Buying flights not originating from home country

[500miles]

Hi all, I'm looking into a trip to Europe this Christmas with a side trip to Japan on the way back. I realise it is peak travel season but my TA has quoted ~A$4000 in economy! Am interested in the new QF SYD/KIX launch fare (A$700 return) that was announced today online and want to know if there is any reason I shouldn't tag on a separate KIX/Europe return ticket (paid in Yen online since my TA can not sell fares originating outside Australia) as long as enough time is factored in for immigration/customs/luggage transfer? I am assuming my bags will not be checked through to the final destination in Europe even if they usually have an interline agreement but would love for someone to correct me on this. Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all, I'm looking into a trip to Europe this Christmas with a side trip to Japan on the way back. I realise it is peak travel season but my TA has quoted ~A$4000 in economy! Am interested in the new QF SYD/KIX launch fare (A$700 return) that was announced today online and want to know if there is any reason I shouldn't tag on a separate KIX/Europe return ticket (paid in Yen online since my TA can not sell fares originating outside Australia) as long as enough time is factored in for immigration/customs/luggage transfer? I am assuming my bags will not be checked through to the final destination in Europe even if they usually have an interline agreement but would love for someone to correct me on this. Thanks.

Absolutely no problem in doing that.

Just beware that Qantas doesn't always have a good on time performance, sometimes with days of delays as you've read about recently. I wouldn't schedule anything less than 5-6 hours flying on QF these days for the buffer for the connection, and even better, overnight.

Qantas won't through check bags on separate itineraries. So you will need to collect and recheck.

 

[Daver6]

Would travel insurance generally cover you though, if say the QF delayed flight to KIX meant you missed your connection?

 

[mannej]

Would travel insurance generally cover you though, if say the QF delayed flight to KIX meant you missed your connection?

Not necessarily, you need to check the PDS of the policy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would travel insurance generally cover you though, if say the QF delayed flight to KIX meant you missed your connection?

With the exception of two policies I know of, travel insurance won't normally cover the cost of replacement flights for missed connections on separate tickets. Travel insurance will cover you for a hotel and meals, but not the flights. There is usually an exception for an 'important event'... you have to attend a conference where you are the keynote speaker for example.

I wish I could find the names of the companies - but searching AFF isn't coming up with results. It might have been world nomads? The usual requirement for coverage is that you must have been scheduled to arrive at the connecting airport no later than when check-in opens for the connecting flight. So if check-in opens three hours before departure, your arriving flight must be scheduled to arrive no later than three hours before.

 

[Himeno]

Hi all, I'm looking into a trip to Europe this Christmas with a side trip to Japan on the way back. I realise it is peak travel season but my TA has quoted ~A$4000 in economy! Am interested in the new QF SYD/KIX launch fare (A$700 return) that was announced today online and want to know if there is any reason I shouldn't tag on a separate KIX/Europe return ticket (paid in Yen online since my TA can not sell fares originating outside Australia) as long as enough time is factored in for immigration/customs/luggage transfer? I am assuming my bags will not be checked through to the final destination in Europe even if they usually have an interline agreement but would love for someone to correct me on this. Thanks.

Which travel agent are you using? I've had agents book me domestic standalone flights around North America and Europe, a JFK-NRT return and a US-AU return for other people (guests at an event I was helping run) from AU without issue.

If need be, you can get an agent in Japan (such as CX Tokyo) to remotely book for you.

 

[500miles]

Perhaps it is a case of "won't" as opposed to "can't" book the flights as described. I would have thought they could book online just like I can, and charge me a service fee for their efforts!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Perhaps it is a case of "won't" as opposed to "can't" book the flights as described. I would have thought they could book online just like I can, and charge me a service fee for their efforts!

Unless you absolutely need an agent, or they can get a better deal, why not book yourself? Much better to deal with the airline direct if things go wrong than having to muck around going through an agent.

 

[Mattg]

I book flights originating outside of Australia all the time. It's not a problem, although I have on occasion been asked at check-in to produce the credit card used to make the booking. (This has happened in SIN and various other places.)

 

[serfty]

... (paid in Yen online since my TA can not sell fares originating outside Australia) ...

