Alliance & Codeshare Protection
Most international itineraries involve multiple airline operators connected through alliances (Star Alliance, oneworld, SkyTeam) or codeshare agreements. When a flight on such an itinerary is delayed or cancelled, it is not always obvious which airline you should deal with. This guide explains the basic structure.
Ticketing vs Operating Carrier
Your ticket has a 3-letter airline code (001 for AA, 235 for BA, 220 for LH, etc.) — the ticketing carrier. Each flight segment in the ticket has an operating carrier. These can differ when a flight is a codeshare.
For passenger-rights purposes in the EU, the operating carrier is responsible for duty of care and compensation on the affected flight. Ticketing carrier has responsibility for refunds when flights are cancelled and for re-protecting the full itinerary.
Who to Call
- ›At the airport during disruption — talk to operating carrier staff at the gate.
- ›For refund or large rebooking — ticketing carrier is the correct contact.
- ›For EU261 compensation claim — operating carrier of the affected flight.
- ›For baggage tracing — usually operating carrier on the final leg, with handover coordination via IATA BagTag.
Separate Tickets — Different Rules
If you booked two separate tickets (even on alliance partners), each is treated independently. A missed connection because the first leg was late is not the responsibility of the second carrier. Travel insurance or credit card trip protection is often the only recourse in this scenario. See reroute rights.
Informational. Specific contract terms vary by alliance and agreement; consult the ticketing and operating carrier for authoritative information. See Terms of Service.