Any Possiblity in Combining Two Bookings/

[SighMN]

I'm flying with Etihad from SYD-JFK with a stopover for business in Abu Dhabi. My final destination in USA isn't New York but Minneapolis to visit friends, but unfortunately because Etihad doesn't have codeshare service from JFK to MSP (only ORD-MSP) I can't book it all the way to MSP. I can't fly AUH-ORD because I'm flying in first class. I'm planning on connecting to a flight to MSP in JFK. Is there anyway I can get Etihad to understand their limitations in their codeshare service and somehow link my two bookings? I'm just afraid if the winter weather makes my flights late I may miss either my Etihad or US flights and I may not be able to get a rebooking.

Anyone have experience with this issue?

 

[serfty]

Welcome to AFF

Bookings cannot really be combined like that once made separately. The best that con be done is for "information" segments be inserted into each referencing the connection with the other. However there is no defined protection should you misconnect.

A good travel agent should be able to book this as the one PNR (Itinerary). That way you would be "protected" should a misconnect occur.

 

[SighMN]

A good travel agent should be able to book this as the one PNR (Itinerary). That way you would be "protected" should a misconnect occur.

Thanks for welcoming me! I usually am a lurker for sometime before I post, but this site made me register after I lurked for only a bit!

Unfortunately I usually do use a travel agent to make bookings, but this first class fare was Etihad website only (it was the only fare rule that included a stopover without much higher fares). Can I go to a travel agent now and have them combined or is it too late? Do i just need to have Etihad make a note of my connecting flights in their reservation system?

Its really a pain that Etihad isn't in some sort of alliance as I find when I travel on them its much harder to get codeshare flights that work. Its also silly they stopped first class service to Chicago and are using the 777 (which imo is an aircraft I do not really want to fly on as I really want to protest against the fact they have 3-4-3 seating in their 777, even though I rarely fly in economy nowadays). Etihad also has a very funny flexibility policy which I must say I haven't grown accustomed to. Almost all fares regardless of class of service have a 50 dollar rebooking fee except for the fare that costs 50% more which then is free. I'm a gold flyer with them (pretty easy to get with first class/business class travel) and they have never waived the change fee. I'm really concerned this lack of flexibility may really make them either not honor my ticket if I miss my flight or pay some hideous charge. Gone are the days when buying a business class or first class ticket made you generally get the most flexible fare.

 

[Travel Guru]

Can I go to a travel agent now and have them combined or is it too late? Do i just need to have Etihad make a note of my connecting flights in their reservation system?

No, a travel agent cant find, see, touch, alter or make remarks in a booking made direct with an airline without taking it over which is a thing of the past (back when a client would book a flight direct with the airline but come in and pay an agent).

Even if you booked it with the agent, as Serfty said, you can't combine them, the best that could be done is put vendor remarks into each of the bookings referencing each other but this gives you no added protection.

TG

 

[elbarr]

I have a similar situation which is very frustrating. I have made an award flight booking on Qantas to the US landing in LA. The flight from LA to Aspen return was booked by a travel agent. The travel agent has maintained that the two flights cannot be linked. I am a bit concerned as there is a possibility of flights delays in and out of Aspen & therefore wanted to make sure the flights were linked and would provide some comfort that we will get on the next flight out of the US. Guess it will mean a travel insurance claim if this occurs and we have to pay for the next flight out.

 

[Travel Guru]

I have a similar situation which is very frustrating. I have made an award flight booking on Qantas to the US landing in LA. The flight from LA to Aspen return was booked by a travel agent. The travel agent has maintained that the two flights cannot be linked. I am a bit concerned as there is a possibility of flights delays in and out of Aspen & therefore wanted to make sure the flights were linked and would provide some comfort that we will get on the next flight out of the US. Guess it will mean a travel insurance claim if this occurs and we have to pay for the next flight out.

Your TA's giving you the correct information (I'm a TA myself).

As mentioned above, they could put a vendor remark in mentioning the other flight but it offers you no added protection.


TG

 

[serfty]

... Guess it will mean a travel insurance claim if this occurs and we have to pay for the next flight out.

Not many, if any, TI policies cover additional airfares for missed connections; although they may provide for limited food and accommodation.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....issed-connection-flight-23965.html#post401737

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....missed-connections-separate-tickets-9629.html

 

[elbarr]

Serfty, thanks very much for your reply. Based on your advice I checked my travel insurance policy closely and then emailed them to get confirmation that I will be covered if we miss our connection in LA. I now have it in writing, so can rest a bit easier.

 

[serfty]

Serfty, thanks very much for your reply. Based on your advice I checked my travel insurance policy closely and then emailed them to get confirmation that I will be covered if we miss our connection in LA. I now have it in writing, so can rest a bit easier.

Good to read.

Who is your TI provider? (Do you have a link to the PDS?)

As I noted, the policy that covers the cost of new flights for missed connection is rare.

 

[elbarr]

Serfty, my travel insurance provider is Southern Cross Travel Insurance. I can't post the link but it is very obvious if you go to their Australian website.

 

[SighMN]

I already bought travel insurance and it doesn't cover missed flights. I'm wondering how inflexible Etihad will really be if I miss the connection. Surely they realise I fly with them quite a bit and buy pretty expensive tickets, but the lack of certainty makes me a bit weary. Forfeiting a 10,000+ dollar ticket after only 50% of it is used would be a pity to say the least!

I think I will become a gold elite customer on the AUH-JFK route as well, not that it will matter much.

I used to have these types of tickets all the time in the past, but if my connection was late I'd just change the next flight with no questions asked. Sometimes I even missed flights due to a bad connection when the flights weren't linked and there were no questions asked to rebook to the next day. Is it me or are first/business class tickets becoming more and more restrictive, and I wonder if I know I'm going to miss my JFK-AUH flight become of a bad connection flight on the MSP-JFK leg that I could call Etihad and pay for me to change the ticket to the next day for 50$.

 

[oz_mark]

This should help: Comprehensive Travel Insurance & Holiday Insurance Australia - Southern Cross Travel Insurance

 

[serfty]

Serfty, my travel insurance provider is Southern Cross Travel Insurance. I can't post the link but it is very obvious if you go to their Australian website.

Yep, look like cover is provided under section 2.

Interesting para under section 2 Exclusions:

(e)

Delays and rescheduling caused by transport providers, or for which a transport provider is responsible, where the costs are recoverable from the transport provider or any other source ...​

I note they don't seem to have an Annual policy.

$132 for a month (one traveller).