Code share baggage allowance United/Lufthansa

I really think you have your units mixed up. European airlines allow 115 cm. 115 inches would be like 4'x 3'x 2'. That's huge. And, at that size, to only weigh 32 lbs? What were you carrying, fuel for your sailboards?

Do you maybe mean 110 cm or 32 kg?

And, if you were so concerned (asked them 4 times) why didn't you just call Lufthansa?

Lee, I agree the lesson learned is that you need to call the actually airline operating the plane.

If you look at the baggage page on United, it says that only active duty military personnel are allowed up to 115 lineal inches. Regular economy passengers are allowed up to 2 bags each with max of 62 lineal dimensions. And it wasn't 32 lbs for the 115 inches...it was 32 kg.

Next time, think of sending the large cases as cargo.

Actually, Frank, I think 62 linear inches is the limit for no overweight charges and 115 linear inches is the absolute limit, with charges, for carriage at all - on United.

I don't think I can find a lot of sympathy for him. Is it possible that he called United "four" times, knowng that the information from United wasn't correct, trying to set up an excuse for trying to sneak in oversized bags, but he didn't call Lufthansa because he didn't want to be on the record as being told the bags were too big?

That's not what United's International Baggage chart says. You can see for yourself:

United Airlines International Checked Baggage

It clearly states maximum checked baggage size--for no extra payment--is 62 linear inches. They don't care how big the bag gets after that since you'll be paying for it.

Technically, Lufthansa is supposed to honor the originating airline.

But in today's money-hungry airline industry, they'll charge for whatever they can get away with.

You're at their mercy once you arrive at the airport. Theoretically, codesharing is nothing more than one airline being allowed to sell a flight on another airline as their own.

I've seen people with carry-on bags that are well within the limits of the carry-on policy be told they have to check the bag because it's too big--and pay the fee, of course. And that's at check-in. Those who refused had no problems taking the bag on board. The airlines are after every penny they can get.

Your only recourse it to take them to court.

Frank and Lee: My question was that how does code share work re: baggage rules. Between United/Lufthansa is there some sort of pecking order or are they the same? The contract involved ONE ticket for several connections involving both airlines. United Agents gave me a price of 127 dollars with tax and then the United desk Agent tells me Lufthansa wants 600 dollars for the same oversize item and that they could not take it at all one flight.

No, at 14 Kg luggage was not air "fuel for sailboards" I don't think it fair to accuse me of knowingly trying to "sneak in oversize bags". It's simply not worth it and the bags were indeed under 115 lineal inches anyway. I had no problem with paying the extra charge either therefore nothing was being snuck in. And, I thought my units of measure were clear in my original post.

I was simply following United's directions on the United web page Frank posted: "Fees for baggage more than 70 pounds/32kg or exceeding the maximum linear dimensions vary by destination Contact United or your travel agent prior to your trip for details." And, that is exactly what I did as stupid as it may seem.

No, I did not telephone Lufthansa, but I did look at their web site on luggage and was not overly concerned except that I may end up paying 200 dollars instead of 125 dollars. Since my flight originated with United in the USA, I thought it a good idea to call United according to their directions. Also, according to Lufthansa, the cost for oversize baggage is based on the country of origin. Clearly that started with a United flight out of Phoenix.

For Lufthansa "The unit costs under the piece concept may vary according to the country of departure or arrival."
Lufthansa 'piece concept’ charges from USA . . .within free baggage allowance of 2 pieces: "bigger than 158cm = 200 USD/CAD" Now I don't know where this is going with all the denigrating comments, is this what this is about what one can expect from blogs these days? Wade

Frank: Thanks! I believe you right that Lufthansa is supposed to honor United's International baggage allowances. I heard the same from another. Can you emagine how crazy things could getif they did not.

I recall the carry-on problems well. I had to check one in in the middle of an international trip. I have two carry-ons we now just use as small check-in suitcases. Otherwise they would go to the trash of garage. It won't be long before we can trash all our big suitcases.

If it had not been for that smaller city hopper plane
United didn't look into between Frankfurt and Marseille our two oversize boxes would have gone and this would be a non story.

Those Check-in Agents are like gods. They start getting on the phone and you know you got problems at the other end.

Logically I tried to get the Agent to just let the 14 Kilo oversize boxes set in Frankfurt and send them the next day in a larger plane, but by that time Lufthansa wanted 600 dollar apiece and would not even do that unless we took the next day flight for about 4000 bucks out of pocket.

I will sue if this isn't resolved soon.

Thanks again. Wade

Codeshare creates havoc and all sorts of problems. Try and do web check in on a Lufthansa flight number operated by Air Canada. Neither Lufthansa can help you nor does Air Canada. The concept has merit for the cooperating air carrier but not for the travelling public. I book all of my flights on tripquote.com