is yes (to go on one PNR), but QF will charge a change fee - OK.

But the TA says they aren't sure if QF will then 'interline' my bags to LATAM, through to MVD. I'm not sure if I'm using 'interline' in the right sense - I mean if QF will tag my bags so that they transit SCL with me and I will collect bags in MVD and not have to go landside at SCL. With this 'add-on', I'm not sure if I can get QF code-share on the LA flights

Does anyone have any good info on this? Couldn't find anything specific on the airlines' web sites.

 

[Quickstatus]

My understanding of the QF/LA "partnership" is that benefits only apply on QF codeshares on LA operated flights. So a non codeshare will not enjoy additional benefits like interlining.

For the one PNR situation - the IATCI link suggests that LA is not a member of that "implementation group"

 

[justinbrett]

I am asking my Travel Agent if they can add a new PE SCL-MVD-SCL LATAM ticket onto my existing J SYD-SCL-SYD one; connection time in SCL on the way over is 4 hours.

Answer is yes (to go on one PNR), but QF will charge a change fee - OK.

But the TA says they aren't sure if QF will then 'interline' my bags to LATAM, through to MVD. I'm not sure if I'm using 'interline' in the right sense - I mean if QF will tag my bags so that they transit SCL with me and I will collect bags in MVD and not have to go landside at SCL. With this 'add-on', I'm not sure if I can get QF code-share on the LA flights

Does anyone have any good info on this? Couldn't find anything specific on the airlines' web sites.

So a non codeshare will not enjoy additional benefits like interlining.

For the one PNR situation - the IATCI link suggests that LA is not a member of that "implementation group"

Interlining won't have anything to do with whether you book the codeshare or not. Interlining is not a "benefit", QF interlines to rival airlines (eg I am flying QF>HA next month and my bags are being interlined. They also interline to airlines like SQ, UA etc)

If it's single PNR, I can't see why QF wouldn't check through to the final destination, they are full interline partners. I have interlined between QF and LA before (SYD-AKL-SCL); there was an issue with the BP (had to get that in AKL) but the bags went straight through. That would explain the lack of through check in posted by @Quickstatus

The QF airport guide for SCL indicates bags don't need to be rechecked for I>I (https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas...rt/airport-guides/santiago-airport-guide.html)

If it's a single ticket, you should be able to get the QF codes


If your TA does it as a second ticket (same PNR), then you wouldn't be eligible for the QF codes but you should still get them checked through. I imagine adding these as a single ticket will completely change your QF fare.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for all of that

I imagine adding these as a single ticket will completely change your QF fare.

The TA's initial reply was a it ambiguous, but it sounded like if I want to add the SCL-MVD-SCL onto the other ticket, the ticket issuer (Qantas) will only allow that to be booked in economy, even though there is Premium Economy available. Doesn't sound right, so am checking. But if it is correct, then it'll cost me $200 in 'fare difference and penalty fees'. But that doesn't sound right, either. Unusual of them to not be clear, but it was a Friday late arvo reply

Story is that in January I booked QF SYD-SCL-SYD J for the flights to make an Antarctic cruise in December. LATAM was going to be cheaper, but didn't then have January return loaded. As I wanted to get it squared away ASAP (rising costs and fare bucket availability), I booked QF via my TA. Because I'm ultra conservative , I booked to arrive a week before cruise departure, planning to 'lie low' somewhere south amongst the parks and volcanos to avoid getting covid, as the then mandatory pre-cruise test will deny (very expensive!) cruise boarding if positive.

Test no longer applies. A month ago, I asked the TA to price a change in my QF J ticket to leaving 3-4 days later. Multi-thousands more. So left it. Now I'm going to Uruguay to pass the time

Given the past quote, I can't see how it would be 'only' a few hundred $ as a 'change fee' plus penalty, nor why I couldn't book LATAM PE. I ain't going economy, so if its all correct, I'll go a separate PE LA ticket for about the same price. Four hours connection should be OK on sep. ticket, at SCL; non critical connection. Been through there about 8 times.
____________

For many years, before I joined AFF and even knew the word interlining, I was shuttling 6 times/yr between CANADA/USA and home for about 8 years, 2000s-2010s. Using AC, UA and (edit) AA in Nth America, QF in/out of Oz. Always got my bags checked through, no matter what combination. I never knew it was an issue not to have bags checked through

 

[Quickstatus]

enefit", QF interlines to rival airlines

Yes but there is the pesky "*" to factor into the equation

 

[justinbrett]

Yes but there is the pesky "*" to factor into the equation

No it’s really quite simple for single PNR bookings when they are both interline partners.

