International Classic Award Question

[Dalek]

Dear fellow AFFer’s

Hoping someone can shed some light on this anomaly I have come across.


I’m travelling to SFO later this year and have managed to snag a J Classic Award seat from Mel on the new 787 route.

I will be coming back a week later and at the moment there is only Y award seats available on either QF50 or QF74 (I’m in Canberra so either would do).

I obviously don’t want to travel in Y and the paid one-way fares from SFO to Australia are exorbitant.

Whilst playing around with the award options I tried specifying returning via HKG. Strangely I get the option of SFO – SYD – HKG with a Classic Award in J for both legs. If I book this flight is possible to change the booking to drop the SYD – HKG leg later or do a no show for the second leg. It will cost me more in points (128,000) and cash and it will be on an old 747 but it seems the best option if it is viable?

 

[Longtoo]

you can call QF and get them to manually book the SFO-SYD leg for you.

 

[Dalek]

I did try to call in my lunch break today but couldn't get through, I will try again tomorrow and hope I get someone who understands what I want to do.

 

[Mattg]

I did try to call in my lunch break today but couldn't get through, I will try again tomorrow and hope I get someone who understands what I want to do.

Let us know if you are able to book SFO-SYD as a standalone segment. I suspect it won't be offered as the availability is only in conjunction with the SYD-HKG flight. Yet another problem caused by married segments...

If you do book the whole itinerary and plan to do a no-show for the second flight, make sure you don't have checked baggage!

 

[Dalek]

Hi Matt, Yes I had thought about the trip being HLO which wouldn't have been a problem but I have had success! I will post details shortly.

 

[Dalek]

So, with some trepidation I made a call to Qantas this morning expecting short shrift or at the very least someone who had no idea what I was talking about.

There was a moderate wait on the line, so I took the option of a call back which indeed happened within the estimated timeframe.

Fortunately, I got someone in the Hobart Call Centre. I explained the situation and he told me he couldn’t see any award flights SFO – SYD on the day concerned, strange because I could at least see Y availability. I then told him about SFO – SYD – HKG flight in J I could see. Again, he tried this combo and couldn’t see this option.

Time for plan B, I proposed booking the flight and then getting him to modify the booking once ticketed, which he was willing to try.

I booked the flight with nothing to lose except possibly the 6000 points cancellation fee. He has changed the booking so that it is now SFO – SYD in J plus a tag on flight to get me back to CBR. The 32,000 points difference has been refunded to me. I was slightly non-plussed that the taxes for SYD – CBR were going to be $50 more than they were for SYD – HKG.

I’m very pleased, a return trip to SFO in 5 month’s time, both directions in J using Classic Awards, not an easy ask.


Gotta love those Hobart consultants, they usually deliver – Qantas please keep this Call Centre going!

 

[Longtoo]

Hi Dalek, thanks for letting us know and it's great to hear that you have been able to secure your booking.
I forgot to mention that if you have trouble with QF website, sometime, the agent can waive your booking fee (5000 QFFpoints). Did you not have to pay the booking fee?
Cheers. L

 

[Dalek]

Hi Longtoo, no booking fee required

 

[travelislife]

This is the second thread I have seen with flights US-AUS-HKG showing up, but not the individual leg. I reckon it’s a glitch in the filing. Qantas can’t be intentionally meaning to do this. Also odd they couldn’t see it.

You have done well getting the agent to do that for you!

 

[Mattg]

This is the second thread I have seen with flights US-AUS-HKG showing up, but not the individual leg. I reckon it’s a glitch in the filing. Qantas can’t be intentionally meaning to do this

I wouldn't put it past them! I actually suspect it's intentional. Qantas is known to do strange things with married segments.