Qantas-IndiGo partnership

[bussyboy]

Now, if they threw in an included overnight stay at the BLR airport Taj Hotel that would be another story.

Here's a QF partnership deal we could all enjoy!

 

[Mattg]

Trying to price SYD-BOM, some of the codeshare flight timings offered at BLR are laughable. After a 1625 arrival, there are three evening flights which are fine, but why bother listing the ones the next morning like 0440, 0600, 0700, etc? Who is going to realistically use that kind of itinerary?

Now, if they threw in an included overnight stay at the BLR airport Taj Hotel that would be another story.

The original partnership announcement indicates that some Indigo flights from Singapore would be included, although they tend to have poor timings they might connect with various Qantas services - but it seems like none of these are actually present yet? The final announcement doesn't show Singapore.

Also, I agree that the lack of connections from DEL is puzzling - why would you fly e.g. MEL-SYD-BLR-BOM when you could fly one-stop MEL-DEL and separate ticket DEL-BOM (or better yet, MEL-SIN-BOM on SQ with a protected connection and no domestic transfer in India).

The press release did say that they've just released an initial tranche of codeshare routes, and that more will come later.

 

[Ade]

Have booked Flex Y on QF5128 (MAA-BLR) and QF68 (BLR-SYD) on 17/09. Will report back. The upgrade to J on QF68 is 42Kish points. I thought the points needed to upgrade from a Flex Y was 29Kish? Anyways, have put in an upgrade request too. Fingers crossed.

Side note : what is the forum topic where we can request availability - can someone point me to that link pls? I seem to have lost it.

 

[jpp42]

Side note : what is the forum topic where we can request availability - can someone point me to that link pls? I seem to have lost it.

Here you go: Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

 

[Ade]

Here you go: Flight Availability/Loadings & Upgrade Probability Help Desk

Thank you kindly, @jpp42

 

[Fergo747]

The timing of QF68 is what get's me. I generally travel to MAA 3-6 times per year for a week at a time and my preferred routing was via HKG (obviously pre COVID and political issues with HK). Would head up on the Sunday to be in the office Monday and then could do a full day Friday before the ~2300 departure. Given the 68 leaves BLR at 1735, it means that one has to catch at 1300 flight from MAA to make the connection either cutting the trip short or having to stay a full extra day.

The biggest travesty (well apart from missing The Pier) is the SC's drop given the Indigo leg is in economy and a relatively short flight.

 

[jpp42]

The timing of QF68 is what get's me. I generally travel to MAA 3-6 times per year for a week at a time and my preferred routing was via HKG (obviously pre COVID and political issues with HK). Would head up on the Sunday to be in the office Monday and then could do a full day Friday before the ~2300 departure. Given the 68 leaves BLR at 1735, it means that one has to catch at 1300 flight from MAA to make the connection either cutting the trip short or having to stay a full extra day.

I didn't recall that CX offered a good connection via HKG eastbound? I used to fly SYD to India a similar number of times per year, and westbound it was fine, but eastbound I had a 14-hour layover via HKG as all the CX flights India-HKG were redeyes, as were HKG-SYD, so you couldn't avoid a long daytime layover. I did this once and stayed in an airport hotel for the day, but the 36-hour transit time wasn't very convenient despite the overall amenity of HKG in those days. Most of my trips were via SIN, since Singapore Airlines offered multiple morning SIN-SYD departures that connected nicely with the redeyes ex-India; UL via CMB was also an option. But I agree the QF timing isn't that great for BLR-SYD, even if you are based in BLR you can only work a half day or less, given it can take up to 3 hours to get to the airport from the south side of the city.

And yes India flights were great for SC's, on either carrier - this is exactly how I obtained and maintained WP on both QF and VA (through SQ).

 

[Fergo747]

I didn't recall that CX offered a good connection via HKG eastbound? I used to fly SYD to India a similar number of times per year, and westbound it was fine, but eastbound I had a 14-hour layover via HKG as all the CX flights India-HKG were redeyes, as were HKG-SYD, so you couldn't avoid a long daytime layover. I did this once and stayed in an airport hotel for the day, but the 36-hour transit time wasn't very convenient despite the overall amenity of HKG in those days. Most of my trips were via SIN, since Singapore Airlines offered multiple morning SIN-SYD departures that connected nicely with the redeyes ex-India; UL via CMB was also an option. But I agree the QF timing isn't that great for BLR-SYD, even if you are based in BLR you can only work a half day or less, given it can take up to 3 hours to get to the airport from the south side of the city.

