International Mess!

[trent]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if someone can help me untangle a bit of an international booking mess.

I have an existing holiday with several other people booked to Japan this Saturday the 13th [MEL > BNE > NRT] but a very last minute work trip has cropped up which I am leaving for today [MEL > LAX - LAX > YRV - YVR> JFK - JFK> LAX > BNE].

I booked a Los Angeles to Brisbane return as I'll be getting back to oz on Saturday (13th) morning and my flight to Narita leaves from Brisbane International at 10:45am.This being the case I wouldn't have landed back in Melbourne in time to make the first leg of my Narita flight which leaves at 7:05am [MEL - BNE].

I was under the impression that I could cancel the MEL - BNE leg, but after speaking to several people both over the phone and in person at the Airport today I'm getting a lot of conflicting information around how to go about this from Qantas and am being met with "you'll need to call" or "you'll need to speak to someone at the airport." I've been told I need to cancel the entire Japan booking and rebook, and also been told that I can simply cancel the one leg I won't be flying. I am very confused!

For anyone still with me, I am really hoping someone can tell me if they have had a similar experience and how/if they managed to sort it out.

In a nutshell I'd ideally like to a) cancel my MEL - BNE leg without having to cancel my entire Japan booking and then hopefully (and it's a big hopefully) b) connect my LAX - BNE to my NRT flights so that I don't need to clear customs and re-check in (if that is even possible).

Any assistance is very much appreciated!

Thanks,

 

[I love to travel]

If you fail to show for first leg whole booking gets cancellef

 

[Anna]

Not sure about how to untangle your bookings, but I suggest you check whether your travel insurance covers you for when work obligations interfere with your travel plans.

Whatever you do, don't decide to be a 'no show' on the MEL-BNE leg as that may well cancel the rest of your itinerary even if you show up in BNE to try to catch the rest of the flights starting there.

When I can't get any sense out of QF over the phone, I usually call again until I get someone more sensible/helpful.

 

[Mattg]

You'll probably need to call Qantas and try to change your Japan booking so that you don't need to take the first flight. There will most likely be change fees/fare difference payable. However, it is vitally important you do this as otherwise, your entire Japan booking will be cancelled if/when you fail to show up in Melbourne!

If you are able to do that, then you could book a LAX-BNE flight as part of your other ticket that arrives in BNE the same morning that your BNE-NRT flight departs. Luckily for you, if you are flying Qantas the whole way, your bookings can theoretically be linked so you don't need to pick up luggage or clear immigration/customs in BNE. You may even be able to get a boarding pass for the BNE-NRT flight issued in LAX. QF-QF interlining is still a published benefit.

P.S. If you are flying out today, I suggest you pick up the phone and call Qantas ASAP. The waiting times can be up to an hour, or even more just to speak to an agent.

 

[trent]

Thanks for your assistance/advice, Anna and Mattg - I've managed to get a hold of someone a little more cluey at Qantas.

For anyone interested they cannot change/cancel 1 leg of a 'married' flight, the entire booking needs to be cancelled and rebooked, though is is possible to link bookings as Mattg suggested.

I have cancelled my MEL > BNE > NRT and am just hoping that work will pay to fly me into Narita from LAX as the fare from BNE > NRT is over $1000 now

Fingers crossed!

 

[Buzzard]

That's the thing I like about AFF.
Be nice and somebody always has the answer and is willing to help.

And welcome to AFF trent.

 

[njba]

For anyone interested they cannot change/cancel 1 leg of a 'married' flight, the entire booking needs to be cancelled and rebooked, though is is possible to link bookings as Mattg suggested.
!

I'm not sure about cancelling the first leg of a married flight, but it's certainly possible to change such a flight: I've recently done so. It did take the agent spending a great deal of time with their internal ticketing helpdesk, and of course some QF fees, but we got there in the end.

Of course changing to another flight on the same day does nor appear to have been an option in your case, in any event.

Enjoy Japan!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering if someone can help me untangle a bit of an international booking mess.

I have an existing holiday with several other people booked to Japan this Saturday the 13th [MEL > BNE > NRT] but a very last minute work trip has cropped up which I am leaving for today [MEL > LAX - LAX > YRV - YVR> JFK - JFK> LAX > BNE].

