Confusion Earning Qantas Points on Qatar

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palmplex

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I flew Qatar from Sydney to UK last year and earned zero Qantas points because I chose the wrong ticket so I let a travel agent book similar flights last month as the "expert" with specific instructions to earn FF points. Guess what ...my flight back earned zero points. Qantas say it's because my return segment had an alpha code of Q. My travel agent is obviously at fault . What are my compensation options ? Thx
 
Q certainly is non earning. Any compensation is an issue between you and your agent.
 
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Yes I had it clearly in writing that all segments had to earn FF.

My question was to do with how to fix it. Can TA's transfer points to my account for example ?

The whole point of using a TA was to guarantee the correct ticket ! So its incompetence. What can I ask from the TA as a good will gesture for the stuff up ?



I suspect not much. Did you have it in writing with the TA.
Always pays to check particularly on Economy fares. The cheaper fares often earn nothing

Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Flying with Qantas & Jetstar - Earning Qantas Points

In any event the majority of earning Qatar fares earn very few SCs - 35SCs one way Sydney to London for the bulk of economy fares
 
Incompetence yes. But many TAs don't know the FF schemes well.

An agency is unlikely to have points to transfer so best pushing for a voucher or something.

Note that a fare in KLMV classes (mid-priced economy) would only earn 35 SCs / 2625 pts for SYD-DOH-LHR.

I suspect the fare difference from Q to K would be more than most would ascribe to these points.

Based on AAs website their are 7 regular Economy fare buckets in Qatar that don't earn on QF
Qatar Airways − Partner airlines − American Airlines
 
Thx. If I'm reading the AA table correctly AA members earn some miles in Q on Qatar unlike Qantas FF.

I'm curious in economy does anyone actually pay more than the cheapest fare (unless you fly for work) as paying maybe 30% more for same seat just to earn points seems a non starter.lol.

Incompetence yes. But many TAs don't know the FF schemes well.

An agency is unlikely to have points to transfer so best pushing for a voucher or something.

Note that a fare in KLMV classes (mid-priced economy) would only earn 35 SCs / 2625 pts for SYD-DOH-LHR.

I suspect the fare difference from Q to K would be more than most would ascribe to these points.

Based on AAs website their are 7 regular Economy fare buckets in Qatar that don't earn on QF
Qatar Airways − Partner airlines − American Airlines
 
Quote "must earn Qantas points on all segments" I think my instructions are very clear !
 
The whole point of using a TA was to guarantee the correct ticket !

Unless you have reason to believe the TA is fluent with frequent flyer programs it's advisable to assume that they aren't. Even for something as basic as earning vs non-earning fares.

Can TA's transfer points to my account for example ?

Not legitimately.

What can I ask from the TA as a good will gesture for the stuff up ?

Have a clear understanding of what you think is fair compensation, what you will ask for upfront and what you are prepared to accept.

It's unlikely they'd offer any cash, at least not for what you would consider a fair amount. They'd most likely offer a voucher.

I'm curious in economy does anyone actually pay more than the cheapest fare (unless you fly for work) as paying maybe 30% more for same seat just to earn points seems a non starter.lol.

Sometimes the price difference is still very much worthwhile, probably more for SCs than points (and especially during a double SC promo).

Also importantly, international discount economy fares cannot be upgraded.
 
So the TA somehow comes up with the points, are you going to reciprocate and stump up the extra cash you should have paid to earn those points

You purchased a cheap ticket and got what you paid for, don't understand what compensation you believe you should be entitled to
 
I'd calculate the number of points you would have earned in the lowest earning booking class. Then figure out what the cost is to purchase those points with Qantas. That's how much in cash I'd be requesting as compensation from the TA.
 
As above its 5250 pts for the return in the bulk of eligible classes. QF wants you to fly QF or EK to LHR.

5250pts would generally be valued at about $50
 
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Its a bit of a downer when you stick to OW and QF, then see your statement saying 0 points 0 SC's. We know the reason is to protect their best mate, but always felt it would be nice to have some loyalty back to OW.

