Most Significant Carrier
These rules are based on a checked baggage concept, which is from when a bag is checked in until it is picked up, as such there may be various carriers allowance and charges applied across a customer’s entire ticket. For tickets issued on or before 31 March 2015 under Resolution 302, the Operating Carrier is generally the MSC, especially when they are operated by a partner airline (code-share flights).
For tickets issued on or after 01 April 2015 under Resolution 302, the Marketing Carrier is generally the MSC, including for flights operated by a partner airline (code-share flights).
How is the Most Significant Carrier (MSC) determined?
There are a number of steps in determining which carrier is considered the MSC based on the 3 IATA areas and the sub areas within each of those areas and where travel takes place for the checked baggage journey.
The following IATA areas and Sub areas should be used with the examples below outlining the steps to determine which carrier’s allowances and excess charges apply.
- Area 1: North America, 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
Step 1
The first carrier crossing from one IATA Area to another.
Unless specified assume that the sectors shown are connecting flights and considered a single checked baggage journey.
Examples:
IATA Area 3 to IATA Area 3
XX
IATA Area 3 to IATA Area 2
YY is the carrier crossing between IATA areas
Departing flights
Departing flights
IATA Area 3 to IATA Area 3
XX
IATA Area 3 to IATA Area 2
YY is the carrier crossing between IATA areas
Returning flights
Returning flights
IATA Area 2 to IATA Area 3
XX is the carrier crossing between IATA areas
IATA Area 3 to IATA Area 3
ZZ
IATA Area 1 to IATA Area 2
XX is the carrier crossing between IATA areas 1 & 2
IATA Area 2 to IATA Area 3
YY
OR
Step 2
The first carrier crossing from one IATA Sub-area to another (applies when travel is within an IATA Area).
Southwest Pacific to Southeast Asia
XX is the carrier crossing between IATA sub areas
Southeast Asia to Southeast Asia
YY
OR
Step 3
The first carrier flying an international sector (for travel within a Sub Area).
XX is the carrier on the first international sector within the sub area
YY
XX
YY is the carrier on the first international sector within the sub area