Interline Plating Carriers - Whose baggage policy applies?

I learned about Interline Partnerships and Plating Carriers today and I am wondering how these agreements work in regards to baggage policy. In particular, I'm curious as to whose baggage fees are applied.

For instance, say I bought a ticket which flew:

First Segment: Ottawa to Montreal with Air Canada.
Second Segment: Montreal to Paris with Air France.
Return flight is the reverse of the outbound itinerary (CDG -> YUL -> YOW)
Air Canada is the Plating Carrier
No baggage allowance provided with this ticket

When I check-in at the Ottawa airport with some baggage to be checked, will I be charged Air Canada's rates? Or will I have to pay baggage fees for both the Air Canada and Air France portions of the trip?

When I am returning and check-in at Charles De Gaulle with the same baggage, do I pay Air France's baggage fees or will Air Canada's status as the Plating Carrier still determine my baggage fees?

Best Answer

If the itinerary is booked on one ticket (its a code-share), then the Most Significant Carrier rule (from IATA) applies.

Air Canada has a pdf on their website that details rules and conditions of carriage, here are the relevant bits:

In the case of code-share, the baggage rules of the first marketing carrier (carrier whose code appears on the flight number) may apply, not those of the operating carrier.

Not really much to say there, Qatar Airways has more details:

The Most Significant Marketing Carrier (MSC) is:

For travel between IATA areas: The first carrier flying in between two of the IATA areas

For travel between IATA sub areas: The first carrier flying in between the sub areas

For travel within an IATA sub area: The first carrier crossing an international border

For your flight from Canada to France (and return) you are crossing IATA areas. So the baggage rules of Air France will apply.

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What does interline baggage mean?

If your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, then your checked bags will be considered \u201cinterline baggage.\u201d Interline baggage just means checked baggage that will be transported by two or more airlines.

Who is responsible for baggage accountability?

The Transportation Security Administration is responsible for providing the equipment and personnel to screen passengers and baggage at every airport, and responding to increases in passenger load Airports work with local TSA officials to improve security checkpoints.

What is an interline policy?

In standard commercial insurance, an interline endorsement is one that applies across the lines of insurance to all coverage parts. Most often these types of endorsements have to do with general items, such as cancellation or nonrenewal provisions or the effective time of the policy.

How does baggage allowance work with connecting flights?

When you purchase a connecting flight, checked baggage is usually forwarded to your final destination, and will change planes when you do. The agent at check-in will usually ask if you want your luggage checked through to your last stop.

Airline - Interline Agreement

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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