MH schedule change - QF feeder issues

[justinbrett]

I am travelling with a friend to KL in November with KL. I am booked SYD-KUL on MH122, my friend is on the same flight but connecting from BNE on QF.

Her ticket was booked through Expedia, it's a MH ticket (both flights).

MH just changed the flight departing SYD from 1430 to 1320. So now she has 1:40 (instead of 2:50). I know technically 1:40 should be enough time, oneworld connected baggage, airside transfer etc; but it's not a lot of time and doesn't leave any room for significant delays.

You'd think it wouldn't be that hard to change the QF flight - MH want nothing to do with it, despite it being their ticket. Qantas just told Expedia that 1:40 is within the MCT. I would assume the schedule change should allow the change of flight without fees but this is proving difficult. If it were QF-QF or MH-MH there would be no issues changing the feeder flight.

Any ideas on how to solve the issue? I think the biggest problem is Expedia is happy to play the role of travel agent when they're taking your money but absolve themselves of any responsibility when there's issues. I understand why MH say it's nothing to do with them being they don't give the option of ex BNE on their website.

 

[serfty]

If it meets MCT then you have little option if the airline won't change.

 

[justinbrett]

In the end neither airline cared. I asked Expedia to change the QF flight anyway and they did (via QF). No fees charged.

 

[mannej]

In the end neither airline cared. I asked Expedia to change the QF flight anyway and they did (via QF). No fees charged.

Not that the airlines cared, but technically it is Expedia who would be the responsible party here. In cases like this the airlines normally refer you back to the TA.

I am a tad surprised that Expedia completed the changes without fee here.

 

[GladstoneTim]

If Expedia hadn't changed the connecting flight, your friend could always have arrived at the Brisbane domestic terminal early enough to catch a better timed flight. Approaching staff at the check in counter and explaining the situation may have led to being on an earlier flight. Reports back have shown some leniency in these situations...probably because the check in agent knows if a misconnect happens then QF carries the responsibility.

 

[madrooster]

Not that the airlines cared, but technically it is Expedia who would be the responsible party here. In cases like this the airlines normally refer you back to the TA.

I am a tad surprised that Expedia completed the changes without fee here.

In this case, MH being the ticketing carrier has to authorise the involuntary ticket reissue (the airline generally will provide an authority number), and that is the case because it is MH ticket stock. The carrier whose ticket stock you are using is the one who is responsible for calling the shots on your ticket.

QF has nothing to do with this at this point. MH will generally authorise the agent to rebook the QF flight and then do an involuntary reissue.

On the day of travel, the operating carrier is the one responsible. In the event of the BNE-SYD being late and the pax misses the SYD-KUL then QF will exchange the MH ticket coupon for a QF ticket with whatever flights QF rebooks the pax onto to get them to KUL (could be SQ flights for all that matters).