Missed connections when airline changes flight times?

[magikalcrab]

Hi all,

I did a search and couldn't find an existing thread that covers my issue.

To keep it short & sweet - in Feb my travel buddy & I booked flights ADL > MEL > LHR (return) through a Flight Centre travel consultant - normally I book everything online as it's cheaper - she insisted and as she was paying I didn't get much of a say in the matter.

We were told today that Qantas have now changed the time of the return flight - so now it leaves LHR an hour later, meaning that we arrive in Melbourne with 1.5 hours to clear customs, get bags, change terminals, drop bags (assuming Qantas staff at LHR will allow to check through to Adelaide) and get to the new gate.

I've been through customs at MEL before, and it took nearly 45 minutes; plus another 25 to get my bags -now I'm concerned that if this is the case again I'll miss my connecting flight given the reduced time in transit.

The travel agent (predictably) will only guarantee that Qantas will allow me to fly on a later flight if I miss the connection due to their flight being late.

Does anyone know the go is here? If we miss the connection, technically it's not our fault - the original flight we booked gave 2.5 hours to make it - would we be re-ticketed for a later flight, or told that we should have allowed more time?

Is it reasonable that we ask Qantas to move our booking to a connecting flight an hour later at no cost, just to be safe, or go with it and hope that nothing goes wrong at the airport?

 

[mannej]

If you booked through FC, I believe technically they are the only ones who will have access to change the booking.

 

[serfty]

If 90 minutes is a legal connection time for MEL (& I think it is), then the agent is correct.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[simongr]

If it is all booked on the same ticket then qantas will carry you on the later flight. No real need to change I think. What you can do is get a note made in your booking warning them of this. Just give qantas a call.

 

[chrisb]

I've always wondered what happens if you miss your flight due to being held up at customs. What if customs hold you for 3 hours? What if you miss the last flight of the day?

In this case, what if the qantas flight was only 30mins late but it still took you 70mins to transit? Is it still a qantas problem?

 

[NM]

I've always wondered what happens if you miss your flight due to being held up at customs. What if customs hold you for 3 hours? What if you miss the last flight of the day?

In this case, what if the qantas flight was only 30mins late but it still took you 70mins to transit? Is it still a qantas problem?

If its all on one booking, then yes its a Qantas problem. If you make separate bookings then its your problem.

If you are held up by a customs search or immigration questioning, then it would be appropriate to inform the agent that has detained you that you have a connecting flight and ask that they inform the airline of the delay.

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF magikalcrab!

The travel agent (predictably) will only guarantee that Qantas will allow me to fly on a later flight if I miss the connection due to their flight being late.

Does anyone know the go is here? If we miss the connection, technically it's not our fault - the original flight we booked gave 2.5 hours to make it - would we be re-ticketed for a later flight, or told that we should have allowed more time?

I would not worry too much. If your flight arrives late Qantas will know you will miss your connection and more than likely put you on the next available flight.

The last time I connected through MEL was for SIN-MEL-SYD and the flight eventually left SIN ~3 hours late and I already had a boarding pass for the MEL-SYD flight although there was no way I was going to make the flight. When I arrived in MEL I collected my bags and proceeded to domestic service desk where they already had a boarding pass for me ready for the next flight.

Apparently they had known that the flight was delayed so processed new boarding passes for those with connections.

 

[shellthom]

As long as it is all one ticket is the key. When the agent was advised of the timetable change in your booking they need to accept the change. If they had of called you and asked if it was ok and you said no, then the airline is obliged to let you change to another flight (later connection) for free, as it is their schedule change and not your request. If the agent just went ahead and accepted it without confirming with you first and you came back and said you want the later connection they will need to pay the change fees. As it stands, it sounds like the accepting of the new time has already happened. But regardless, if it is all one ticket there is no issue.

It is worth noting however, where you miss one flight and the flights are not booked as through fares, neither airline will be responsible and are unlikely to offer any sort of compensation. Airline A will say yes we were late but we got you from A-B (so no recourse with them) and airline B will say well we left on time its got nothing to do with us that you weren't here. So you need to try to sort something out before that first flight screws you over (ie call airline B to change rather than no show and lose the booking). In these cases, no matter what insurance you have, you are unlikely to have any cover.