First First Experience: EK or QR?

[BriarFlyer]

Next year we're ticking Flight in First off the bucket list. Currently have booked QR, SYD-CDG, using QFF points and was happy with this choice. But now an EK option has become available, same date, similar time, except with an extra stop (EK419 via BKK.)

With the likelihood this trip may be our only opportunity to experience F -- our return leg is SQ F -- I'm seriously considering changing. Because... chauffeur and shower! Plus we can fly into London which would have been our first choice but wasn't available on QR.

Question: if I cancel our current booking, how long until the points are returned so I can rebook? Or would the call centre be able to cancel/rebook instantly?

 

[Kangol]

Next year we're ticking Flight in First off the bucket list. Currently have booked QR, SYD-CDG, using QFF points and was happy with this choice. But now an EK option has become available, same date, similar time, except with an extra stop (EK419 via BKK.)

With the likelihood this trip may be our only opportunity to experience F -- our return leg is SQ F -- I'm seriously considering changing. Because... chauffeur and shower! Plus we can fly into London which would have been our first choice but wasn't available on QR.

Question: if I cancel our current booking, how long until the points are returned so I can rebook? Or would the call centre be able to cancel/rebook instantly?

Just call to make a change to the booking, change fee is less than the cancellation fee.
As for the airline choice, sounds like you've already made that decision.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Just call to make a change to the booking, change fee is less than the cancellation fee.
As for the airline choice, sounds like you've already made that decision.

Thanks, Kangol. I will call ... if I decide I've made the right decision. I am not 100% certain it is the right decision so am letting it sit and breathe a little while.

 

[scwappy]

I don't think you could go far wrong with either carrier. EK F is fantastic. I haven't flown QR F but their J is one of the best around.

 

[MrJetset]

You do realise EK419 SYD-BKK-DXB is a 777?

Your best bet is to call and change the award because the fees are less than cancelling and rebooking.

You could mix SYD-DOH on QR and then DXB-CDG on EK and try both on the A388.

 

[scwappy]

You do realise EK419 SYD-BKK-DXB is a 777?

Your best bet is to call and change the award because the fees are less than cancelling and rebooking.

You could mix SYD-DOH on QR and then DXB-CDG on EK and try both on the A388.

I think it becomes a 380 at the end of this month

 

[MrJetset]

I think it becomes a 380 at the end of this month

Ahhhh, yes.

 

[bsb]

QR F lounge in Doha is IMHO one of best in the world. EK is fine but it's blingy and the service isn't as good as QR

 

[BriarFlyer]

You could mix SYD-DOH on QR and then DXB-CDG on EK and try both on the A388.

I hadn't thought of mixing but that would give us a taste of the two products. Fine idea, Jock. I'll look into that option and see what's available. Thank you!

 

[BriarFlyer]

QR F lounge in Doha is IMHO one of best in the world. EK is fine but it's blingy and the service isn't as good as QR

I have listed pros for both and that Doha lounge is top of the QR list. I don't care about the blingy decor on EK but from reviews I've read the service can be excellent or far from it on both. I'm really hoping the mix-and-match works for a reasonable points/miles tally so we can compare.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Unfortunately SYD-DOH-DXB-LHR is "pricing" much higher. It seemed like such a good idea.

 

[smarty11]

Unfortunately SYD-DOH-DXB-LHR is "pricing" much higher. It seemed like such a good idea.

Not sure how much 'pricier' its coming up to but opportunity to experience F on two top carriers is worth considering.. Just beware that coming back down to even J (or even Qf F for that matter) will be like slumming it

 

[MrJetset]

Unfortunately SYD-DOH-DXB-LHR is "pricing" much higher. It seemed like such a good idea.

It's pricing higher because it's a stopover unless the connection is less than 24 hours.

 

[RichardMEL]

open jaw SYD-DOH/DXB-LHR and just get a cheap ticket between the two? or get it ticketed as a transit no stopover(as above)?

just make sure QF *ticket* the thing in time if one has QR sectors!

 

[BriarFlyer]

It's pricing higher because it's a stopover unless the connection is less than 24 hours.

I *thought* I made sure it was under 24 hrs but perhaps was mistaken. The total points were something like 70,000 more so, yeah, not insignificant. I will try again ensuring I'm under 24hrs.

Richard, thanks for the reminder re ticketing for QR.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Using multi-city, SYD-DOH arrive 5.20am Th. DOH-DXB depart 8.00am Th. DXB-LHR depart 2.15pm Th. 227K pts compared with EK all the way 192K and QR all the way 203K. So 35K more pp, +70K for two. Any thoughts on why this should be so?

 

[TomVexille]

Using multi-city, SYD-DOH arrive 5.20am Th. DOH-DXB depart 8.00am Th. DXB-LHR depart 2.15pm Th. 227K pts compared with EK all the way 192K and QR all the way 203K. So 35K more pp, +70K for two. Any thoughts on why this should be so?

I'm pretty sure EK and QR are on different award charts. EK prices the same as QF, and QR is on the Oneworld chart. The QF system is unable to merge the two so it prices as two one-ways.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Update: I have changed our flights from QR SYD-CDG to EK SYD-LGW. Fortunately the 11K fewer points required pp more than covered the cancellation fee -- could not get it done for change fee due to change of destination, but by calling the points were refunded instantly and the new booking done. Unfortunately the charges/fees are considerably higher but I'm pretending this doesn't matter. :-|

FWIW: I called around 8.30am this morning and got through instantly. I'm staggered. Can't remember the last time I didn't get a "longer than one hour" call-back.