Forfeiting first leg of multi city itinerary

[wozup12]

Hi everyone,

I recently booked a multi city flight with Qantas as follows:
CHC-SYD Departing early March in economy B class
SYD-LAX Departing late April in premium economy Y class

I now no longer need the CHC-SYD leg of the multi city itinerary (as I am in Sydney and only booked the leg as it was significantly cheaper leaving from CHC) and have since called Qantas to remove the leg of the booking. The agent advised me that they were unable to reissue the ticket by cancelling the leg as it would force a significant reprice and advised that the could 'forfeit' the leg and keep the SYD-LAX flight in tact.

The CHC-LAX flight now no longer show up in manage my booking, but my e-ticket still shows both legs as confirmed. Having read some threads on here, I am worried that by not taking the CHC-SYD leg that my second flight will be cancelled due to coupons and flight sequences. So I thought I would check here to make sure that what the agent has done is correct and I will be able to fly my SYD-LAX flight without issue?

 

[DC3]

The CHC-LAX flight now no longer show up in manage my booking, but my e-ticket still shows both legs as confirmed. Having read some threads on here, I am worried that by not taking the CHC-SYD leg that my second flight will be cancelled due to coupons and flight sequences. So I thought I would check here to make sure that what the agent has done is correct and I will be able to fly my SYD-LAX flight without issue?

Ignore MMB. You need an updated e-ticket or you will be a no-show for CHC-SYD, therefore invalidating the rest of the itinerary.

The re-issue of the e-ticket needs to be closely monitored.

 

[Quickstatus]

Can't cancel one sector out of a multi sector itinerary on a single ticket. . Usually that requires a change fee and repricing of the sector.

The fare buckets B, Y are also irrelevant

If you are a no show, they will likely cancel the next sector at least.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The mind boggles at what some QF Call centre people will tell you. Sounds like you bought a cheap ticket from CHC to JFK, now you have the same ticket without a confirmed booking on the first sector. Same ticket, same fare rules. I'd be expecting that system would say no when you try to check in at SYD because you no longer have a valid itinerary for the fare.

 

[wozup12]

The mind boggles at what some QF Call centre people will tell you. Sounds like you bought a cheap ticket from CHC to JFK, now you have the same ticket without a confirmed booking on the first sector. Same ticket, same fare rules. I'd be expecting that system would say no when you try to check in at SYD because you no longer have a valid itinerary for the fare.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I thought the resolution sounded too good to be true. To provide a bit more clarity, yes you're exactly right that I chose to originate from CHC for a cheaper flight and would be able to fly there which I am happy to still do, but thought I could be smart and try to get that leg removed because the flights were a month apart and there may have been some other fare rules that applied.
As it currently stands, my e-ticket shows both flights as confirmed, so is the best option to call back up and have them relink the CHC-SYD flight back on to MBB and "un forfeit" the flight? I am assuming it's safe to dismiss what the agent said about the ability to forfeit the flight and maintain the current itinerary as I have confirmed that a ticket reissue will reprice the ticket much higher and hence suggested this option.

 

[I love to travel]

You need to ring Qantas asap.and sort this. You need a new ticket reissued

 

[DC3]

As it currently stands, my e-ticket shows both flights as confirmed, so is the best option to call back up and have them relink the CHC-SYD flight back on to MBB …

Just for a bit of background about what can happen, when I cancelled a single flight of a classic award itinerary of about 10 flights, Manilla cancelled the whole lot in error/incompetence. No e-ticket was re-issued and I noticed that the whole itinerary had disappeared from MMB.

After emailing QF Ticketing Escalations, they were fortunately able to re-instate all of the flights within a couple of days, including JL and AA. Anyway, the matter of closely monitoring e-ticket re-issuing can’t be understated.

Edited

 

[justinbrett]

I think your best bet will be to fly to CHC to pick up the original route.

Flying to US from NZ is often significantly cheaper than AU, even when connecting in AU.

 

[Quickstatus]

As it currently stands, my e-ticket shows both flights as confirmed, so is the best option to call back up and have them relink the CHC-SYD flight back on to MBB and "un forfeit" the flight?

Maybe they can "relink" maybe they cant. If they can't, you have to get them to reissue the e-tickets.

 

[serfty]

...
As it currently stands, my e-ticket shows both flights as confirmed, so is the best option to call back up and have them relink the CHC-SYD flight back on to MBB and "un forfeit" the flight?
...

