Booking backup flights to Europe

[markis10]

I would really appreciate some advice. I'm booked on a tour in Morocco in April, ……They are basic economy N & Q fares. Thanks for any help you can offer

Wait for a while, there may well be a waiver issued that does away with fees, as it stands you have nothing to lose not cancelling at present.

 

[Warks]

Flying via Doha in August (J reward on QR) then on to Stockholm with Finnair. We return via Istanbul and Bangkok on Thai so no issue there. However I started looking at back up flights last night to get us to Stockholm. Saw there was a flight via PEK for $899 with Air China. Might have to book that to cover my bases but not just yet as August is still five months away.

 

[Meg]

If all the flights are on the one ticket, and the ticket was issued by Qantas, you’ll pay one cancellation fee, to Qantas, covering all flights.

The cancellation fee will have been listed at the time you purchased the ticket. If you’re unsure, you can give them a call to find out.

Thanks for this, it makes sense, but I was unsure if this was how it worked. I didn't really want to call them as I'm sure there are people with more urgent travel queries trying to get through.

 

[Meg]

Wait for a while, there may well be a waiver issued that does away with fees, as it stands you have nothing to lose not cancelling at present.

Thank you, that's a good point, I'll hold on & see what happens. My tour in Morocco is booked & paid for & will probably go ahead, so it's my responsibility to get there. I was thinking of booking a backup flight now while there are still flights available, but it would be a long way round, guess I'll just sit tight for now & see what happens.

 

[Moy]

In a similar position, we're in Thailand for a few days and then flying QR J BKK -> DOH -> BCN which for 3 of us was around $11,500, I can cancel now and get $9,800 back and then book Finnair in J for $9,500 and go BKK -> HEL -> BCN, 20 hour stopover in HEL on the way home but to be honest that might be nice to check out HEL for a day.

Flights currently booked for Jun 30 and July 22, but we can +-2 days on those.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In a similar position, we're in Thailand for a few days and then flying QR J BKK -> DOH -> BCN which for 3 of us was around $11,500, I can cancel now and get $9,800 back and then book Finnair in J for $9,500 and go BKK -> HEL -> BCN, 20 hour stopover in HEL on the way home but to be honest that might be nice to check out HEL for a day.

Flights currently booked for Jun 30 and July 22, but we can +-2 days on those.

I’d go with Finnair (one day is about long enough perfect for Helsinki).

And once operations resume, whi knows what the medium term impact will be on things such as catering and the like. It could be restricted for a while.

 

[SYD]

I think my J ticket on QR is already flex but I'll have my TA book a back-up if things don't look like being cleared up in a week or so (flight is in a month). I need to be in Europe within 3 days of my current scheduled arrival.

We got around to checking our current QR J booking (ex CGK to Euro open jaw). Booked as “Classic” fare and the cancellation to cash refund fee is about A$350+ ea (easy to check on the QR website). But interestingly, cancel to voucher has no fee and the voucher validity is 12 mths from the date of cancellation.

Meanwhile, we booked a “Plan B” on CX (still sub $5k for J return). One of the options available yesterday was already gone later today and that’s for Aug/Sep…

Cancellation is marginally lower but knowing we can cancel QR to voucher for no fee is useful and we’ll probably earn more SCs on the CX itinerary - albeit $1500 more expensive…

Now to wait and see…

 

[lovestotravel]

I have an EK F next week MEL to DXB (rewards) and then EK Y to Paris (paid)

I then have LHR-DXB-MLE in Mid April in F (reward)

Last weekend when cough was hitting the fan, I booked a flight MEL to ICN (South Korea) in Y as a backup, which was around $1,000 with a $200ish cancel fee. I then purchased about $1,800 in Flying Blue/Air France miles and booked ICN-CDG in J which was about $100 to cancel.

Ideally I would be flying on EK for all flights

I have just submitted a request to cancel DXB-CDG which will be a full refund
I'll call Qantas later today to cancel my EK F from MEL-DXB Was on the Gamechanger F

The flights in Mid-April are too far away, to be cancelled for free, I don't really want to lose 20K in QFF points to cancel, but we are not doing Dubai anymore, but will be going to Male.

So I've just booked backup/new flights to Male from LHR

Fun times!
I'm a little excited for the lounge in ICN and also the new A350 J seats on Air France (Sliding door, wireless charging and bluetooth headset) LOL

 

[RooFlyer]

I've said it before, my TA is a star. Just spent an hour on the phone with them on this Saturday and they gave me a range of J options - cheapest, preferred carriers, stopover/no. Chinese carriers, other Asian (multiple), TK etc.

Decided to book TK ex SIN (connecting with my existing Award flights MEL-SIN-MEL), ( @MEL_Traveller will be pleased!) with almost identical timing to my existing QR flights; not the cheapest but not far off. Fully expect to cancel it, as I'm expecting QR to be OK in 3 weeks, and only US$150 to cancel. But if not, full refund from QR.

Have until Tuesday to pay/ticket and will keep looking for options.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've said it before, my TA is a star. Just spent an hour on the phone with them on this Saturday and they gave me a range of J options - cheapest, preferred carriers, stopover/no. Chinese carriers, other Asian (multiple), TK etc.

Decided to book TK ex SIN (connecting with my existing Award flights MEL-SIN-MEL), ( @MEL_Traveller will be pleased!) with almost identical timing to my existing QR flights; not the cheapest but not far off. Fully expect to cancel it, as I'm expecting QR to be OK in 3 weeks, and only US$150 to cancel. But if not, full refund from QR.

Have until Tuesday to pay/ticket and will keep looking for options.

I’m also hoping you’ll get to try Oman Air

 

[RooFlyer]

I’m also hoping you’ll get to try Oman Air

That’s already booked, in June.

 

[clifford]

That’s already booked, in June.

I assume you've flown WY before. If not, have lots of fun at MCT {in more ways than one).