Alternative online booking engine for QF.... more flight availability?

[CWM]

Trying to book a return international flight with a domestic connecting flight at the Qantas website but getting limited options for the domestic leg... wanted to grab a few extra hours in the connecting city on the return flight so I'd like a flight later in the day. My question is how to get a broader range of flight options without phoning and incurring a booking fee (there are plenty of alternate flights if one searches just the domestic leg only). Should I be using some other third party on-line booking service and if so which is best?

Sorry if this seems a dumb question to you seasoned fliers.... I've heard about Expert Flyer but I understand this is not a booking service? I did try calling a travel agent (yes obvious solution) and it was very simple for them but their price was much higher and came with the subtle suggestion I could probably haggle them down by price matching which all seems a bit of a drag. But is this what I need to do, kinda like the Bombay markets?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Steady]

Try using the multi city tool on QF

 

[Quickstatus]

Trying to book a return international flight with a domestic connecting flight at the Qantas website but getting limited options for the domestic leg... wanted to grab a few extra hours in the connecting city on the return flight so I'd like a flight later in the day. My question is how to get a broader range of flight options without phoning and incurring a booking fee (there are plenty of alternate flights if one searches just the domestic leg only). Should I be using some other third party on-line booking service and if so which is best?

Sorry if this seems a dumb question to you seasoned fliers.... I've heard about Expert Flyer but I understand this is not a booking service? I did try calling a travel agent (yes obvious solution) and it was very simple for them but their price was much higher and came with the subtle suggestion I could probably haggle them down by price matching which all seems a bit of a drag. But is this what I need to do, kinda like the Bombay markets?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

The available flights in the QF booking engine are the fares that available on the one ticket. Of course you could book a separate ticket for the domestic legs. The only other way apart from the multi city tool is to go through a travel agent

 

[CWM]

Yes multi-city helps in that is does offer some additional flights... but does not appear to allow me to select the all various classes - only 'flex' or 'sale' seem available.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes multi-city helps in that is does offer some additional flights... but does not appear to allow me to select the all various classes - only 'flex' or 'sale' seem available.

Likely means the lower fare classes have sold out, and probably why the complete range of options were not available on the original booking page.

 

[ellen10]

I booked a multi trip to Europe for next year and the return was via Melbourne (I live n Sydney). The flight from Melbourne to Sydney was too early for my liking so after booking I rang the call centre and was able to change that flight to a later one for no additional cost. This free change option was only available on the date of my booking.
Maybe ring the call centre and confirm that this option is available before you book.

 

[Ansett]

I booked a multi trip to Europe for next year and the return was via Melbourne (I live n Sydney). The flight from Melbourne to Sydney was too early for my liking so after booking I rang the call centre and was able to change that flight to a later one for no additional cost. This free change option was only available on the date of my booking.
Maybe ring the call centre and confirm that this option is available before you book.

I have also done this several times

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This free change option was only available on the date of my booking.
Maybe ring the call centre and confirm that this option is available before you book.

This would be under Qantas' 'book with confidence' policy. Free changes on the day you make your booking.

 

[Mattg]

Likely means the lower fare classes have sold out, and probably why the complete range of options were not available on the original booking page.

Actually, this is a genuine limitation with the multi-city booking tool. It won't ever show "Saver" fares (the middle category) if there are Sale fares available.

In this case I'd call QF and get them to waive the booking fee as it can't be booked online. I've done this before for a mixed-class multi-city booking that I couldn't do on the website and they didn't charge the phone assistance fee. (They did charge me a credit card fee, but refunded this when I complained that no alternative fee-free payment option was offered.)

 

[CWM]

Yes I was trying to book the 'saver' class but multi-city only offers 'sale' and 'flex', which is a bit frustrating and also does not make economic sense for Qantas either.

But it is sorted now - thanks folks! I did the booking online then called Qantas and they changed the final leg to the last flight out; as it was within 24 hours of the booking there was no fee which is nice.