There are e-tickets and there are e-tickets. Unless you have received another email from Qantas with a new ticket number then your booking is likely in limbo. (Sadly, Qantas' manage booking 'resend' e-ticket option only sends the original e-ticket wich would not reflect any changes.)

You could try Finnair's e-ticket facility (link below). It sends current ticketed Amadeus reservation information to the e-mail already attached to the booking.

This includes any e-ticket numbers where they exist.

Order your e-ticket receipt | Finnair

 

[serfty]

To provide a bit more clarity, yes you're exactly right that I chose to originate from CHC for a cheaper flight and would be able to fly there which I am happy to still do, but thought I could be smart and try to get that leg removed because the flights were a month apart and there may have been some other fare rules that applied.

In reality you purchased a ticket for CHC-LAX. This is a different "product" from that which Qantas sells for SYD-LAX.

 

[CaptJCool]

Until the first flight of the itinerary has been travelled, any changes are re-priced.

This malarkey by Qantas of flying less, paying more is what they do (the Australia tax)
It’s a regular thing that flying from NZ to Sydney and onward (to LHR LAX) is way CHEAPER than from Syd direct

So since we are Frequent Flyers
Follow the motto

Fly More, Pay Less

 

[NM]

There are e-tickets and there are e-tickets. Unless you have received another email from Qantas with a new ticket number then your booking is likely in limbo. (Sadly, Qantas' manage booking 'resend' e-ticket option only sends the original e-ticket winch would not reflect any changes.)

And re-issuing the ticket REQUIRES that the fare be recalculated, including base fare, taxes and airline/carrier charges. The original fare for the original ticket will have been calculated in NZ$, and the recalculated fare will be in AU$. The re-issue is likely stuck in a queue somewhere due to an error in processing the new charge against a valid source or approved payment. And will likely be in the "too hard and not urgent" basket of anyone monitoring the processing queue.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Until the first flight of the itinerary has been travelled, any changes are re-priced.

This malarkey by Qantas of flying less, paying more is what they do (the Australia tax)
It’s a regular thing that flying from NZ to Sydney and onward (to LHR LAX) is way CHEAPER than from Syd direct

So since we are Frequent Flyers
Follow the motto

Fly More, Pay Less

I think your best bet will be to fly to CHC to pick up the original route.
Flying to US from NZ is often significantly cheaper than AU, even when connecting in AU.

And to US from AU is often significantly cheaper than from NZ, even when connecting in NZ

Just QF & NZ being more competitive on the other side of the Tasman. Common world wide. Home airline often most expensive.
Air NZ does good business flying pax to USA. For those who need to connect an airside transit at AKL is better than the SYD T1-TS shuffle for Air Sydney flights. FJ are developing a network from many AU airports on the same philosophy.


Back on topic
Check, check and keep checking. As above a "no show" will (usually) result in auto cancellation of the rest of the ticket
Get the e-ticket
A trip to CHC may be needed.

Please let us know the result

 

[wozup12]

Thank you everyone for the invaluable info provided. Thankfully I had an inkling that something was amiss and upon calling QF again this morning, I got some more competent staff that advised me that the previous agent simply deleted the CHC-SYD from the itinerary and left the e-ticket in tact... meaning as you all have said, I would have been left without a ticket if I had only shown up for the second leg. $2.14NZD and 2 hours on the phone later, I have managed to reinstate the original itinerary... Thanks again for all your help!

 

[serfty]

I have managed to reinstate the original itinerary... Thanks again for all your help!

Good to read it has been sorted out. One final thing ... you never can be too careful ... have you received an updated email containing e-ticket numbers?

 

[justinbrett]

And to US from AU is often significantly cheaper than from NZ, even when connecting in

Not in my experience, especially in premium cabins.

Your main point that QF and NZ lower prices to attract those from the other country is true, but I almost always find it’s cheaper to book flights ex NZ vs ex AU, at least to the main US gateways.

 

[DC3]

… the previous agent simply deleted the CHC-SYD from the itinerary and left the e-ticket in tact...

Most likely incompetence.

And thanks for letting us know that it has now been resolved

 

[PineappleSkip]

the previous agent simply deleted the CHC-SYD from the itinerary and left the e-ticket in tact.

You might want to provide feedback to QF about this "bound to fail" idiocy. This is exactly the sort of thing that gives their call centre a bad name.

Cheers skip