When the concept of "codesharing" came about in 1989, the idea was simple: two airlines would partner together to sell seats on a flight, whereby the "partners" are responsible for their passengers.
Nothing is simple anymore. The idea evolved into alliances and joint ventures, and a single flight operated by one airline could actually be sold by several airlines, each showing its own airline code and flight number.
Thousands of passengers every day go to the wrong terminal or attempt to check in at "their" airline, only to find out that the operating carrier is a different airline altogether, with different terminal, colors, crew, boarding and baggage policies etc...
To add to the confusion, frequent flyer mileage may be higher, lower or the same depending on the arrangement of the codeshare and the type of partnership the airlines have. When problems happen in route, it becomes confusing who to go to for help.
Travelers should always ask (online web portals may not tell you) who the actual operating airline is, who's rules apply and what the restrictions are.
The "Fly America Act" comes to mind when government funded travel stipulates the use of a "U.S. flag carrier", and a traveler finds himself/herself on a foreign flag carrier.
Your travel consultant at Premiere Travel will help you navigate all these nuances and complexities that may not seem to be too obvious.
www.premieretravel.com
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