Bereft in Bangalore

[JessicaTam]

I have just received word that our March BLR-CMB-HKG has been cancelled by UL. Or specifically the CMB-HKG leg.

This presents me with a bit of a problem. We are arriving into BLR at 0150, and are flying out of HKG at 2115 the same day. UL have offered flights the following day, which of course is a day late for our HKG-SYD flight. We can't get an earlier flight to BLR as that is from FRA on LH F using LifeMiles.

By the time I rang this evening the cancellations team had finished up, so now I have a call back from them tomorrow.

Looking online, there really aren't any options for us to get to our HKG-SYD flight, so would it be ok to ask UL to get us to SYD? Or AKL for that matter, as that is our final destination?

My travel insurance (not sure about +1's) is as follows:

"We will pay your reasonable additional travel expenses to reach wedding, funeral, conference, sporting event or prepaid tour arrangements on time if your scheduled overseas transport is cancelled, delayed, shortened or diverted and that means you would not arrive on time."​

Does the AFF AKL dinner count as a conference or tour?

Advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation would be appreciated.

I will let you know what the cancellations team have to offer tomorrow.

*sigh*

 

[Mattg]

Wow, this is unlucky. I also cannot find any way to get from BLR to HKG within that short time frame. (Most of the east-bound international departures from India are redeyes leaving just before your LH flight arrives, which makes it a bit difficult.) Unless you happen to be arriving in BLR on a Tuesday, in which case there would be a direct IndiGo flight to HKG leaving BLR at 04:45.

So, I think you'll have to change one of your existing bookings. Is cancelling your HKG-SYD(-AKL) flight and rebooking via a different routing an option?

 

[JessicaTam]

Wow, this is unlucky. I also cannot find any way to get from BLR to HKG within that short time frame. (Most of the east-bound international departures from India are redeyes leaving just before your LH flight arrives, which makes it a bit difficult.) Unless you happen to be arriving in BLR on a Tuesday, in which case there would be a direct IndiGo flight to HKG leaving BLR at 04:45.

So, I think you'll have to change one of your existing bookings. Is cancelling your HKG-SYD(-AKL) flight and rebooking via a different routing an option?

Fortunately UL still fly to SIN! So one option is to replace the CMB-HKG flight with CMB-SIN. (Meaning I will lose 100 BA TPs! )

Then I will have to talk with QF to change HKG-SYD to SIN-SYD. Are they likely to be lenient with change fees as it was another OW carrier that forced the change? Or should I ask UL to act on my behalf?

 

[JessicaTam]

I have had a chat to QF. For me to change our QF HKG-SYD to SIN-SYD will be about $1,100. The agent said that it is possible for UL to take over the QF booking and make the changes themselves. So that is one option to save the $. The other option would be to throw away that leg, and book a fresh one way for <$1,000.

Then I would need to have the discussion with my (and Mrs L's different) travel insurer about recouping some of the cost.

 

[SeatBackForward]

There are some extremely tight options out of BLR, you probably wont be allowed to book as a single ticket though.
Jet Airways
Departing 2:05am BLR > SIN > HKG Arriving 5:05PM

 

[JessicaTam]

There are some extremely tight options out of BLR, you probably wont be allowed to book as a single ticket though.
Jet Airways
Departing 2:05am BLR > SIN > HKG Arriving 5:05PM

I think the door would be closing on that aircraft just as the LH door was opening. A bit too tight for comfort.

I have now spoken to my insurers, and they have confirmed what I thought - alternative transport arrangements are not covered as dinner in AKL does not count as a conference. (Note to self: next time I organise dinner/lounge crawl somewhere - call it a conference!)

 

[blackcat20]

Couldnt call it a frequent flyer conference?

 

[JessicaTam]

Couldnt call it a frequent flyer conference?

I did suggest that it was a gathering of members of a FF website. But I think they wanted something more formal.

 

[blackcat20]

I did suggest that it was a gathering of members of a FF website. But I think they wanted something more formal.

Whip up a quick website and bob's your uncle. Given its been held annually its pretty convincing.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Call it a Members Bi-Annual Board Meeting. Whip up an Agenda that includes superflous things like:

• Raitfication of website font kerning scale
• Nomination of Secondary Colour sheme
• Vote to delegate authority of website upgrade approval
• 2019 modification to terms and conditions
• Approval of new member applications
• Site Visit to local Frequent Flyer facilities (ie. the airport)

 

[docjames]

You havent posted your exact dates so there may be day of the week dependance on flights

Can see
BLR-CMB-SIN-HKG on UL,UL, CX dep BLR 0335 arr HKG 2045 - probably too tight but a possibility?