And yes India flights were great for SC's, on either carrier - this is exactly how I obtained and maintained WP on both QF and VA (through SQ).

Yes, you are correct. It was ~9hr layover, however it allowed a full days work prior to flying out the evening. I used to get on the CX flight, sleep through to HKG, arrive around am, grab breakfast at the Wing, then have a bath in the cabana before making my way to the Pier for some lunch, sit at the bar, get a massage, more food / drinks before the evening departure and sleep like a baby the entire flight home. Would then arrive in SYD early Sunday for a full day back home. It was a great. Now it means either forgoing a day of work or not landing back into SYD until ~10am on the Sunday which means possibly not home until midday.

 

[Ade]

And yes India flights were great for SC's, on either carrier - this is exactly how I obtained and maintained WP on both QF and VA (through SQ).

Me too. Used to fly exclusively to India at least 4 times a year. Always a fan of the CX services in & out of India via HKG. I find that the UL option via SIN & CMB is also a good SC earner. When booked on a QF codeshare out of SIN, you get 10 more SC and a Flex UL CMB-MAA earns 20 SC as well

. I used to get on the CX flight, sleep through to HKG

Exactly! the CX632 was well timed, so to speak, as it brings you into HKG around 7 am, meaning you get a full workday in HKG. Enjoy the Pier, grab a couch, grab a drink (or a few or many) and off to SYD on the QF128. CX was also known for frequent upgrades of OWE to PE from Saver Y. I was upgraded a handful of times either at the lounge or the gate.
I loved the Dan-Dan noodles they used to make it the made to order bar. Also loved the chickpea curry & roti they make in the Pier dining room... Ah! those were the days

Now it means either forgoing a day of work or not landing back into SYD until ~10am on the Sunday which means possibly not home until midday.

True. And if you live in any city other than SYD, that is another flight. I'm CBR based, so after the QF68, I'm a late afternoon service to CBR. So my Sunday is pretty much finished by the time I reach home.

 

[jpp42]

CX was also known for frequent upgrades of OWE to PE from Saver Y

Oh yes, I had at least 2-3 of those, that was great. Will very much miss CX and HKG...

 

[AIRwin]

QF expands codeshare partnership:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-grows-codeshare-network-with-new-destinations-across-india/

 

[Ade]

QF expands codeshare partnership:

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-grows-codeshare-network-with-new-destinations-across-india/

Good to see that more destinations are added under the codeshare agreement. Makes it easier to fly direct into BLR (or DEL, BOM) and then connect.

However, my experience flying out of MAA was less than ideal. 6E had no idea about the additional baggage allowance for WP. I had to call HBA/AKL from MAA to get them to agree to the baggage allowance. The call went on for over 45 mins with QF HBA staff, 6E's revenue team from Gurgaon (I think), check-in agent at MAA and myself. I had to use the staff's tethered mobile data to host the call and I was checked in with 5 mins before check-in closes to BLR. Was a very stressful time. Had baggage issues ex-BLR as well on QF68 (same booking Flex fares).

Hopefully such teething issues are sorted now.

 

[AIRwin]

6E had no idea about the additional baggage allowance for WP.

I didn't find any mention of QF on their website:

https://www.goindigo.in/

 

[Ade]

I didn't find any mention of QF on their website:

https://www.goindigo.in/

Yea ... that's the issue. My booking was done with QF and this was the 3rd day after the codeshare services commenced. 6E staff had no idea of the reciprocal benefits etc.

 

[MathNerd]

Good to see that more destinations are added under the codeshare agreement. Makes it easier to fly direct into BLR (or DEL, BOM) and then connect.

However, my experience flying out of MAA was less than ideal. 6E had no idea about the additional baggage allowance for WP. I had to call HBA/AKL from MAA to get them to agree to the baggage allowance. The call went on for over 45 mins with QF HBA staff, 6E's revenue team from Gurgaon (I think), check-in agent at MAA and myself. I had to use the staff's tethered mobile data to host the call and I was checked in with 5 mins before check-in closes to BLR. Was a very stressful time. Had baggage issues ex-BLR as well on QF68 (same booking Flex fares).

