Qantas Codeshare on JQ - why the delays in publishing

[here2go]

Conservative risk averse public servants seek to get out of Drw and monsoon as quick as possible as soon as he can be released from school as teacher, with breadwinning spouse and kids in tow.

We're planning a trip to Europe, and want to get into the cool ASAP, so there is no mucking about in Singapore. The catch is we either pay through the nose with Virgin / Silkair, or get onto JQ. However, no travel agent can book us through, as return in January is not appearing, and nobody in QF / JQ know what is going on, or refuse to tell. Our travel agent has said we are not covered for the short turnaround unless on a single PNR. This is to cover our ownrear ends in the event of the plane doing a u-turn and heading back to get immigration paper two hours into a flight? Don't laugh, this is Darwin.

Does anybody know when the code shares will be up for Jan 2014?. We just want to book before prices get too scary.

 

[TheInsider]

Wasn't this already covered??
For Jan 2014, it will be done 7-8 months out, when JQ publish their schedule.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/jetstar-participation-qantas-group-one-38224-2.html

This was already covered in the above thread so I think it would be good idea to ask moderators to merge the threads rather than create new ones all the time so you only have to search one thread for the answer. Then you just 'bump' the thread with a new post whenever you want to add anything new.

As already discussed just because you happen to have your JQ/AY flights in the one pnr does not mean JQ will help you in the event of a missed connection as they clearly state on their website that "it's the responsibility of the passenger to make their onward connections" or words to that effect.

IIRC you were going to go out to DRW Airport & ask JQ aka Menzies Ground Handling what they do should your bags have been checked through to AY flight but due to a JQ delay you will no longer make that connection.

What was the result of that conversation?

The topic was again covered in the thread below also:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....discussion/why-cant-i-book-jetstar-37420.html

 

[here2go]

I just read my post, and realised I meant to say 2013.
I know this has been covered, and yes, Menzies wiil may put bags through at the discretion of the agent. This is not JQ policy.
HOWEVER, when connecting Singapore, Denpasar etc with another One World airline (ie Qantas, Cathay, Finnair, BA, etc.) is under no obligation to carry you or find alternative arrangements should JQ stuff up (a common occurrence).

No travel agent advises risking any journey with less than three hours turnaround without the protection of a single ticket.

My concern is that nobody in Qantas group is prepared to say to the agents of Darwin and other ports served primarily by JQ, "We will publish codeshares with QF on this date." For ports served by full service airlines, this isn't an issue, but for Darwin and Cairns, this policy is in my discriminatory, largely because capitals down south have been able to book flights for a long time. I find the silence from JQ and QF on this matter just bizarre. Honest communication with agents and travelling public develops trust. All I feel is that trust has a premium of 100% to fly Virgin instead.

 

[moa999]

I think the general issue is JQ only publishes their schedules on a bi-annual basis, and seemingly only up to 7-8 months out, so how can QF apply a codeshare to a flight that doesn't (yet) exist.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

If I was in your shoes HeretoGo I would solve the problem myself by simply staying one night in SIN. As a school teacher you probably get more holidays than most people so are less time poor when it comes to finding the time to stopover.

1. Book the cheapest DRW/SIN/DRW airfare on the JQ website.

2. Book all the AY flights through their site or through that agent that you said had a great deal departing SIN the day after you arrive.

3. Even do the same on the return so there's no worries or issues with the interlining of bags from AY to JQ.

It really doesn't get any easier than that.

By doing it this way it doesn't matter two hoots when QF codeshare flights are available for sale or not.In the event of a delay, even if all your flights are booked in the same pnr, you will still be disrupted either way & even if JQ do take responsibility & rebook you it may not be on your carrier of choice so don't expect to get the same AY flights the next day as being so close to Christmas they might be fully booked.

Having spent 10 wet seasons in DRW I know that there can and will be delays or possible cancellations due to weather. This will affect all airlines including MI & JQ. Often airlines with relaltively small payloads ie A319s A320s A321s will be heavily weight restricted so although you may get away your bags may not so having a night in SIN would allow you to catch up with your luggage.

 

[here2go]

So ozbeachbabe what you are saying is that you don't know why when Jetstar have their schedule and fares advertised out to April, they can't seem to publish the codeshare for interlining in January, and apart from overnighting or spending multiple days in SIN or DPS, residents of DRW and CNS have limited options.

My travel agent is fuming that they can't offer a decent service to their customers want to travel to Europe at Christmas, as they have a large list of customers wanting to do what I am doing. The biggest frustration is they can't even say when to get back to them, as neither Qantas and Jetstar will get back to them, and that's what is rude: Lack of communication from the JQ / QF (although I suspect Qantas have no idea either).

 

[travelislife]

It is a ridiculous situation, all about Jetstar "a Qantas Group Airline when it suits us". Just on this as well I know we didn't get any bites on this thread discussion we had here2go, but did you ask your travel agent if there are any insurances that if you book with a 3hr window between separate flights that you are covered?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-insurance/travel-insurance-point-point-carriers-38030.html#post585766

 

[Robert K]

If JQ and QF can't tell you, what are the chances that someone on here can?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

So ozbeachbabe what you are saying is that you don't know why when Jetstar have their schedule and fares advertised out to April, they can't seem to publish the codeshare for interlining in January, and apart from overnighting or spending multiple days in SIN or DPS, residents of DRW and CNS have limited options.

What I am saying is that even if you had been able to book QF codeshare flights already in the one booking doesn't mean that it will be any easier if due to bad weather your flight is delayed causing you to miss your AY flights.

Having flights on the same booking is one thing but is it all going to be on the one ticket? I believe this may be a factor if there is a delay so worse case scenario they could say to you "sorry but as your AY flights are on a separate ticket, you'll need to rebook those flights yourself" as it states on the JQ website that connecting flights are your responsibility.

Have you done the sums & compared prices between buying two separate tickets ie a JQ ticket DRW/SIN/DRW plus AY ticket SIN/HEL/xx_/HEL/SIN versus a through fare on QF codeshare flights plus AY flights on to Europe on the one ticket? It could be that the first option is hundreds of dollars cheaper so paying for 1 night in a SIN hotel would actually save you money.

I also have no idea when QF publish their codeshare flights with JQ but it's a moot point anyway as per what I've written in paragraphs 1 & 2 above.

 

[here2go]

I have an answer courtesy of my travel agent. They've spoken to both JQ and QF to ask what on earth is going on, and apparently the two siblings are currently in negotiation, and they are equal parties. Despite being owned by the same company, they are fierce negotiators, hence nothing is happening, and neither party knows what on earth is going on.
Anyway, I've found an awesome airfare to Germany with Silkair / Singapore airlines, and will work around rail and point to point airfares separately as a result.

I was looking forward to trying Finnair, with their generous allowances, etc (and I'm sure there are other Darwinians and Cairnsites (is that right?) wanting to fly Qantas to Europe) but Qantas Group's navel gazing lost the sale. Is it any wonder that Qantas International is going under - they can't even pick up commission from themselves on Codeshares!