OWA stop in China

[stoney]

I am looking for opinions for my upcoming OWA trip which commences mid June 2020 with regard to the Coronavirus problem. I realise it is still four and a half months hence and that is sufficient time for things to change either way. Considering the difficulty of changing a route using award flights using the Qantas system my own thoughts are to change the plan but i have accomodation booked which is a non refundable booking. I do have travel insurance which I need to contact to see if this is covered. Opinions please.

 

[offshore171]

Probably needs more info. How many stops via China, or is your concern just around travel in general? Where is the non refundable accommodation?

 

[stoney]

Probably needs more info. How many stops via China, or is your concern just around travel in general? Where is the non refundable accommodation?

PLO-ADL-HKG-PEK-HEL-FCO-LGW-CUN-DFW-HND-TPE-HKG-ADL-PLO . Concern at this stage is China but as I Have said this can change for the better or worse. I am thinking that if things get worse in China then I would be wise to change ticketing now rather than later on. My hotel is the Grand Mercure Beijing Central.

 

[serfty]

-ADL-HKG-PEK-HEL-

How long are your stops at HKG and PEK ?

 

[stoney]

How long are your stops at HKG and PEK ?

HKG is transit and PEK is 3 nights. Plan to do all the normal tourist things so lots of contact with crowds. Thanks Serfty

 

[serfty]

HKG is transit and PEK is 3 nights.

So presumably you'd like to skip PEK entirely, effectively journeying from from ADL to HEL without a stopover.

 

[offshore171]

I would change the flights now while the issue is front and centre and you are unlikely to get much pushback from the airlines.

There are direct flights from HKG to HEL so you could simply drop Beijing.

As for the accomodation, I think I read yesterday that the Chinese govt issued a decree that all accomodation providers in China must issue refunds on request due to this situation.

Also: there’s an airport called PLO! Wow.

 

[stoney]

That sounds like a plan. I guess the Chinese political system is good for something. I could not immagine Sydney or one of our other cities being closed by our Government or for that matter proclaiming that hotels must refund bookings. Possibly lead to riots.

Yep, PLO. I have never given it much thought but now you mention it, it certainly has a ring about it. Could expect some missiles maybe?

Thanks for that news and advice, I will have contact with the hotel to make sure they know the edict.

So presumably you'd like to skip PEK entirely, effectively journeying from from ADL to HEL without a stopover.

Well, I could do that or look for another destination to fill the gap as I have done extensive travel in Finland,Sweden,Norway and Denmark. Plenty to choose from but the trick will be getting award seating in J.

 

[stoney]

I have been trying to get J seating on oneworld partners out of Australia mid June 2020 without luck, Is it possible to get J seating on codeshare flights? e.g. Sri Lanka UL3381 code share QF51 BNE -SIN. I have exhausted all other options. I will depart ADL to any other exit point in Oz and I do not mind where to but need to marry up in HEL. Any ideas?

 

[offshore171]

I was able to book award flights to and from HEL for December using JAL out of Haneda. For 4 of us, so seems to be some availability.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Given the situation is rapidly developing, I'd be inclined not to change flights at this stage, unless your booking is so flexible that change comes with no fee. We don't know with any reliability what the situation in any location will be at the end of this month, let alone june. Suspect travel demand will drop off and seats won't be so hard to find.

cheers skip

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have been trying to get J seating on oneworld partners out of Australia mid June 2020 without luck, Is it possible to get J seating on codeshare flights? e.g. Sri Lanka UL3381 code share QF51 BNE -SIN. I have exhausted all other options. I will depart ADL to any other exit point in Oz and I do not mind where to but need to marry up in HEL. Any ideas?

You cannot ticket award travel on a codeshare (and they will never show on the QFFF website).

But the QFFF engine doesn't always show all availability for all partners. Sometimes things like Finnair flights won't appear online, but can be seen by the call centre. Worth giving them a call to see if HKG-HEL for example is available when you need it.

 

[stoney]

Given the situation is rapidly developing, I'd be inclined not to change flights at this stage, unless your booking is so flexible that change comes with no fee. We don't know with any reliability what the situation in any location will be at the end of this month, let alone june. Suspect travel demand will drop off and seats won't be so hard to find.

cheers skip

Thanks PS, I think your argument is sound, I do have J seating so there is no fees but it is extremely difficult to contact QF. I thought I did have an alternative route but when I added up the miles it was over the 35K and there was 6 stopovers so I quickly hung up after two hours at about 10pm. Schoolboy error.

 

[stoney]

Last night I decided that I must change my flight plan away from Beijing and Hong Kong in June as the complications of onward travel and the time frame of a vaccination becoming available is risk averse.
Two hours 30 minutes later I got onto Alistair at Qantas and he was the best operator I have ever struck at Qantas. What a pleasure it was to deal with someone who knew his job and delivered it without any tantrums, just a nice guy. Well before I knew it he had changed our flights in U to KUL-DOH-HEL which was one of several options that I had in mind. Very happy flyer. Thanks Alistair from South Africa.

 

[JennyMG]

. Very happy flyer. Thanks Alistair from South Africa.

And I did exactly the same thing a week ago. Changed my (horror face) China Eastern award flight, home from Rome>Shanghai>Syd. Rang Qantas, left my number for a call back. 2.5 hours later (same as @stoney ) and got the most wonderful man, Anthony...I think, from Auckland. What a guy. Cancelled my CE flights, refunded my points, and my fees. Rebooked a flight I found on QT - Fco>doh>BKK, with even LESS points than my previous flight, booked me a BKK -Syd flight on Q, with the remainder of the points. No fuss, no sighing, no impatience, nothing. He just did his job, absolutely brilliantly, and couldn't be happier. Very very happy.
No more worries about a 5 hour layover in Shanghai airport in june now. Or 27 hours aboard a Chinese aircraft. Phew.
Now I just have to hope my Syd Sin on the way OVER doesn't get cancelled. (dodged the bullet so far.)
I gotta give it to these overseas Qantas operators. It might be a bit of queue up, but great service.