Most Significant Carrier
What is Most Significant Carrier?
For journeys involving more than one airline, baggage allowances and charges are set in line with International Air Transport Association (IATA) Resolution 302.
This uses a concept called the Most Significant Carrier (MSC), which determines which airline’s baggage rules will apply. These rules apply to your checked baggage for the entire journey, from when you check your bag in to when you collect it.
Depending on your itinerary, different airlines baggage allowances and charges may apply across your ticket.
Under IATA Resolution 302:
- For tickets issued on or before 31 March 2015, the Operating Carrier (the airline actually flying the aircraft) is usually considered the Most Significant Carrier (MSC), including for partner (code-share) flights.
- For tickets issued on or after 1 April 2015, the Marketing Carrier (the airline you booked with, whose code is on your ticket) is usually considered the MSC, even if another airline operates the flight.
Which baggage rules apply?
There are a few scenarios used to determine which airline is the Most Significant Carrier (MSC). This is based on the 3 IATA travel areas, their sub-areas, and where you travel during your checked baggage journey.
The IATA areas and sub-areas below are used, along with the examples that follow, to work out which airline’s baggage allowances and excess charges will apply.
IATA areas and sub-areas
| Area 1 | North, Central and South America, Hawaii | USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America |
|---|---|---|
| Area 2 | Europe, Middle East | Europe, Middle East, Africa |
| Area 3 | Asia, Guam, Southwest Pacific | Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asian Subcontinent, Southwest Pacific |
| Includes | Sub-area |
|---|---|
Area 1 | |
| North, Central and South America, Hawaii | USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America |
Area 2 | |
| Europe, Middle East | Europe, Middle East, Africa |
Area 3 | |
| Asia, Guam, Southwest Pacific | Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asian Subcontinent, Southwest Pacific |
Travelling from one IATA area to another
The first carrier crossing from one IATA area to another.
Unless otherwise specified, assume the sectors shown are connecting flights and are considered a single checked baggage journey.
Example 1 - Carrier A is the Most Significant Marketing Carrier
| Auckland to Hong Kong | Area 3 to Area 3 | Carrier 'A' baggage rules apply to the whole journey |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong to London | Area 3 to Area 2 | B |
| IATA area | Marketing carrier |
|---|---|
Auckland to Hong Kong | |
| Area 3 to Area 3 | Carrier 'A' baggage rules apply to the whole journey |
Hong Kong to London | |
| Area 3 to Area 2 | B |
Example 2 - Carrier A is the Most Significant Marketing Carrier for the departing journey and Carrier B for the return journey
Departing journey | ||
|---|---|---|
| Auckland to Hong Kong | Area 3 to Area 3 | B |
| Hong Kong to London | Area 3 to Area 2 | Carrier 'A' baggage rules apply for the departing journey |
Return journey | ||
| London to Singapore | Area 2 to Area 3 | Carrier 'B' baggage rules apply for the return journey |
| Singapore to Auckland | Area 3 to Area 3 | C |
| IATA Area | Marketing carrier |
|---|---|
Departing journey | |
Auckland to Hong Kong | |
| Area 3 to Area 3 | B |
Hong Kong to London | |
| Area 3 to Area 2 | Carrier 'A' baggage rules apply for the departing journey |
Return journey | |
London to Singapore | |
| Area 2 to Area 3 | Carrier 'B' baggage rules apply for the return journey |
Singapore to Auckland | |
| Area 3 to Area 3 | C |
Exception to scenario 1
If your journey travels across Areas 1, 2 and 3 in that order, a different rule applies.
In this case, Carrier A the airline operating the flight between Area 1 and Area 2 is considered the Most Significant Carrier (MSC).
| New York to London | Area 1 to Area 2 | Carrier 'A' baggage rules apply to the whole journey |
|---|---|---|
| London to Narita | Area 2 to Area 3 | B |
| IATA Area | Marketing carrier |
|---|---|
New York to London | |
| Area 1 to Area 2 | Carrier 'A' baggage rules apply to the whole journey |
London to Narita | |
| Area 2 to Area 3 | B |
Travelling between the same IATA sub-area
The MSC is the first carrier crossing from one IATA Sub-area to another which applies when travelling is within an IATA Area.
| Auckland to Singapore | Southwest Pacific to Southeast Asia | 'A' is the carrier crossing between IATA sub-area |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore to London | Southeast Asia to Southeast Asia | B |
| IATA Area 3 Sub-area | Marketing carrier |
|---|---|
Auckland to Singapore | |
| Southwest Pacific to Southeast Asia | 'A' is the carrier crossing between IATA sub-area |
Singapore to London | |
| Southeast Asia to Southeast Asia | B |
Travelling within a Sub-area
The first carrier flying an international sector for travel within a Sub-area.
Example 1 - Carrier A is the Most Significant Marketing Carrier
| Sydney to Rarotonga | B |
|---|---|
| Auckland to Sydney | 'A' is the carrier on the first international sector within the sub area |
| Marketing carrier |
|---|
Sydney to Rarotonga |
| B |
Auckland to Sydney |
'A' is the carrier on the first international sector within the sub area |
Example 2 - Carrier B is the Most Significant Marketing Carrier
| Manchester to London | A |
|---|---|
| London to Paris | 'B' carrier on the first international sector within the sub area |
| Marketing carrier |
|---|
Manchester to London |
| A |
London to Paris |
'B' carrier on the first international sector within the sub area |
Exception to the MSC rules
If your journey starts or ends in the USA or Canada
If your trip begins or ends in the USA or Canada not just a stopover. The airline you booked with first decides which baggage rules apply for the whole journey.
- The first airline you book with may apply either their own baggage rules or those of the Most Significant Carrier (MSC).
- If you book with Air New Zealand first, we will always apply the MSC’s baggage rules which may be those of another airline.
For return trips:
- The same airline’s rules apply both ways
- Your baggage allowance may be different in each direction, depending on your fare type or travel class (such as Business Premier™ one way and Economy the other or seat and seat+bag)