Qantas changes flight time so transit time in MEL is 1 hr

[Quickstatus]

DEC 15: SYD-MEL QF461 then MEL-LAX QF93 (1 pax on a business sale SYD-MEL-LAX and 2 pax on U reward, 1 pax on P reward SYD-MEL-LAX)

When I booked this in February QF93 was timetabled to depart at 1155. Now it is departing at 1120 resulting in a transit time of 1 hour exactly. Qf customer services advises that the MCT in MEL is 1 hour and therefore any changes to the SYD-MEL leg will incur change fees of $400 for business sale fare and 3500 points for reward pax.

Unfortunately I have connecting AA flights on a different ticket LAX-DEN.

Interestingly when I rang customer services I was told that the earlier SYD-MEL flights were all sold out for Dec 15. I said "Oh really?. I can see a large number of seats available both reward and revenue seats in J for all flights to MEL earlier than QF461". Customer service agent then said "Oh let me speak with supervisor".

the agent also said if there was a delay causing me to miss QF93 then QF will arrange to put me on another flight which means the next day or the next..... but will not arrange to rebook the AA flights.


Question:

Is 1 hour transit in MEL enough?

 

[serfty]

1 Hour should be fine - but don't expect any lounge time in MEL.

In the same situation,I'd be hitting SYD as early as possible and endeavoring to switch to an earlier flight.

 

[docjames]

Hang up call again and see if another agent will make the change.

Failing that agree - get to Syd early and try there.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Generally if there is a schedule change, you are entitled to change the flights without charge. I'd HUACA as others have suggested.

 

[Quickstatus]

Generally if there is a schedule change, you are entitled to change the flights without charge. I'd HUACA as others have suggested.

One would think so but apparently not when the schedule change results in an allowable MCT.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

One would think so but apparently not when the schedule change results in an allowable MCT.

It is about contract. You purchased a flight based on a certain schedule, the airline changes that schedule, the pax is entitled to change to suit their requirements, MCT or not.

60 minutes is tight an allows very little wiggle room.

To be honest, you probably wouldn't have an issue at the airport getting an earlier flight as there are usually plenty of seats.

 

[opusman]

HUACA. They (QF) will let you switch to an earlier SYD-MEL flight even if you happened to strike an agent who thought otherwise.

(1 hr is fine at MEL but as already noted, does not leave any F lounge time. Don't be ashamed to use that as an argument if needed - the F lounge is as much a part of the contract as the flight itself).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Unfortunately I have connecting AA flights on a different ticket LAX-DEN.

The agent also said if there was a delay causing me to miss QF93 then QF will arrange to put me on another flight which means the next day or the next..... but will not arrange to rebook the AA flights.

Question:

Is 1 hour transit in MEL enough?

I would arrive at SYD Domestic one hour prior to the earlier flight you want to take and ask the ticket counter/service desk staff if they will transfer you to the earlier flight telling them that you originally had more time prior to the schedule change.

When you get to the checkin counter tell the CSA you want your bags checked through to DEN & show them the AA itinerary. You will still need to collect them in LAX when you clear US Customs.

Worst case scenario - if your SYD/MEL flight was delayed resulting in you missing QF93 to LAX, QF would need to rebook you all the way to DEN as they've tagged your bags & issued boarding passes to your final destination. It's the same as if all flights were on the same ticket.

 

[Quickstatus]

I would arrive at SYD Domestic one hour prior to the earlier flight you want to take and ask the ticket counter/service desk staff if they will transfer you to the earlier flight telling them that you originally had more time prior to the schedule change.

When you get to the checkin counter tell the CSA you want your bags checked through to DEN & show them the AA itinerary. You will still need to collect them in LAX when you clear US Customs.

Worst case scenario - if your SYD/MEL flight was delayed resulting in you missing QF93 to LAX, QF would need to rebook you all the way to DEN as they've tagged your bags & issued boarding passes to your final destination. It's the same as if all flights were on the same ticket.

Thanks OZBB, thats sounds like a good strategy. Hopefully the enhanced partnership between QF-AA will allow rebooking of the LAX-DEN sector in case of a missed QF93.

The one caveat is that Qf may not issue the LAX-DEN sector boarding pass because the computer forsees problems with the connection. In that case we will be in the deep end. If Qf issues the BP then we should be OK.


Happened to me once for a KUL-SIN-SYD SIA flight. Checked in at KUL. Agent said unable to issue BP for SIN-SYD - please see transfer desk at SIN. I should have tweaked that the agent was not telling the full story - that it was overbooked.



OK whats HUACA ????? Hang up and call again???


HUACA:HuacaIn Quechua, a Native American language of South America, a wak'a is an object that represents something revered, typically a monument of some kind. The term huaca can refer to natural locations, such as immense rocks. Some huacas have been associated with veneration and ritual. Andean cultures believed every object has a physical presence and two camaquen, one to create it and another to animate it. They would invoke its spirits for the object to function.

