Flight operated by two carriers; any difference who I book with?

Rowley Birkin QC

I'm travelling to Vegas in Novemeber. Flights are available with US Airways and also with BA. It's the same flight being sold by two companies but operated by US Airways.

There's about €50 in the difference. Is there any advantage (consumer protection or otherwise) in booking with one company or another for what is exactly the same seat on the same plane?

Also, any hotel recommendation for 8 lads travelling to Vegas would be appreciated!

Thanks!

whomitconcerns

Only difference is if you want to get airmiles, etc. Its the same flight other than that. So if you are a BA miles collector book through BA, etc.

Other than that go with the cheapest.

Rowley Birkin QC

Cheers, I'll get them booked!

Both legs are with US Airways through Philadelphia, I presume they'll handle the baggage transfers? (I've never flown to the States before)

Thanks!

SpaceTime

Won't make any difference to the service but they can sell the same seats at different prices.

whomitconcerns

Rowley Birkin QC wrote: »

Cheers, I'll get them booked!

Both legs are with US Airways through Philadelphia, I presume they'll handle the baggage transfers? (I've never flown to the States before)

Thanks!

well to be honest you may have to collect and drop your bag..but thats security nothing to do with the airline. Some US airports insist on it.....it would be tagged all teh way but what they make you do sometimes is pick it up and drop it on another belt, its to make sure all baggage gets ID'd

BuffyBot

He won't have to. US Airways flights precleaar in Dublin so all the customs kerfuffle is done with. Bags will be checked through just as if it were a domestic flight.

whomitconcerns

BuffyBot wrote: »

He won't have to. US Airways flights precleaar in Dublin so all the customs kerfuffle is done with. Bags will be checked through just as if it were a domestic flight.

Its not customs though...its happened to me on precleared flights too, that I had to id my bag and lift it onto another baggage belt.

munchkin_utd

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Only difference is if you want to get airmiles, etc. Its the same flight other than that. So if you are a BA miles collector book through BA, etc.

Other than that go with the cheapest.

theres a massive difference in what the airlines are required to provide by law should there be delays or whatnot.
i.e. BA is european so has a whole load of care (hotel/meals/ transfers etc if an unplanned overnight is needed) and compensation in case of delays all according to EU law whereas US airways is not covered under that EU legislation.
The Eu law on EU airlines covers EU based airlines even if the flight is outside of the EU.

You'll see the odd thread here of middle eastern airlines leaving you in the lurch in case of delays, which a european airline by law isnt allowed to do.

jaymcg91

In my experience if you fly from Dublin/Shannon it'll go straight through, if you're flying from other countries you have to pick it up (Dublin/Shannon flights are classed as domestic arrivals due to preclearance).

Rowley Birkin QC

munchkin_utd wrote: »

theres a massive difference in what the airlines are required to provide by law should there be delays or whatnot.
i.e. BA is european so has a whole load of care (hotel/meals/ transfers etc if an unplanned overnight is needed) and compensation in case of delays all according to EU law whereas US airways is not covered under that EU legislation.
The Eu law on EU airlines covers EU based airlines even if the flight is outside of the EU.

You'll see the odd thread here of middle eastern airlines leaving you in the lurch in case of delays, which a european airline by law isnt allowed to do.

That was my main concern and is probably worth the extra €50 in case anything goes wrong.

steve-o

munchkin_utd wrote: »

theres a massive difference in what the airlines are required to provide by law should there be delays or whatnot.

There is absolutely no difference in the OP's case as the law relates to the operating airline with is the same either way.

BuffyBot

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Its not customs though...its happened to me on precleared flights too, that I had to id my bag and lift it onto another baggage belt.

It is these days. Previously, it was just immigration. Now Dublin handles both.

keithclancy

BuffyBot wrote: »

It is these days. Previously, it was just immigration. Now Dublin handles both.

Some airports your bags are 'checked through' but you still have to physically pick them up and Carry them from one area to a belt somewhere else.

This is to give you the opportunity to put your duty free in your check in luggage because you are leaving the international terminal and entering the domestic terminal.

Chicago O Hare is one example.

galwayjohn89

keithclancy wrote: »

Some airports your bags are 'checked through' but you still have to physically pick them up and Carry them from one area to a belt somewhere else.

This is to give you the opportunity to put your duty free in your check in luggage because you are leaving the international terminal and entering the domestic terminal.

Chicago O Hare is one example.

Even if you preclear customs? I've never had that since customs was precleared.

Quin_Dub

Vuzuggu wrote: »

Even if you preclear customs? I've never had that since customs was precleared.

Not since the full preclearance was introduced..

I've flown through O'Hare and many other US airports and since Dublin and SNN got customs clearance I've never had to touch my bag until my final destination.

You don't go through security , you don't go near the baggage claim, you just arrive into the airport and walk through the concourse to your next gate.

keithclancy

Vuzuggu wrote: »

Even if you preclear customs? I've never had that since customs was precleared.

Nothing to do with Customs, if you have to switch terminal any liquids you have in your carry on, even in a sealed bag from Duty Free is treated as liquid, end of.

If you have to re-clear security they will take it off you, hence why they give you access to your check in luggage to put it in there and avoid that problem.

Happens quite frequently with the odd nutter smashing an expensive bottle of Whiskey into the liquids bin out of spite.

Also addressed here:
http://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/11572/can-i-connect-through-the-usa-with-liquid-duty-free-purchases

In my case I just checked in my Carry on luggage since we had plenty of time and security wasn't so busy.

Yamanoto

keithclancy wrote: »

Nothing to do with Customs, if you have to switch terminal any liquids you have in your carry on, even in a sealed bag from Duty Free is treated as liquid, end of.

If you have to re-clear security they will take it off you, hence why they give you access to your check in luggage to put it in there and avoid that problem.

Happens quite frequently with the odd nutter smashing an expensive bottle of Whiskey into the liquids bin out of spite.

Also addressed here:
http://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/11572/can-i-connect-through-the-usa-with-liquid-duty-free-purchases

In my case I just checked in my Carry on luggage since we had plenty of time and security wasn't so busy.

The airlines certainly don't grant you access to your bags as a matter of course though KC, if flying DUB-ORD-Final Destination.

According to the link, you have to request a 'short-check' - a facility I never knew was available tbh (though it makes sense in the case of long layovers etc.)

Cgoodie

The couple of times I've flown through Philadelphia with US Airways you had to collect your baggage from the belt and bring it to another belt for flight transfers. It's technically checked through to your destination as the tags on it are for the final destination and it's literally pick it up off one belt walk out to the transfer section and put it on the transfer belt, you didn't need to go to a check in desk or anything. Then you go into the queue for security and on to your next flight. And that was going through pre-clearance in Dublin.

keithclancy

Yamanoto wrote: »

The airlines certainly don't grant you access to your bags as a matter of course though KC, if flying DUB-ORD-Final Destination.

According to the link, you have to request a 'short-check' - a facility I never knew was available tbh (though it makes sense in the case of long layovers etc.)

In our case they did, but the bag was not re-checked, merely moved from the floor onto a belt by myself

Daisy 55

Had to collect bags this summer in Seattle. Staff were confused where we were to go next, and missed the connecting flight!