Hopefully such teething issues are sorted now.

Yea ... that's the issue. My booking was done with QF and this was the 3rd day after the codeshare services commenced. 6E staff had no idea of the reciprocal benefits etc.

Unfortunately this is all too common... The agents at airports such as MAA or BLR (I'd hope this isn't the case at a more "international" airport such as DEL or BOM) usually aren't across the finer details of alliances, status benefits, etc.
The majority of the pax they process are simple cash fare purchasers who I dare say the majority of won't know what status means or that their fare earns some miles.
Therefore the agents are trained to "take a ticket, find pax name on manifest, hand over boarding pass" (and maybe, just maybe, a TIMATIC check thrown in for good measure).
I've got a friend travelling BLR-SIN-MEL tonight and I sincerely hope the agents at BLR can process a separate ticket award/cash mix fare and allocate baggage allowance appropriately.

Indian aviation is growing at an alarming rate which is great for the country and great overall, but at most Indian airports the ground experience really needs to be improved, and one way to do that would be to get agents at check-in that are aware of rules such as @Ade mentioned, if not have the ability to query this in their systems and not cause stressful situations that could lead to missing boarding of a flight.

I really sympathise with you mate @Ade!

 

[Ade]

award/cash mix fare and allocate baggage allowance appropriately.

This was sort of my situation as well. I had a Flex Y booked with QF, put in an upgrade request to J using points. 24h prior to departure my upgrade request was confirmed, which increased my baggage allowance from 50kg (WP allowance) to 60kg (WP+J allowance). The agents at BLR are able to see the upgrade class from Y/B/H to U (CR J upgrade), but they were not able to see/understand/believe/comprehend the additional 10kg allowance. Initially, they were convinced that I only had 32kg, took me 10 mins to show them QF website that says as WP, I get 50kg in Y-international. Then the drama to get the additional 10kg for J. The agent and the QF airport manager told me that the CR upgrade is not eligible for the additional 10kg etc etc.

This is where Wendy from HBA assisted and clarified the allowance to the QF BLR airport manager.

 

[Ade]

I'm back on the SYD-BLR-MAA-BLR-SYD route again in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, no baggage issues this time ... I'm suspecting baggage issues MAA-BLR because it's domestic and bags are not tagged all the way to AU ...

 

[Spamam]

Just did Mumbai to Bangalore and then Sydney. No priority anything with Indigo, however Qantas pre booked a cucumber sandwich and a drink. It wasn’t bad. Seats were spacious but the flight was on time and in a 321 neo. Bangalore 80 lounge was good with Dosas cooked on demand and very attentive staff. As usual QF was over two hours late so had a long layover in the lounge. I advise turning up to Indian airports with a printed itinerary showing the Indigo flight number as I had some fun getting into Mumbai T1. Bags are checked all the way to SYD and boarding passes for both legs are given at checkin.
On the way there I went Vistara as CWT and Qantas could not book the codeshare. Vistara had a great curry for dinner and was more like a full service airline. Vistara go from BLT T2 which more like a botanic garden than an airport.

 

[Daver6]

Just did Mumbai to Bangalore and then Sydney. No priority anything with Indigo, however Qantas pre booked a cucumber sandwich and a drink. It wasn’t bad. Seats were spacious but the flight was on time and in a 321 neo. Bangalore 80 lounge was good with Dosas cooked on demand and very attentive staff. As usual QF was over two hours late so had a long layover in the lounge. I advise turning up to Indian airports with a printed itinerary showing the Indigo flight number as I had some fun getting into Mumbai T1. Bags are checked all the way to SYD and boarding passes for both legs are given at checkin.
On the way there I went Vistara as CWT and Qantas could not book the codeshare. Vistara had a great curry for dinner and was more like a full service airline. Vistara go from BLT T2 which more like a botanic garden than an airport.

Vistara are a great airline. I fear for what will happen with the AI merger

 

[clifford]

Ah, BLR, love it.

The only place in the world where I've had a thermometer thrust in my ear (whether I wanted it or not).

Post automatically merged: Apr 22, 2023

Vistara are a great airline. I fear for what will happen with the AI merger

I don't think you should.

Tata, Sons will fix it good. (and I mean it). Just look at JRA.