 

[mannej]

HUACA = Hung up and call again.

If you miss your AA connection, they will protect it even though it's a separate booking.

 

[opusman]

Hopefully the enhanced partnership between QF-AA will allow rebooking of the LAX-DEN sector in case of a missed QF93.

It's the oneworld alliance that allows that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's the oneworld alliance that allows that.

It's certainly an AA policy. They will accommodate connecting OW pax even on separate tickets.

AA also states it is a OW alliance policy provided the passenger has been through checked. If they haven't been through checked, it's not clear that the policy still applies (individual airlines may have individual policies): Oneworld connection protection on separate tickets - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[bsb]

1 hr in MEL, you will most likely make your connection, however it will be touch and go for your luggage. MEL baggage handlers are slow at best, especially QF domestic.

Call again, be nice and they'll most likely assist you. Failing that, get there early and the check in people are (usually) blessed with common sense and will get you on an earlier flight.

 

[Quickstatus]

It's certainly an AA policy. They will accommodate connecting OW pax even on separate tickets.

AA also states it is a OW alliance policy provided the passenger has been through checked. If they haven't been through checked, it's not clear that the policy still applies (individual airlines may have individual policies): Oneworld connection protection on separate tickets - FlyerTalk Forums

In theory yes. Except if we miss QF93 and they have to retag the bags they may refuse to tag it to final destination as the LAX-Den booking may be lost

 

[ozbeachbabe]

In theory yes. Except if we miss QF93 and they have to retag the bags they may refuse to tag it to final destination as the LAX-Den booking may be lost

If at the time of checkin (at SYD Domestic) QF93 is still on time then your bags will still be able to be through checked to DEN as there would be sufficient connection time so if the delay occurs after your bags had been tagged through to AA then QF would be responsible to get you to DEN.

Where it falls into a grey area is if at the time of checkin at SYD QF93 is already delayed, eg new ETA at LAX may be 0930 which is when eg your LAX/DEN flight was departing, then QF wouldn't be able to through check your bag to AA as it wouldn't meet the standard minimum connecting time at LAX.

Before you travel I would suggest the following:

a) print out a couple of copies of the AA agreement (as posted upthread by someone) outlining their policy re separate tickets so you can hand it to AA at LAX if the inevitable happens with a delay where QF have only tagged your bag to LAX and you miss your AA flight LAX/DEN. It may help you convince AA that your interpretation of the rule is that AA will rebook you gratis even if the first OW carrier (QF) has not checked your bags through to the AA destination.

b) double check the clause on your travel insurance policy with regard to missed connections as some may not cover you for separate tickets or if they do may insist that your arrival time in LAX is at least 3 hours prior to the departure of the LAX/DEN flight.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thx OZBB

At least The LAX-DEN flight departs at 1300 giving me potentially 6.5 hours in transit in LAX and a 3.5 hr up my sleeve for delays to QF93.

I will HUACA 131313 to see if I can get an earlier flight. If unsuccessful I will checkin at the INT desk at T3 and ask nicely.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thx OZBB

At least The LAX-DEN flight departs at 1300 giving me potentially 6.5 hours in transit in LAX and a 3.5 hr up my sleeve for delays to QF93.

I will HUACA 131313 to see if I can get an earlier flight. If unsuccessful I will checkin at the INT desk at T3 and ask nicely.

My friends were in this situation recently. 3 pax traveling MEL-SYD-LAX with a short connection in SYD (like just over an hour), 1F 2Y.

QF wouldn't change the bookings over the phone but they all arrived early at MEL and were accommodated on an earlier flight to SYD (which was lucky because it was still rushed to make the LAX flight). Although it depends on domestic seat availability this way though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In theory yes. Except if we miss QF93 and they have to retag the bags they may refuse to tag it to final destination as the LAX-Den booking may be lost

Isn't there a difference between the tagging of bags and actual checking-in of the passenger? IIRC bags can be through checked (tagged) even though the connecting flight isn't open for passenger check-in, or even if the passenger themselves can't be checked in and get a boarding pass for the connecting flight.

I believe the OW policy refers to situations where the passenger is actually checked in, not just their bags through tagged.

 

[JohnK]

I have had this issue before with changed flights and each time I have successfully changed to the flights I want. I have even managed to change revenue flights I have booked where the connection offered was tight.

In my opinion I'm not interested in flights meeting MCT. I don't want to be running between flights. I want to relax between connections.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I have had this issue before with changed flights and each time I have successfully changed to the flights I want. I have even managed to change revenue flights I have booked where the connection offered was tight.

In my opinion I'm not interested in flights meeting MCT. I don't want to be running between flights. I want to relax between connections.

I agree, the M in MCT is for minimum. Not recommended.

Delays happen and it's useful to have a little time up your sleeve.

I have never had an issue changing a flight when the airline changes the schedule. In fact, their system has special overrides when this happens to get around fare rules, etc.