noob question: booking CX to Europe on QF site?

[kitkatff]

I am looking at booking MEL-HKG and then HKG-CDG/LHR on Cathay (or other airline ex-HKG). I can see MEL-HKG by itself, but no option to do MEL-HKG-CDG. The only options offered are via DXB or LHR (not really wanting to go to/transit via LHR myself ...).

I am using the QF site as a) I want the MEL-HKG-MEL to be on QF so I can play the upgrade lottery for SWMBO and the kid (I'm SG, but I know 3 of us will be hard, hoping the 2 of them can get it if I miss out), and b) for SC and FF points.

Usually the end to end booking is cheaper than booking 2 flights (plus ensuring luggage connection, etc), which is why I'm trying to get it all in one go. We'll probably spend some days in HKG on the way there or back.

So what's the trick with seeing OW partners when looking at timetables and bookings?

I guess alternatively, should I just book separate legs and put my QF number in the CX booking? Or just give up on doing it myself and get flight centre to organise it, being careful to get them to put me on an upgradeable Eco ticket on QF?

Bonus question, any way to use QF points on CX?

 

[smit0847]

Try a multi city

 

[robd]

Bonus question, any way to use QF points on CX?

Well, from my recent experience, you can definitely do a Classic Award booking using QF points on CX MEL-xHKG-CDG-xHKG-MEL if the awards are available.

 

[kitkatff]

Try a multi city

doh! thanks. But I tried a few different dates for MEL/HKG/CDG/HKG/MEL and only got
"We are unable to find recommendations from the airlines we search. Please change your search criteria and resubmit the search. (# 66002)"

I left 2 days between each flight to be sure it was not connection timing, but no dice.

Robd - how did you book your award flight?

That said in the meantime I found out that the CX interface to book is better (though no QF flights on offer) and CX itself seems about $500 cheaper ... decisions ...

 

[robd]

doh! thanks. But I tried a few different dates for MEL/HKG/CDG/HKG/MEL and only got
"We are unable to find recommendations from the airlines we search. Please change your search criteria and resubmit the search. (# 66002)"

I left 2 days between each flight to be sure it was not connection timing, but no dice.

Robd - how did you book your award flight?

That said in the meantime I found out that the CX interface to book is better (though no QF flights on offer) and CX itself seems about $500 cheaper ... decisions ...

I did a 280K award. I found the flights myself (utilising the expertise, particularly from Vetrade, in this thread http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ward-140k-280k-420k-8228-116.html#post1259066

but still had to make a couple of changes via the QFF assistance desk (1 had change fee, and the other, no fee because it was not able to be changed online).

 

[kitkatff]

I got some results when I ticked "award flights" - good to know. But I just got the error message if I didn't tick that. I tried flexible as well but no still dice. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[TomVexille]

I'm not sure that QF can/will sell CX flights outside of awards or a RTW.

 

[Himeno]

I'm not sure that QF can/will sell CX flights outside of awards or a RTW.

They can and do. They just don't like to.

 

[TomVexille]

They can and do. They just don't like to.

I think the second part of your answer is key here

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Edit: nope, my thought bubble doesnt work.
Thought that if you went to QF HK, and look, it would bring up CDG as an option to fly to as a reward flight from HKG, but it doesnt.

 

[Robert Qld]

Ever since the EK tie up, a whole bunch of legs on OW partners I could book to do via the website's multi-city tool are no longer able to be done. I think it is QF's way to making people go to the EU via its own metal (or EKs). I have heard anecdotal stories you can still do it with QF agents over the phone however.

 

[dmitri]

I booked Hong Kong to Dusseldorf return a few weeks ago for next Feb with CX through QF business class on points. There were quite a few spare J awards on this route if that helps.

 

[Limewood]

If your booking less than 10 months out its very hard to find award seats, for 3 even more so.

 

[kitkatff]

If your booking less than 10 months out its very hard to find award seats, for 3 even more so.

I don't want an award seat - that is why I can't find CX on the QF website. If you try and get an award the CX flight comes up (even for September, at least on 2-3 flights if not all 4), but they just don't show up otherwise. I'm not trying to book J

I was trying to book MEL-HKG-CDG in one go as it's possibly cheaper than booking 2 separate trips with QF and CX separately - I'll have to do the maths. I can do 2 bookings as we'll want some time off in HKG between flights anyway, just a bit more of a pain to manage. It's quite easy to book this on CX (CX metal of course), but impossible on QF's site as only Dubai or LHR are offered as transit points for "normal, non award" bookings.

Or I may get an award for one of us and then book the trips for the other 2 people separately.

As I said, CX seems to be around $500 cheaper than QF for the round trip. No 380, but hey ... I wanted QF for the upgrade lottery on MEL-HKG-MEL (as SG), I'll have to see. The economy award seats are not quite worth it, the cheapest upgradeable MEL-HKG fare is around $500, award is 30K points + $200.

 

[robd]

I don't want an award seat - that is why I can't find CX on the QF website. If you try and get an award the CX flight comes up (even for September, at least on 2-3 flights if not all 4), but they just don't show up otherwise. I'm not trying to book J

I was trying to book MEL-HKG-CDG in one go as it's possibly cheaper than booking 2 separate trips with QF and CX separately - I'll have to do the maths. I can do 2 bookings as we'll want some time off in HKG between flights anyway, just a bit more of a pain to manage. It's quite easy to book this on CX (CX metal of course), but impossible on QF's site as only Dubai or LHR are offered as transit points for "normal, non award" bookings.

Or I may get an award for one of us and then book the trips for the other 2 people separately.

As I said, CX seems to be around $500 cheaper than QF for the round trip. No 380, but hey ... I wanted QF for the upgrade lottery on MEL-HKG-MEL (as SG), I'll have to see. The economy award seats are not quite worth it, the cheapest upgradeable MEL-HKG fare is around $500, award is 30K points + $200.

Oh sorry. Not sure why I went down the reward track. I guess I assumed if the flights were bookable as rewards, they would also be bookable as revenue.

 

[kitkatff]

Oh sorry. Not sure why I went down the reward track. I guess I assumed if the flights were bookable as rewards, they would also be bookable as revenue.

no worries, that was my basic assumption too ...

 

[madrooster]

QF don't actually offer a valid fare that allows a x/HKG routing to CDG anymore. This is why the QF site won't allow you to do it. If you wish to go with that route, and MEL-HKG on QF, you will need a MEL-HKG QF return fare and a HKG-CDG CX return fare.

 

[kitkatff]

QF don't actually offer a valid fare that allows a x/HKG routing to CDG anymore. This is why the QF site won't allow you to do it. If you wish to go with that route, and MEL-HKG on QF, you will need a MEL-HKG QF return fare and a HKG-CDG CX return fare.

Thanks for that. Of course the frustrating thing is that you can still get that with award flights (though the ones I got went via Helsinki ... but I've never been to Finland ... )

 

[dmitri]

Helsinki is a good spot, will hopefully be back there soon