We are flying Air Berlin to Rome and will be starting in Seattle on American to Chicago then to Berlin and on to Rome. We are wondering if we will be charged for our backbacks as a carryon. We are checking our other bag. Also do we have to get our luggage in Chicago or Berlin or to they transfer it?
Posted by
Spokane, WA, USA
191 posts
You'll need to check with your airline. They change things often, and it all depends on when you bought your ticket. For example, we are flying two airlines from Seattle to get to Barcelona. the first one, Alaska Air will charge us for our checked baggage (nothing for our carry-on). The price will be $20 per bag because we bought our tickets before October 31. The current rate is $25. Lufthansa will charge nothing for our carry-on or our first checked bag, but additional bags are $100 each!
Jan
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
I find that most major airlines charge for checked bags but not carry-ons - only the discount airlines charge for carry-ons. That said, your carry-on must be under a certain size or they won't let you bring it on the plane. If it isn't small enough, they will make you check it and charge you. Be sure to check the size limitations for both airlines before you decide which carry-on you will take.
If you are flying the same airline to your final destination, it should be checked all the way through for you. Since you are changing airlines at some point though, you may have you get your bags and recheck them unless this is an "operated by" flight. Some airlines have partnerships where they share routes and coorperate on baggage transfer - you should call American and ask them if they have this kind of agreement with Air Berlin. I am unfamiliar with this airline and don't know if they are a partner airline of American. If not, and you do have to gather your bags and recheck them, make sure you have enough time between flights - this can add a lot of time especially if you have to go to a different terminal to catch your connecting flight. Sometimes, in addition to rechecking your bags you also have to go through customs if you are changing airlines on foreign soil...this is common when flying through Canada but I'm not sure about Germany...I'll leave this to someone who knows.
Posted by
OP
6 posts
Anita. And Jan Thanks for your advice as I don't want to be surprised and have a big hassle with the airlines. Especially getting to Rome and finding out our bags are sitting in Chicago! Not a good way to start a Trip! Thanks I'll call American.