Fees for cancelling a Qantas international award booking

[Dr Ralph]

Just wanted to check my understanding in the following circumstances.


I want to travel J class Sydney to New York for Christmas 2018. I know how difficult award bookings can be, especially at peak time. I'm looking at leaving around December 20. I'm concerned that if I wait until both outbound and return flights are available for booking that I have a good chance of missing out entirely.


So I intend to book the outbound leg as soon as it becomes available. I'll then wait 14 days and try to book the return leg. In the instance where no return leg becomes available at all I intend to cancel the already booked outbound flight.


Am I correct that in this situation the cancellation fee would be 6000 QFF points per person (2 people, so 12,000 points) and that I would receive a full refund of the taxes/fees already paid by credit card at the time of the original outward booking?


Any other way around this that people can think of?


I very much hate the idea of thinking about having to pay for a one way return from New York as I know it will likely be as much as the return flight would have cost. I do have some flexibility with when I can return – I could delay by up to 7 days. I also don't care what type of circuitous route is required to return to Sydney.

 

[cjd600]

Correct on the 6000 x 2 to cancel.

If you get lucky on return availability, it may be worth paying 5000 x 2 to add them to your current booking rather than book standalone one way, as the surcharges ex USA will be quit a deal greater than the surcharge addition adding them to the ex-SYD booking

 

[Captain Halliday]

Just wanted to check my understanding in the following circumstances.


I want to travel J class Sydney to New York for Christmas 2018. I know how difficult award bookings can be, especially at peak time. I'm looking at leaving around December 20. I'm concerned that if I wait until both outbound and return flights are available for booking that I have a good chance of missing out entirely.


So I intend to book the outbound leg as soon as it becomes available. I'll then wait 14 days and try to book the return leg. In the instance where no return leg becomes available at all I intend to cancel the already booked outbound flight.


Am I correct that in this situation the cancellation fee would be 6000 QFF points per person (2 people, so 12,000 points) and that I would receive a full refund of the taxes/fees already paid by credit card at the time of the original outward booking?


Any other way around this that people can think of?


I very much hate the idea of thinking about having to pay for a one way return from New York as I know it will likely be as much as the return flight would have cost. I do have some flexibility with when I can return – I could delay by up to 7 days. I also don't care what type of circuitous route is required to return to Sydney.

As cjd600 has confirmed your understanding of the T&Cs is correct.

An alternative might be to checkout this post by @madrooster ex-AKL and ex-SYD QF/AA J fares to SFO/LAX/NYC

 

[Dr Ralph]

An alternative might be to checkout this post by @madrooster ex-AKL and ex-SYD QF/AA J fares to SFO/LAX/NYC

Thanks, but fares not yet available for December 2018 is my understanding.

 

[snabbu]

You should be able to find JFK-xHKG-SYD on CX for the return if you have no luck with QF.

 

[Dr Ralph]

You should be able to find JFK-xHKG-SYD on CX for the return if you have no luck with QF.

Normally I'd be very confident of this. But it will be the Christmas/New Years period of time that I am looking at. IE. Peak season.

 

[madrooster]

Thanks, but fares not yet available for December 2018 is my understanding.

These AA sale fares come up regularly enough that I would think there will be one that will ultimately cover Dec 2018. The last one certainly did.

CX isn't that hard to get awards on in the early January period leaving the US.

 

[NoName]

Normally I'd be very confident of this. But it will be the Christmas/New Years period of time that I am looking at. IE. Peak season.

I was looking for award seats (ultimately cancelled) in this time period a couple of years ago and still found no problem getting them for CX.

 

[rock86]

Would EK through DXB not be a possibility too?

 

[Matt_01]

Would EK through DXB not be a possibility too?

This can be booked, I booked to JKF via DXB using points for a trip in the Mar/Apr 18 school holiday period yesterday.

If not fused about the return route you could try for a RTW with OW, most likely save a few points.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Would EK through DXB not be a possibility too?

Indeed. As indicated 'I also don't care what type of circuitous route is required to return to Sydney.' I'll take anything that's available the moment that it is available.

 

[get me outta here]

I book the QF flights as soon they come online, and tend to have little trouble getting the CX via HKG return.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks for the advice received here. I took the chance and booked the outward leg in Dec and today got the return flight. Rather surprised how easy it was to get award flights for Christmas/New Years period to New York. I did though, jump on them the minute they were released.

Hoping that the weather in New York isn't as bad as it is now in 12 months time. I'd like a white Christmas but not at the snow levels they've seen in the last week.