Award flight Sept 17

[Battymum]

So I am hoping to book an award flight Sydney to Doha on QR - I am tracking their release daily and they seem to release regularly but are gone quickly.

So i have my alarm set for my preferred release day which happens to be September 17.

I am also hoping to add a flight to either Athens or Mykonos on this ticket when they are released the next day .

As this will be the date of the new points charts if I add to an existing booking will it change to the new rates and therefore require more points (and hopefully a taxes refund, or will this not happen on a partner award)

Should I risk it and book the second leg on a seperate ticket? Both options will require a call as I can’t book a flight from DOH online.

I am looking at a connection time of 8hours so delay is not so much of a concern and I think travel insurance would cover it.

Will bags be checked through?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Mattg]

If you make a change after the new rates kick in, I believe you'll be up for the additional points. And there will be no difference to the taxes as the flight is not operated by Qantas.

I also don't think you'll get your bags checked through if booked on separate tickets. But with 8 hours between flights that shouldn't matter, I suppose.

 

[sudoer]

Will bags be checked through?

Qatar policy is to check-through separate PNRs to other oneworld carriers so I would imagine they'd check through QR-QR too. Here's the oneworld policy:

https://www.qatarairways.com/en/about-qatar-airways/oneworld.html (Benefits tab > Through check-in)

 

[Battymum]

So looks like the best option is to have separate PNRs?

 

[sudoer]

So looks like the best option is to have separate PNRs?

Actually I think it will be cheaper to book under the same PNR - here are my calculations:

Separate PNRs
Booking on 17/9 SYD-DOH (7687mi) in Business = 104000 points (Zone 8)
Booking on 18/9 DOH-ATH/JMK (1840/1755mi) in Business = 43800 points (Zone 3)
Total 147800

Same PNR
Booking on 18/9 SYD-DOH-ATH/JMK (9443/9527mi) in Business = 139200 points (Zone 9)
+ 5000 point change fee, assuming you called on 17/9 to secure SYD-DOH sector
Total 144200

Would be good to get a second opinion on this but I think the above is correct. The same PNR is obvious preferable for check through + misconnect protection.

 

[Battymum]

mmm - interesting.

I think thats correct. Any exemptions on the change fee because it cant be booked online.?

I was aiming for QR907 leaving on Saturday afternoon (We have to work on Friday)
I might look at QR909 on Friday night - that way both my flights will be booked before the changes. Saving almost 40k in points.

Will hopefully pick up Q suites on the return - but I am sure the A380 will be fine.


The other kicker is that i will be in London from the 14th of September - so will be setting my alarm for 1:00am to book flights. (Had to pay for economy on this one as was only planned a few weeks ago, and despite having 570,000 QF points there were no awards to be found, hence why I am determined to secure J class awards for next year )

 

[Battymum]

Putting my thinking cap on - might bring the trip forward a week - that way i can book flights before i leave for this trip. ( We can fly any day that week, but obviously the earlier the better)