Limited options SYD-MEL for a SYD to LAX via MEL booking?

[transpactraveller]

When I try to book a SYD-LAX via MEL the booking website only gives me one option from SYD-MEL which is a 60 minute connection in MEL - I'd like a bit longer.

Is there a way to get more options for the SYD-MEL sector?

On the return flight I'm not even presented with an option via MEL, but am given many via BNE and even a LAX-BNE-ADL-SYD option!?

If I call QFF for help with the booking I assume they will charge the exorbitant phone service fee?

 

[TomVexille]

If you do call up, just ask them to waive the phone fee as it isn't available online. Or try using the multi-city booking page. Also I find that if you book with a gift voucher it often provides more connecting flights than the normal booking engine (and avoids the cc fee)

 

[Flymeanywhere]

If you do call up, just ask them to waive the phone fee as it isn't available online. Or try using the multi-city booking page. Also I find that if you book with a gift voucher it often provides more connecting flights than the normal booking engine (and avoids the cc fee)

Yep, try the Multi-city booking page. I had the same problem with a similar booking where my choice given wasn't anywhere near what I wanted to do but it worked through the multi-city.

 

[serfty]

I have with mixed success booked the undesirable shorter transit, then immediately called Qantas and asked for a different connecting flight. (Best to be done before it gets ticketed.)

One time they refused, even though the fare bucket was available in the flight I wanted, so I had them cancel for a full refund using the same day cancellation guarantee.

One other time they were happy to make the change but then wanted to ping me with an assisted booking fee.

The other couple of times, there was no issue.

 

[transpactraveller]

Thanks, under multi-city is the functionality I was looking for as it gives the option to change flights on each individual segment.

Annoyingly it seems to come out slightly more expensive this way, even if I select the same flights that were offered under the normal return booking.

And on the return leg the multi-city doesn't like same day connections from the early morning arrival. So for the Saturday night flight out of LAX that arrives Monday morning in Melbourne it says there are no flights available from MEL to SYD on Monday.

I can understand why people use travel agents!

 

[Himeno]

I've had similar problems trying to get the website to give me the flight options and connecting city I wanted for CBR-LAX or CBR-TYO.
I don't like the Dash 8s, and look for the 717s or 737s for the CBR-MEL/SYD/BNE flights. But when it does offer something other then a Dash 8, the QF website will only give me a 1 hour connection, which with the bus connection in SYD and MEL is not preferred.

I normally end up using the multi city option and select my own connections, or going to some other site.

 

[Pleb Status]

Thanks, under multi-city is the functionality I was looking for as it gives the option to change flights on each individual segment.

Annoyingly it seems to come out slightly more expensive this way, even if I select the same flights that were offered under the normal return booking.

And on the return leg the multi-city doesn't like same day connections from the early morning arrival. So for the Saturday night flight out of LAX that arrives Monday morning in Melbourne it says there are no flights available from MEL to SYD on Monday.

I can understand why people use travel agents!

In the defence of QF, they assume (quite rightly) that most pax will want to go direct SYD-LAX v.v if available.

Also, QF would most likely want to 'discourage' pax adding additional sectors for no reason at no or little additional cost.

 

[serfty]

It's not so much additional sectors - next week I am flying MEL to DFW. Connection necessary.

Only connections offerred were 2: 1 hour and 1.5 hours. I chose the longer one. I was using a voucher so could not use multi.

After booking the 1.5 hour connecting flight was cancelled; was auto rebooked on the one hour connection.

I called and got moved to a 3 hour connection.

 

[Himeno]

In the defence of QF, they assume (quite rightly) that most pax will want to go direct SYD-LAX v.v if available.

Also, QF would most likely want to 'discourage' pax adding additional sectors for no reason at no or little additional cost.

Even then, they have a habit of trying to only offer connections that, were one or two things to go wrong (such as a delay), the connection would easily go from 'tight' to 'impossible'.

 

[transpactraveller]

In the defence of QF, they assume (quite rightly) that most pax will want to go direct SYD-LAX v.v if available.

Also, QF would most likely want to 'discourage' pax adding additional sectors for no reason at no or little additional cost.

Yeah that makes sense, but I much prefer the evening departure from Australia across to LAX than the early morning. The only QF option is now the QF95 flight ex-MEL. They axed the afternoon flight from Sydney.

 

[Himeno]

Yeah that makes sense, but I much prefer the evening departure from Australia across to LAX than the early morning. The only QF option is now the QF95 flight ex-MEL. They axed the afternoon flight from Sydney.

Rather then the ~6am LAX arrivals or the coming QF95 ~7pm arrival, I'd like a ~noon arrival option.

The old SYD-LAX QF17 ~6pm depart ~1pm arrive would have been good.