Oneworld change complicates
multi-sector travelPASSENGERS travelling on
a multi-sector oneworld
itinerary will need to
leave additional time between
connecting flights if they
are travelling on separate
bookings as they may need to
re-check luggage and obtain
new boarding passes when
connecting between alliance
member airlines.
Last month, oneworld
announced that member
airlines were no longer
required to check passengers
and their baggage through to
their final destination where
the itinerary included multiple
flights and multiple booking
references.
Vp of corporate
communications, Michael
Blunt, says this is to
avoid the service delivery
problems that come with
using separate tickets
for different sectors. “An
airline operating a sector
covered by one ticket may
change the schedule for that
flight, making the planned
connection impossible. If the
connecting flight was covered
by that same booking, the
airline making the schedule
change would be aware
of the implications for the
connection. The appropriate
action to maintain the
customer’s itinerary could be
taken well in advance, not
dealt with at the last minute
when the customer checks
in and it is often too late to
put workable alternatives in
place,” he says.
Michael adds that member
airlines are free to offer
service above and beyond the
alliance minimum standard
if they so choose, so some
may continue to offer through
check-in for customers who
choose to travel on multisector
journeys on separate
bookings.
Cathay Pacific advises
agents to remind travellers
opting to travel on two
tickets that additional
connecting time at their
transfer point is required as
they will need to check in
again, either after landing
or at the transfer point,
depending on the airport’s
set-up and facilities. A
landing visa for the transfer
point might also be required,
the airline said.
What’s more, while
customers who are ‘through
checked’ should be looked
after in times of disruption,
Cathay warns that the airline
is not responsible for any
missed connections other
than the flight it operates or
connecting flights booked in
the same PNR as the flight it
operates.
Qantas will implement the
new policy from September 1
when travellers will need to
book connections as part of
a single booking in order to
be eligible for through checkin
to their final destination.
