Qantas and Emirates, what about our bookings?

[harrydart]

Hi to you all

Now that Qantas and Emirates seem to have got together I may, or may not, have a problem.

My wife and I use our Frequent Flyer points to visit our son in London. I tend to book as far in advance as possible, ie about 350 odd days.

If I book to travel, using my points, in November 2013, what's going to happen.

The new code share arrangement with Emirates starts in April 2013 and the other arrangements with Cathay, British Airways etc cease at that date.

If I book a couple of business class seats on a Cathay fight to London.............?

I would be interested in your opinions of what you think may happen. By the way I know I won't be the only one in this position. I just don't feel like using points for business class and getting stuck in an economy seat next to the toilets etc.

Thanks

Harry

 

[Mwenenzi]

Welcome to the forum

From where to LHR ?
SYD/MEL to LHR flights stay the same with A380 aircarft
If you book business ($ or points) the chance of being downgraded to economy is very low to zero

 

[harrydart]

From Sydney to LHR.

 

[simongr]

The new code share arrangement with Emirates starts in April 2013 and the other arrangements with Cathay, British Airways etc cease at that date.

OK just for the record the arrangements with Cathay, BA et al are NOT CEASING.

Qantas is and will continue to be a member of Oneworld. As such you will be able to book awards on BA, CX, AA, AY, IB, S7, RJ and others.

What is ceasing is the JSA between BA and QF. That arrangement allowed BA and QF (in simple terms) to sell tickets on each other's aircraft almost as if they were selling tickets on their own aircraft - same pricing (sort of if you excluded PE) and a bunch of other stuff.

What QF are ADDING is another partner who you can also fly to the UK on and use FF points.

 

[Mattg]

Hi Harry,
If you want to book for November 2013 then you wouldn't be able to book for then until November of this year. No doubt they will have it all sorted out by then. If you booked now though, or had an existing booking, the would probably contact you regarding changing the flights. They usually try not to disadvantage the customer if that is necessary.

In saying that, for SYD-LHR it will probably just mean you stopover in DXB instead of SIN. The points etc. will probably be exactly the same. The only difference is that you may have an option of flying on EK metal (if that's what you wanted to do - personally I would stick with QF metal where possible.) I think you would still be aable to book on Cathay too. As I said though, I'm sure you won't have any issues by the time you come to book your trip

 

[mannej]

Hi Harry,
If you want to book for November 2013 then you wouldn't be able to book for then until November of this year. No doubt they will have it all sorted out by then. If you booked now though, or had an existing booking, the would probably contact you regarding changing the flights. They usually try not to disadvantage the customer if that is necessary.

In saying that, for SYD-LHR it will probably just mean you stopover in DXB instead of SIN. The points etc. will probably be exactly the same. The only difference is that you may have an option of flying on EK metal (if that's what you wanted to do - personally I would stick with QF metal where possible.) I think you would still be aable to book on Cathay too. As I said though, I'm sure you won't have any issues by the time you come to book your trip

If the OP was flying CX (lets say already booked), there would be nothing to worry about.

It is the AU-LHR via SIN that may change to go via DXB.

QF are generally very good in having the options ready when they make large scale changes like this.

Let's wait and see until the dust settles.

 

[medhead]

I really see no point waiting for the dust to settle. The question raised is based on a completely false premise. If they book an award with CX nothing will change.

 

[harrydart]

Thanks for your advice.

I am always a bit suspicious when told by any large company that a change is being made to improve customer service. The Commonwealth Bank closed our local branch and made all the bank customers travel 5km to the nearest branch, to improve the service of course. It did indeed improve the service because Bendigo Bank opened a branch and most people changed, especially the local small business owners.

I'll take your advice and book when the time comes.

Enjoy the weekend.
Harry

 

[mannej]

Thanks for your advice.

I am always a bit suspicious when told by any large company that a change is being made to improve customer service. The Commonwealth Bank closed our local branch and made all the bank customers travel 5km to the nearest branch, to improve the service of course. It did indeed improve the service because Bendigo Bank opened a branch and most people changed, especially the local small business owners.

I'll take your advice and book when the time comes.

Enjoy the weekend.
Harry

If you book CX flights to LHR, nothing will change. A bit different to the CommBank situation

 

[Speedbird001]

I had a nightmare with my FASA. They did contact me but tried to get me going on BA, which they doubly buggered up by offering Z class on BA, which is BA's First redemptino bucket, meaning nil SCs and nil points whereas FASA in P fare bucket obviously yields both.

Encountering numerous difficulties along with others reported here in trying to find alternative dates. ACCC not interested in my approach; says it's a contractual matter between me and QFA. Not true - this is an adjudication branch matter given that the issue has arisen precisely because of the EK-QF JV.

If the OP was flying CX (lets say already booked), there would be nothing to worry about.

It is the AU-LHR via SIN that may change to go via DXB.

QF are generally very good in having the options ready when they make large scale changes like this.

Let's wait and see until the dust settles.

 

[simongr]

I had a nightmare with my FASA. They did contact me but tried to get me going on BA, which they doubly buggered up by offering Z class on BA, which is BA's First redemptino bucket, meaning nil SCs and nil points whereas FASA in P fare bucket obviously yields both.

Were you flying SIN-LHR? My expectation is that anyone flying AU-LHR will now just route through DXB.

Encountering numerous difficulties along with others reported here in trying to find alternative dates. ACCC not interested in my approach; says it's a contractual matter between me and QFA. Not true - this is an adjudication branch matter given that the issue has arisen precisely because of the EK-QF JV.

It is a contractual matter between you and QF. It has arisen because of strategic and operational changes to QF delivery model.

 

[serfty]

Maybe a basis for an "Original Routing Credit" claim?

 

[Mwenenzi]

....Encountering numerous difficulties along with others reported here in trying to find alternative dates. ACCC not interested in my approach; says it's a contractual matter between me and QFA. Not true - this is an adjudication branch matter given that the issue has arisen precisely because of the EK-QF JV.

Try the Government agency Airline Advocate

 

[oz_mark]

I had a nightmare with my FASA. They did contact me but tried to get me going on BA, which they doubly buggered up by offering Z class on BA, which is BA's First redemptino bucket, meaning nil SCs and nil points whereas FASA in P fare bucket obviously yields both.

While it is true that SC and points won't automatically post, most people in circumstances such as these have been able to have an original routing credit applied after the flights have been flown.

 

[Brettmcg]

It would seem that the points promised as compensation for changes to the QF European and Asian schedule/network have begun to post.

Just logged into my FF account to find:

27 MAR 13

CABIN ADJUSTMENT - QF SCHEDULE CHANGE 26MAR13

-

-

-

12,500

0

This was for an itinerary in W to FRA in July. As soon as the cancellation of FRA was brought back to 15APR13 I got on the phone and got myself re-routed to LHR on QF2 (in W all the way) and then DUS on BA. I haven't really been that severely inconvenience, but I am grateful for the extra points!