Code-Sharing Chaos: Why Did a Passenger Who Paid Triple Ended Up in a Low-Cost Airline

① Code-Shared Flights of Airlines

Have you ever booked a flight with a major airline only to fly with a low-cost carrier? This can happen due to airlines’ code-sharing agreements. Code-sharing is when one airline sells tickets for flights operated by another airline. When you use a code-shared flight, you end up flying on an aircraft operated by a different airline from the one you booked with. The in-flight services also vary. The baggage policy for code-shared flights is determined according to the agreement between the operating airline and the selling airline, so it’s essential to check in advance.

Code-sharing is designed to secure various routes and time slots while reducing costs associated with individual operations.

However, consumers are claiming damages due to code-sharing.

One traveler revealed in an interview with YTN that he had bought a ticket from a major airline for 340,000 won (around $291) and ended up flying on a low-cost carrier’s plane, which he could have purchased for 230,000 won (around $197).

Major domestic airlines are conducting code-sharing with their low-cost subsidiaries. The price varies greatly depending on which airline you buy the ticket from, even if you fly on the same plane.

The price difference can be as much as three times, depending on the route.

Consumers purchase tickets from major airlines for better service but fly on low-cost carriers due to code-sharing, leading to differences in in-flight services.

② Booked Korean Air but flew on Jin Air

However, consumers often fall victim to a lack of understanding of code-sharing. When purchasing code-share tickets, a pop-up window appears to inform customers.

This information can be checked when searching for flights on the airline’s website and indicated on the e-ticket confirmation.

Korean Air is conducting code-sharing with 36 airlines, including its subsidiary, Jin Air. Korean Air began code-sharing with Jin Air on four domestic routes for the first time in May last year and has since added five more routes.

If you book a co-shared flight with Korean Air and fly with Jin Air, you’ll get a free bulgogi sandwich as an in-flight meal.

Even if you fly with Jin Air, you can earn Korean Air mileage because you purchased a Korean Air ticket.

Consumers have expressed dissatisfaction about paying more for a Korean Air ticket and ending up flying on Jin Air, a low-cost carrier with different pricing. Flying on a low-cost carrier’s plane instead of one from a similar-tier airline is essentially the same as overpaying for a ticket that could have been purchased cheaper. Thus, there have been ongoing complaints about the fare difference when code-sharing between major airlines and low-cost carriers.

③ Continuous Consumer Complaints

He expressed anger, saying, “If I had known this, I would not have used Asiana and would have directly purchased a cheaper Air Busan ticket.”

Asiana Airlines advises on its website, “When booking a code-shared flight, please check in advance which airline’s baggage rules apply.” As the details of the code-sharing rules vary by airline, consumers must check for themselves before boarding.

When Asiana Airlines code-shares with Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), etc., the rules of the selling airline, Asiana Airlines, apply.

However, when code-sharing with Air Busan, Air Seoul, EVA Air, Air China, etc., the rules of the operating airline apply.

By. Kim Min Jae