QF interlines to LA. Not a controversial statement.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF interlines to LA

I think only for QF codeshares in J

 

[RooFlyer]

Of course no matter what the rules, a lot depends on the knowledge/inclination of the check-in agent. If for whatever reason they decline to tag the bags through, a pax might get an unexpected (and non Visa'd, as its 10 days prior application) arrival into Chile - or rather, would be declined boarding because no visa.

Fortunately I'm going to need a multiple-entry visa to Chile anyway, so ready for all eventualities!

 

[justinbrett]

I think only for QF codeshares in J

No. Codeshares have nothing to do with interlining.

 

[justinbrett]

Of course no matter what the rules, a lot depends on the knowledge/inclination of the check-in agent. If for whatever reason they decline to tag the bags through, a pax might get an unexpected (and non Visa'd, as its 10 days prior application) arrival into Chile - or rather, would be declined boarding because no visa.

Fortunately I'm going to need a multiple-entry visa to Chile anyway, so ready for all eventualities!

Single PNR - we’re over thinking this. QF airport page for SCL is quite conclusive IMO that you don’t need to recheck bags.

Always a chance someone won’t do their job or are poorly trained - embrace your inner Karen and ask to speak to their supervisor.

 

[RooFlyer]

No. Codeshares have nothing to do with interlining.

But it helps, doesn't it?

Say airline A and B had no interline agreement / interlining. But if flight on B is a code-share of airline A, then wouldn't the bags 'have' to be transferred, as the second flight is 'effectively' a flight on the same airline as the first??

 

[justinbrett]

But it helps, doesn't it?

Say airline A and B had no interline agreement / interlining. But if flight on B is a code-share of airline A, then wouldn't the bags 'have' to be transferred, as the second flight is 'effectively' a flight on the same airline as the first??

No, it’s theoretically possible to have a codeshare on an airline without an interline agreement.

It would just be incredibly stupid for an airline to go to the trouble of organising a codeshare without signing an interline agreement.

I guess JQd would fit that description though.

Interlining is all about the operating carrier - marketing carrier has nothing to do with it. In my example up thread of connecting to LA at AKL, QF couldn’t issue the BP in Sydney, and that was a QF codeshare.

 

[RooFlyer]

I guess JQd would fit that description though.

I was biting my tongue about that one .

Upthread quickstatus gave a link to Home Page - IATCI and that indicates that LATAM is not part of the InterAirline Through Check-In Implementation Group, but that's not the same as those airlines prepared to enter into interline agreements. I just googled "Which airlines do qantas interline with" and got what I thought was a great result - until I realised it was an Agent only page and it thought I was in the UK?? (I'm not using a VPN)



Wouldn't it be nice to get access to

 

[justinbrett]

I was biting my tongue about that one .

Upthread quickstatus gave a link to Home Page - IATCI and that indicates that LATAM is not part of the InterAirline Through Check-In Implementation Group, but that's not the same as those airlines prepared to enter into interline agreements. I just googled "Which airlines do qantas interline with" and got what I thought was a great result - until I realised it was an Agent only page and it thought I was in the UK?? (I'm not using a VPN)

View attachment 330785

Wouldn't it be nice to get access to

View attachment 330786

This is what you’re after (EF):

 

[RooFlyer]

This is what you’re after (EF):

Ah! Thanks - I have EF, but got out of the habit of burrowing into it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just to close off what I wrote above.

TA has clarified - yes, I can get LATAM Premium Economy, code-shared QF if they buy for me the SCL-MVD-SCL and tack it onto my existing SYD-SCL-SYD QF ticket, under one PNR.

So all good.

Now to get the DL Status Match in a few months, just to have the full LATAM package (including Preferente, which I value).

 

[tinkybelle]

I have an award ticket on LAN SYD SCL and now want to buy a ticket to EZE I have been told that I need to get a visa and go and re check the bags
I messaged LAtam FB and they also said I had to re check them in, does anyone have knowledge of this I would have presumed the bags would be tagged all the way to EZE

 

[anchew]

Hi all,

I can confirm that bags will be tagged through to final destination when flying QF-LA on the same PNR. I have QF SYD-SCL then LA SCL-EZE flights today and my bag was tagged all the way through. I even got my SCL-EZE boarding pass when checking in!

Can't comment on if the tickets are on different PNRs though.

Hope this helps.