I booked a Los Angeles to Brisbane return as I'll be getting back to oz on Saturday (13th) morning and my flight to Narita leaves from Brisbane International at 10:45am.This being the case I wouldn't have landed back in Melbourne in time to make the first leg of my Narita flight which leaves at 7:05am [MEL - BNE].

I was under the impression that I could cancel the MEL - BNE leg, but after speaking to several people both over the phone and in person at the Airport today I'm getting a lot of conflicting information around how to go about this from Qantas and am being met with "you'll need to call" or "you'll need to speak to someone at the airport." I've been told I need to cancel the entire Japan booking and rebook, and also been told that I can simply cancel the one leg I won't be flying. I am very confused!

For anyone still with me, I am really hoping someone can tell me if they have had a similar experience and how/if they managed to sort it out.

In a nutshell I'd ideally like to a) cancel my MEL - BNE leg without having to cancel my entire Japan booking and then hopefully (and it's a big hopefully) b) connect my LAX - BNE to my NRT flights so that I don't need to clear customs and re-check in (if that is even possible).

Any assistance is very much appreciated!

Thanks,

I realise you've now cancelled the MEL/BNE/NRT ticket however I was going to suggest leaving the bookings as is and just arriving at LAX airport and tell the CSA you have a connecting flight BNE/NRT on QF and ask to be through checked. It's always best to make your requirements sound as easy as possible eg "I've got a connecting flight BNE/NRT on QF61 so can you check me in for both flights" rather than "I've got a bit of a problem, I'm booked out of MEL to BNE" etc etc as the CSA will then think it is a problem and it will all seem too hard and then the 'computer says no'.

As the saying goes "it's easier to seek forgiveness than ask permission."

When airport staff link other flights in Altea (checkin) using the 'find connection' option, it looks for other flights under your name on that airline eg QF in your case, so when they merge the onward flights together it would then also show the MEL/BNE flight so you'd need tell the CSA you only want to be checked in for LAX/BNE & BNE/NRT flights. There is an advanced option where they just select what segments they check you in for whereby they can omit checking you in for the unwanted MEL/BNE sector.

I'm fairly certain that would work as the sectors you do want to be checked in for would then be in order ie LAX/BNE/NRT although the proof of the pudding is always in the eating.

 

[Simo]

If he does that then he will be booked and will lose a leg but will already have BP for that flight...

 

[Simo]

But yep it sure is a mess of a booking... I have never had that much of a mess but have had International and domestic tickets very close to each other and had to explain that I didn't want my bags checked all they way...

 

[KyBry]

This is all really good information to know. I never knew that if you don't show up for Leg 1 all the rest would be cancelled!

It seems stupid that he can't just cancel MEL > BNE for 100% of the cost of the ticket (meaning you get nothing back). It is saving them $ by being able to resell the ticket or at worst saving them the F&B cost and he just jumps on at BNE (unless I am missing something)

 

[Hvr]

This is all really good information to know. I never knew that if you don't show up for Leg 1 all the rest would be cancelled!

It seems stupid that he can't just cancel MEL > BNE for 100% of the cost of the ticket (meaning you get nothing back). It is saving them $ by being able to resell the ticket or at worst saving them the F&B cost and he just jumps on at BNE (unless I am missing something)

Hi KyBry if you google 'Hidden City ticketing' you'll discover why air lines won't just allow you to cancel the first or intermediate leg of a trip. Indeed they have been known overseas to harass agents if the last leg is missed.

There is a thread on FT about a TA who was warned that if his customers failed to complete the last leg of specific journeys on BA that their FF points would be adversely affected and he would be liable for the difference in the fare adjustment.

I.e. it would be way more expensive to cut the trip short than to continue to the original destination.

 

[njba]

Hi KyBry if you google 'Hidden City ticketing' you'll discover why air lines won't just allow you to cancel the first or intermediate leg of a trip. Indeed they have been known overseas to harass agents if the last leg is missed

Hidden city ticketing seems another result of travel 'hackers' gaming the system to an inch of its life. Or, alternatively, byzantine airline ticketing models that trap consumers into more expensive options. Either way, traveller beware.