Add Qantas classic award flights to existing booking reference?

[gidxg03]

Would greatly appreciate any advice on the following..

Have booked DRW-SIN-BKK classic award through Qantas flying JQ (ticketed on booking reference 1). We have a 6 hour layover and then have a second leg booked travelling BKK-DOH-DUB classic award through Qantas flying Qatar (ticketed on booking reference 2). I'm concerned that we might have issues with us not classed as a transit passenger as the flights are across 2 tickets/booking references and also that our bags will not go straight through and will have to be rechecked at BKK.

Could anyone advise if Qantas can put the 2 bookings on 1 ticket/reference number? I think the alternative is for them to link the bookings but not sure if this will resolve the transiting issue and that our bags will go straight through?

 

[sudoer]

I'm concerned that we might have issues with us not classed as a transit passenger as the flights are across 2 tickets/booking references and also that our bags will not go straight through and will have to be rechecked at BKK.

Could anyone advise if Qantas can put the 2 bookings on 1 ticket/reference number? I think the alternative is for them to link the bookings but not sure if this will resolve the transiting issue and that our bags will go straight through?

If there is still DRW-BKK award space available, and you have enough spare points, you could ask Qantas to add these flights onto your existing BKK-DUB booking, then you could refund the original DRW-BKK booking. (expect an 8 week turnaround)

Assuming your travel is for some time in 2022, you should be able to do this without any cancellation or change fees.

Jetstar should check through to Qatar if you are able to get everything onto the one PNR, and you should also have protection if there is a misconnect at BKK: https://www.jetstar.com/au/en/help/articles/baggage-transfers

There is no way to just combine two existing bookings otherwise as far as I'm aware.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Correct… can’t add two PNRs together.

 

[gidxg03]

I've called Qantas on several occasions today each time getting the South African call centre and each agent advised above you cannot add 2 PNR's together. They have also told me you cannot add additional flights to an existing PNR so no way around we will have to recheck in when we arrive in BKK.

Just an added observation whilst the call times seem to be improved I keep getting the South African call centre where as others in Platinum seem to be getting the much more competent Hobart call centre.

 

[cjd600]

You cannot "merge" PNRs into a single booking, they are correct on that one, as indicated above also.

You can certainly add/change/remove flights on an existing classic award booking, if the award availability is there.

A constant frustration and embarrassment that the call centre often is not across such simple concepts.....especially if you've waited 4 hours to hope to speak to someone who can help....

 

[gidxg03]

You cannot "merge" PNRs into a single booking, they are correct on that one, as indicated above also.

You can certainly add/change/remove flights on an existing classic award booking, if the award availability is there.

A constant frustration and embarrassment that the call centre often is not across such simple concepts.....especially if you've waited 4 hours to hope to speak to someone who can help....

I spent 5 hours last night on one call to ticket a number of flights and the connection dropped at the very end before confirmation. Called back today to confirm it was booked and had to go through the whole process again... about 3.5 hours.

 

[cjd600]

so frustrating....the wait times and the incompetence.
Dread to think how many 100 hours of each I have endured the last few years shuffling a One World Award forward due to covid

 

[ronlon]

Actually Qantas can turn the two bookings into one multi city PNR. Unfortunately only some call centre staff know how to do it and they tend to be the Hobart or Auckland call centre. I have done it twice before. They don't merge, they cancel and rebook immediately, sometimes calling another department to obtain instant point refund. I dont have status but used to be able to get Hobart on the priority number but that does not seem to work since Qantas copped the recent flak in relation to customer service. Yes it seems easier to get through in general but then skill set comes into play.

Gidxg03, you won't be classed as transit in BKK on two bookings, 6 hours is ample time to clear immigration/customs and recheck in under normal circumstances but you will have to check all the Thailand covid rules to ascertain if it is doable under current circumstances.

 

[sudoer]

They don't merge, they cancel and rebook immediately,

While I've not heard of success stories like yours before, I want to point out that none of the flights on either booking are QF operated. When the Qantas agent cancels one of the bookings, there is no guarantee the operating airline will put the award seat back into award inventory for the agent to add to the other booking.

If either of the bookings was QF operated, they could potentially convert a revenue seat. But they have no way to do that for partner airlines, and OP would be left absolutely up the creek if one PNR was cancelled only to find the award seats weren't rebookable.

 

[ronlon]

My two experiences were with non QF operated award seats but the two agents knew the seats would go immediately back into the award inventory and knew how to immediately re-book. I have however come across agents who are reluctant to do it for fear of losing the seats.

I guess in Gidxg03's case it is the second booking that would be cancelled and the flights added to the first booking. Lets hope that despite being a hassle 6 hours is ample for the re-check in

 

[sudoer]

My two experiences were with non QF operated award seats but the two agents knew the seats would go immediately back into the award inventory and knew how to immediately re-book.

I would love to hear @madrooster 's thoughts on this.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I suspect the agents are creating a new itinerary and then exchanging coupons from the other tickets in to a new, single ticket. Not cancelling as such.

 

[madrooster]

I've called Qantas on several occasions today each time getting the South African call centre and each agent advised above you cannot add 2 PNR's together.

You cannot "merge" PNRs into a single booking, they are correct on that one, as indicated above also.

Actually Qantas can turn the two bookings into one multi city PNR. Unfortunately only some call centre staff know how to do it and they tend to be the Hobart or Auckland call centre. I have done it twice before. They don't merge, they cancel and rebook immediately, sometimes calling another department to obtain instant point refund.

My two experiences were with non QF operated award seats but the two agents knew the seats would go immediately back into the award inventory and knew how to immediately re-book. I have however come across agents who are reluctant to do it for fear of losing the seats.

There is no such thing as merging PNRs ie. a command to auto merge 2 PNRs, but it is possible to shuffle seats between PNRs manually.

There's two ways it can be done:

1. Make a request to the carrier whose seats you want to move to reconfirm the seats in the new PNR
2. Drop the seats from PNR A and pick them back up in PNR B.

#2 is risky as these seats do not always go back to inventory. On some carriers they are quite likely and on others unlikely.

It is not a practice that I recommend at all - there's a high level of risk involved and other carriers generally will not reinstate seats, so my advice is don't make it a habit.

 

[Seat0B]

You can certainly add/change/remove flights on an existing classic award booking, if the award availability is there.

Yes I have done this myself - so I would follow the HUACA principle and try again to see if you find a competent agent who can deal with this for you, even though the long wait time is discouraging.

 

[ChrisMars]

On a similar topic, can we add a revenue flight to an existing Qantas award?

I am still struggling to get Qantas to get oneworld-desk to get BA to convert 2 short all J to U due to recent batch BA cancelations, and in the event it fails, my next preference would be to fly via Madrid / IB on paid fare to reach LHR on time, and be covered in case of missed connection on QF2. If that's not possible, I guess I'll have to purchase a separate ticket and wear the risk (seems like no insurance covers missed connection in this scenario).