I would be getting a new agent.

A competent agent should easily be able to reserve such travel placing all flights within a single booking (PNR).

 

[Pushka]

Gosh, if us mere mortals can book flights not starting in Australia (and I do this frequently) then why the heck can't an Agent. The only issue is that you pay in their local currency. Which isn't an issue at all.

 

[oz_mark]

Gosh, if us mere mortals can book flights not starting in Australia (and I do this frequently) then why the heck can't an Agent. The only issue is that you pay in their local currency. Which isn't an issue at all.

They may only want to sell fares when it is valid for.an Australian point of sale.

 

[Pushka]

They may only want to sell fares when it is valid for.an Australian point of sale.

Then they are not travel agents.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Gosh, if us mere mortals can book flights not starting in Australia (and I do this frequently) then why the heck can't an Agent. The only issue is that you pay in their local currency. Which isn't an issue at all.

I book flights originating in Europe return to Australia all the time. Means we avoid the ageless travel ripoff on Australian flights being 20-50% higher than reverse and we can easily fly F for price of J. Sometimes I book direct but this garners a DCC charge on the credit cards, sometimes I book direct through Amex which does not have a DCC and sometimes I book through flight centre if it is difficult to get the absolutely specific flights I want on line. FC charge me in A$ but there's a surcharge for CCS.

You need to check your TI to see if it requires flight originating in Australia to activate the cover, for example amex CC TI does, westpac doesn't and neither do most independent TIs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I book flights originating in Europe return to Australia all the time. Means we avoid the ageless travel ripoff on Australian flights being 20-50% higher than reverse and we can easily fly F for price of J. Sometimes I book direct but this garners a DCC charge on the credit cards, sometimes I book direct through Amex which does not have a DCC and sometimes I book through flight centre if it is difficult to get the absolutely specific flights I want on line. FC charge me in A$ but there's a surcharge for CCS.

You need to check your TI to see if it requires flight originating in Australia to activate the cover, for example amex CC TI does, westpac doesn't and neither do most independent TIs.

Booking direct with 28 degrees (for example) will avoid any currency conversion charges.

Good point regarding the travel insurance. ANZ credit cards is another one to add to the list of those who won't provide cover unless originating in Australia.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Booking direct with 28 degrees (for example) will avoid any currency conversion charges.

Good point regarding the travel insurance. ANZ credit cards is another one to add to the list of those who won't provide cover unless originating in Australia.

Of yes, 28 degrees, but for the price I pay I want the 50K FF points.

 

[Pushka]

Booking direct with 28 degrees (for example) will avoid any currency conversion charges.

Good point regarding the travel insurance. ANZ credit cards is another one to add to the list of those who won't provide cover unless originating in Australia.

Not an issue with Annual Insurance. And given that at one point you started in Australia then refusal of cover would make for an interesting discussion.

I don't/can't rely on CC Insurance.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi all, I'm looking into a trip to Europe this Christmas with a side trip to Japan on the way back. I realise it is peak travel season but my TA has quoted ~A$4000 in economy!

Am interested in the new QF SYD/KIX launch fare (A$700 return) that was announced today online and want to know if there is any reason I shouldn't tag on a separate KIX/Europe return ticket (paid in Yen online since my TA can not sell fares originating outside Australia) as long as enough time is factored in for immigration/customs/luggage transfer?

I am assuming my bags will not be checked through to the final destination in Europe even if they usually have an interline agreement but would love for someone to correct me on this. Thanks.

Have you had a look at airfares ex Japan to Europe through Google Flights, ITA/Matrix or Skyscanner?

Do you have any frequent flyer points with any airline you could use for award tickets ex Japan?

 

[500miles]

Have you had a look at airfares ex Japan to Europe through Google Flights, ITA/Matrix or Skyscanner?

Do you have any frequent flyer points with any airline you could use for award tickets ex Japan?

ITA Matrix was where I found the cheaper Japan/Europe return flights before going to the airline websites.
Left my run too late to use points (and would probably want to save them for upgrades/ J award flights) but good thought.
Thanks for all the good advice. I will go ahead with organising the flights myself.