I can see 9W connecting to SQ going via SIN but the departure is too early (0150)

There's also EK @ 0420 via DXB but it probably arrives too late to make the connection (arr HKG 2105)

 

[docjames]

Can you see if LH can re-route you (in F) to another port (?HKG)? A big ask for sure, but you never know.

 

[JessicaTam]

You havent posted your exact dates so there may be day of the week dependance on flights

Can see
BLR-CMB-SIN-HKG on UL,UL, CX dep BLR 0335 arr HKG 2045 - probably too tight but a possibility?


I can see 9W connecting to SQ going via SIN but the departure is too early (0150)

There's also EK @ 0420 via DXB but it probably arrives too late to make the connection (arr HKG 2105)

I have just spotted that there was a timing change some time ago with QF118. It is now leaving at 2335, so back on the phone with UL to see if they can get me there via SIN as you suggest, or KUL for that matter.

 

[JessicaTam]

Well that was a battle and a half. It seems UL have a commercial arrangement with SQ.

So now I am heading to SIN with UL, to then pick up SQ2 to HKG, getting in at 2215, leaving me 1hr20 to catch QF118. The operator was a little concerned that I would not have enough time to make the connection.

Mind you, the ticket has yet to appear in my inbox, but I am cautiously optimistic.

Edit: Tickets issued - all good.

 

[Austman]

leaving me 1hr20

I’ve done it with (slightly) less. But it’s really tight if any delay occurs.

I’ve even managed a shower and a super quick bite and drink.

Hope it works!

The most annoying thing for me was the worrying about it all!

 

[JessicaTam]

You havent posted your exact dates so there may be day of the week dependance on flights

Can see
BLR-CMB-SIN-HKG on UL,UL, CX dep BLR 0335 arr HKG 2045 - probably too tight but a possibility?


I can see 9W connecting to SQ going via SIN but the departure is too early (0150)

There's also EK @ 0420 via DXB but it probably arrives too late to make the connection (arr HKG 2105)

Thank you @docjames, for the flight suggestions. Without them it is unlikely I would have pushed the SIN-HKG sector. As it was I thought I misheard the operator when he said Jetstar flight SQ-something (but too late for my HKG flight). When I queried it he confirmed SQ and then I realised it was Singapore Air so I knew there was something possible and started to search for other SQ flights online as I spoke with him. Which is when I saw SQ2 and gave him a nudge in that direction.

I’ve done it with (slightly) less. But it’s really tight if any delay occurs.

I’ve even managed a shower and a super quick bite and drink.

Hope it works!

The most annoying thing for me was the worrying about it all!

I am travelling with Mrs L, an infrequent flyer. She has been kept up to date with today's events and I was able to reassure her that all is well. The last thing I want to do is give her any cause for concern.

On the outside I will be quite calm as we reach ToD into HKG - but inside I will be screaming "Oh please, not a bus gate. Anything but a bus gate!"

It is times like this that the benefits of HLO pay off.

 

[Flashback]

As a side note, if you need any recommendations on things to do in BLR if you're stopping there I'll be more than happy to oblige!

 

[JessicaTam]

As a side note, if you need any recommendations on things to do in BLR if you're stopping there I'll be more than happy to oblige!

Thanks, but as we get in at 0150 and fly out at 0325 there might not be much time!

 

[Flashback]

Thanks, but as we get in at 0150 and fly out at 0325 there might not be much time!

The Plaza Premium lounge there is comfortable enough to pass some time if needed; fairly simple but does the job. They have a little cooking station at the back and the guy will normally make you a pasta dish and a Dosa.

 

[MathNerd]

The Plaza Premium lounge there is comfortable enough to pass some time if needed; fairly simple but does the job. They have a little cooking station at the back and the guy will normally make you a pasta dish and a Dosa.

I can definitely attest to this fact.
Was in the Plaza Premium Lounge at BLR in late Jan, just prior to my first ever J flight (MH J via MHUpgrade).
Fairly decent lounge offering, and yes there's a guy at the back at each of a pasta station and a dosa station. The bar is pretty well stocked, I had the choice of international blended whisky or local Indian single malt (Paul John). Went for the single malt.

Only downside is that the payment terminals force DCC onto you so you have to pay in AUD (rather than INR and let your CC handle the conversion), but that's a different story for a different day. The lounge dragons couldn't understand the need for my frustration.