Flight change - DXB - MEL

[MrHyde]

Hi,

My mother and son (2 years old) are currently booked on a BAH-DXB-MEL ticket with QF on 18th August. Due to some medical issues (not life threatening) with my sister, my mom wants to come back earlier. I've rung up Qantas and they have been good, but we don't have a solution yet. It seems that all DXB-Oz (both EK and QF) are fully booked till early August. We can't seem to find two seats on any flight to any city in Australia. We would prefer a direct flight to MEL as my son has not travelled much and may not want a long drawn routing through CMB and SIN.

Cost is another issue. The current ticket is a Saver ticket and we want to minimize the extra fare costs. Without any fare increases, the cost is already $100 change fee plus $80 service fee per passenger.

Like I said QF agents on the phone have been good. However, availability is changing almost hourly. Is there a site I can use (can ExpertFlyer help) to monitor availability of different fare buckets on the DXB-MEL so if seats become available due to cancellation, I can call up QF immediately to try and get them. I wouldn't even mind checking availability to SYD, BNE or ADL as I can then use points to get them to MEL. I could also go to those cities to receive them and bring them to MEL.

Cheers,
MrHyde

 

[dajop]

Is there a site I can use (can ExpertFlyer help) to monitor availability of different fare buckets on the DXB-MEL so if seats become available due to cancellation, I can call up QF immediately to try and get them. I wouldn't even mind checking availability to SYD, BNE or ADL as I can then use points to get them to MEL. I could also go to those cities to receive them and bring them to MEL.

Expert flyer may help, and you can set up alerts for certain classes on certain flights, but bear in mind due to variability between different points of sale it is not always 100% accurate. Also, if willing to accept SYD/BNE/ADL transfers I'd suggest that the "direct" single stop (same flight number) routes via KUL and SIN are probably more efficient and quicker/better than having to do intl->dom connections at either SYD or BNE, and DXB-ADL may require o/night in ADL (or connection to JQ?). But I can certainly understand reluctance to accept a DXB-CMB-SIN-MEL routing, .

 

[MrHyde]

Another question - how do I know what class the current ticket is in? All it says is Saver fare.

Good point about KUL/SIN. A two hour stop there is far better than a 2 hour stop in SYD considering the change in terminals.

 

[dajop]

Another question - how do I know what class the current ticket is in? All it says is Saver fare.

Should appear in QF manage booking webpage by clicking "more flight info" beneath said flight. It should say Travel Class Economy (O), or whatever the booking class is in brackets . Otherwise ask QF?

 

[docjames]

See if they will credit the fare towards JFK-LAX-MEL and then buy a fare DXB-JFK.

That may/may not work out more expensive, but you may get availability.

 

[MrHyde]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Managed to get a slightly higher fare on tonight's EK flight via KUL. It has a 7 hr stop over in DXB, which is far too long, but it does get them back into Oz ASAP.

The idea of going via JFK is interesting - something I'll keep in mind for myself, but not something for an elderly person travelling with a baby.

Cheers.

 

[docjames]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Managed to get a slightly higher fare on tonight's EK flight via KUL. It has a 7 hr stop over in DXB, which is far too long, but it does get them back into Oz ASAP.

The idea of going via JFK is interesting - something I'll keep in mind for myself, but not something for an elderly person travelling with a baby.

Cheers.

Good outcome. They could always use the airport (inside the departures area) hotel/spa to while away the hours if they don't have lounge access.

Glad you got an easier option, but just thinking "outside the box" if they needed to be home sooner and availability was no good.

 

[madrooster]

See if they will credit the fare towards JFK-LAX-MEL and then buy a fare DXB-JFK.

That may/may not work out more expensive, but you may get availability.

An ESTA is required for this and they will need to clear US immigration/customs for this so whilst it's a good suggestion it has its own disadvantages.