Unfortunately the customer pays for my leg so not much i can do about it. i've asked them to make sure the ticket can be upgraded, but ive had no success.
 
I am not sure why so many think they can just outsource to a third party (TA) and if it does not go well expect compensation. At the end of the day there is surely a responsibility on the person handing over the cash to confirm they are getting what they asked for.
 
As a regular user of TAs, I think its reasonable that a TA would know what fare buckets earn points. If they didn't know, and there was an instruction that the pax wanted an earning-fare, then the TA should have found out and advised options!

These days, it wouldn't be acceptable to me to find any TA that wasn't conversant with at leats the FF program of their 'home' airline.

That said, I don't think it worth the hassle to pursue the TA for compo. A come-back might be "there weren't any earning fares available', which may or may not be true, but you could never find out.

Put it down to experience.

To the OP: what sort of TA was it? A 'corporate' or 'regular' type TA, or a 'flight centre' type?
 
RooFlyer, your comments are spot on.
 
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If they didn't know, and there was an instruction that the pax wanted an earning-fare, then the TA should have found out and advised options!

Indeed.

A come-back might be "there weren't any earning fares available', which may or may not be true, but you could never find out.

If that was the case then as above the TA should have advised options, rather than proceeding with something that explicitly violated clear written instructions from the customer. Whether there weren't eligible fares is immaterial.


This is a very simple issue, which is easy to look at objectively if you ignore the fact that it involves a TA.

A business was given a clear instruction in writing. If it did not understand how to fulfil the instruction, or was otherwise unable to fulfil the instruction, it should have advised the customer so further discussion could take place. Simple as that.

As consumers, we're in for a world of misery if businesses aren't held to that absolutely basic standard.

That said, I don't think it worth the hassle to pursue the TA for compo.

The OP is probably in a relatively good position given the written instruction. Judging by the experiences of a TA I know (including when the customer is in the wrong), if necessary the threat of escalation to management or fair trading will probably secure an outcome.
 
I dunno what the solution is. After the ticket was issued, and given the OP had the same issue with their last ticket, they should have confirmed the fare was eligible to earn points and SCs. The time to fix it was before travel (and pay the higher fare) rather than wait till travel had completed. The agent could have worn the change fees, with the OP paying the higher fare.

I unclear about the ticket itself. The OP states only the return fare didn't earn points ('the flight back'). So the outbound was points earning?

Or was this the return segment of the same ticket you had purchased previously? And you wanted the agent to change it from non-earning to earning?
 
You're spot on Strategic Aviation.

To answer a few questions :

  • It's a global TA with offices in many countries inc Australia and UK.
  • I asked multiple times before booking that flights had to earn FF. They went to check and after a few minutes confirmed they were FF eligible. and then when i got the itinerary via email to confirm the booking I again replied in writing for my acceptance that all segments have to earn FF. There were many Qatar flights to choose from.
  • I had a simple return booking, I earned points on the outward journey but zero on the inbound journey.

Its definitely not my job to confirm that I had the correct flights for FF, especially after confirming multiple times with the TA. That's why I was paying a professional business for advice. They are the "experts" and they took my money.

The TA has come back surprised because they checked a "Qantas page" that suggested it was valid. Its clear on the Qantas table I looked at that Q is not valid. TA wants to walk away now. I won't accept that LOL


Indeed.



If that was the case then as above the TA should have advised options, rather than proceeding with something that explicitly violated clear written instructions from the customer. Whether there weren't eligible fares is immaterial.


This is a very simple issue, which is easy to look at objectively if you ignore the fact that it involves a TA.

A business was given a clear instruction in writing. If it did not understand how to fulfil the instruction, or was otherwise unable to fulfil the instruction, it should have advised the customer so further discussion could take place. Simple as that.

As consumers, we're in for a world of misery if businesses aren't held to that absolutely basic standard.



The OP is probably in a relatively good position given the written instruction. Judging by the experiences of a TA I know (including when the customer is in the wrong), if necessary the threat of escalation to management or fair trading will probably secure an outcome.
 
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