Codeshare and operated by, what they mean and how they work

You book a flight with ITA Airways, arrive at the airport, and discover that you will be boarding a Lufthansa plane. You didn't make a wrong flight and there was no mistake. You are simply about to board a flight in codeshare, a very normal practice in the aviation world, but one that can be confusing if you don't know how it works.

Let's see what that "operated by" wording on the ticket means and what changes for you as a passenger.

What is codeshare

Codeshare is a commercial agreement between airlines. One company sells the ticket by putting its own code on it, but the flight is operated by another partner company. It's like ITA Airways selling you a ticket to use Lufthansa's plane.

It works like this: you book AZ123 flight on ITA Airways website, you pay ITA Airways, you get confirmation from ITA Airways. Then when you check the ticket details you read in the small print "operated by Lufthansa." It means the plane, the crew, the service on board, everything will be operated by Lufthansa. ITA Airways just sold the seat.

The two companies involved have different roles. The marketing airline is the one selling the ticket, in our example ITA Airways. L'operating carrier is the one that flies the plane, so Lufthansa. On the ticket you always find the code of the marketing airline followed by the words operated by and the name of the operating carrier.

Why do these agreements exist

Airlines use codeshare To expand their network without having to buy new planes or open new routes. ITA Airways may not fly directly to Vancouver, but it has an agreement with Lufthansa that it does that route. ITA Airways can sell the ticket to its Italian customers and Lufthansa fills the seats on its plane. Everybody happy.

For companies it is also a question of cost. Instead of flying two half-empty planes on the same route, they fly one full plane with passengers from both. They save on fuel, crew, and maintenance. These savings in theory translate into cheaper tickets for passengers, although in practice this does not always happen.

Companies that codeshare usually belong to the same alliances: Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld. These alliances are groups of companies that collaborate and they share loyalty programs, lounges and precisely flights. If you fly often you already know which companies are part of your favorite alliance.

How do you recognize it when you book

When search for a flight online, in the results you see the airline code followed by the flight number. If it is a codeshare, somewhere in the screen appears the words "operated by" or "operated by" with the name of the company that actually flies the plane.

Sometimes it is written in small print under the flight details, other times in a separate section. It depends from the site you are using. If you book through an agency, ask directly which airline operates the flight. This is information you must have before you buy the ticket. The flight code always tells you who sells the ticket. The first two letters are the IATA airline code: AZ for ITA Airways, BA for British Airways, LH for Lufthansa, UA for United Airlines.

Baggage rules: it matters who operates the flight

This is the most important point and the most confusing. The luggage rules follow those of the company operating the flight, not the one who sold it to you. If you buy from ITA Airways but fly with Lufthansa, Lufthansa baggage rules apply.

It means you have to check on the operating carrier's website how many pounds you can carry in the hold, which dimensions can have hand luggage, what is allowed and what is not. Don't assume that the rules of the company you bought from apply. You may find yourself in for nasty surprises at the airport.

For flights with more codeshare routes things get complicated. In theory, the rules of the most important company on the route should apply, according to fairly technical IATA criteria. In practice, the advice is always the same: check with all the companies involved before you leave. Better an extra minute on the website than paying overweight at the airport.

Check-in at the right counter

You check in with the company that operates the flight, not the company that sold you the ticket. If you bought from ITA Airways but fly Lufthansa, you go to the Lufthansa counter. If you check in online, you do it on the Lufthansa website using the booking code.

This also applies to the self check-in at the airport. You have to use the operating carrier machines. Sometimes codeshare companies have shared desks or otherwise close, but not always. Best to arrive a little early the first time to figure out where to go.

The same thing applies to checked luggage. You check them in at the counter of the airline operating the first flight. If you have multiple routes all codeshare within the same ticket, the baggage is automatically transferred to the destination. You don't have to pick it up and re-board it yourself at intermediate stops.

What happens if the flight is cancelled

This is where joint and several liability comes in. In theory both companies are responsible In case of delays, cancellations, lost luggage. Basically, they often bounce you from one to another.

If your flight is cancelled or heavily delayed, you are entitled to compensation under European regulations if your flight departs or arrives in Europe. It applies to the EC Regulation 261/2004 which provides up to 600 euros in reimbursement. You can appeal to both the company that sold you the ticket and the company that operated the flight.

The practical advice is. start with the company operating the flight Because it is the one that materially caused the problem. But if they don't listen to you, also address the other. Keep all the documents: ticket, boarding pass, confirmations, emails. You will need them if you need to make a complaint.

Different service standards

One aspect not to be underestimated: the company operating the flight may have very different standards From the one you bought from. The catering on board, the space between seats, the WiFi, the entertainment, it all depends on the operating carrier. Before you book, it's worth checking which carrier you'll actually be flying with and taking a look at the reviews. You may find that that codeshare route is not for you.

The planes are also those of the company operating the flight. If you are used to one company's Boeings and find yourself in the other company's Airbuses, the configuration will be different. The seats may be narrower or wider, the windows positioned differently.

It is worthwhile to choose codeshares

For travel with stopovers, codeshare is convenient. You do one check-in, baggage is transferred automatically, you have one reservation to manage. If you had to book each leg separately with different companies it would be extra problems.

Even for destinations that your preferred airline does not serve directly, codeshare allows you to still fly with them while maintaining the loyalty program benefits. It is a way to expand the network without changing alliance.

The important thing is to know what you are buying. Always check who is operating the flight, check the baggage rules, read a few reviews about the company. Five extra minutes at the booking stage will save you from unpleasant surprises at the airport or worse at your destination when you have to return.