Qatar conundrum - QF Oneworld award flights

[sydks]

Having spent months perfecting a QF Oneworld award itinerary in F for early next year (and feeling elated when I was able to get it all confirmed) I looked on in horror as the arab states decided to throw their toys out of the cot and stop playing nice with each other!

The start of the trip is SYD-DXB (QF F) connecting DXB-DOH (QR F) - but when the border closed between UAE and Qatar, it was a big spanner in my plans. Initially Qatar only cancelled flights for a few weeks and I thought Qatar and the neighbours will probably have patched things up within a few months, but unfortunately it's looking like that is not the case and I have now received an email to contact QF about the booking (which when I look at it online it seems QR have now cancelled the DXB-DOH flight!).

Before I contact QF I wanted to do a bit of research so I'm armed with information to ensure I get the best alternative plan!

Ideally I would prefer to stay on QF1 for the long haul because I enjoy QF F and it comes with the benefit of CD in Sydney and the ability to pre-book a spa appointment in the F Lounge. That said I have looked to see if the direct QR flight has F available and it doesn't on my date, however there is F available same day from MEL, but I'm really not that keen on doing SYD-MEL-DOH as it has the added downside of the MEL F Lounge (which I know has it's fans, but I much prefer SYD F!).

If I stay with QF1, I need an alternative route to DOH - the most direct option appears to be DXB-MCT-DOH, however there is no Oneworld option DXB-MCT so I am guessing this is going to cause issues as it's a Oneworld award ticket. This is where I am hoping to get some advice.

I have looked at making a separate award booking DXB-MCT-DOH and using the multi city tool on QF, it is presenting options (in F) with EK DXB-MCT and then QR MCT-DOH. The connections are pretty good and I was thinking this may be a reasonable option, but then I started thinking about the baggage and connection issues. I would hate to have to enter Dubai, collect bags and recheck to Muscat, then enter Muscat, collect bags and recheck to Doha and risk being stuck if one flight is delayed and I miss the next!

First - does anyone know if given the situation EK would interline bags to QR in MCT so they could be checked from Dubai through to Doha? I am worried they would not, which would mean having to collect bags (and go through inbound immigration in Oman?) and then recheck bags for the QR flight to Doha and suddenly I would need to build in a much longer connection and it becomes a much bigger hassle..... I then wondered if the EK flight was delayed, would the connection be protected if I missed the QR flight?

Second - given the QF/EK relationship, if I did have a separate award booking with EK DXB-MCT would QF be able to tag the bags in Sydney to go through to MCT so that I didn't have to collect bags in Dubai, go through immigration there and recheck?

Thirdly - if EK will still interline to QR, would it be possible for QF to tag the bags in Sydney to go right through to Doha so that I didn't have to collect in either DXB or MCT?

Final thought I just had is asking QF if they could replace the QR DXB-DOH flight that's been cancelled in my existing award with the QR MCT-DOH flight and then I only have to book DXB-MCT as a separate award (which will save me some points) - but still leaves the same baggage and connection questions???

I am assuming that there will be no exception to allow an EK sector DXB-MCT to be included in the award despite the circumstances and there being no Oneworld alternative!!

Any advice would be greatfully received and truly appreciated!!
Thanks!!!

 

[Mattg]

My suggestion would be to rebook on QR F MEL-DOH if at all possible. Yes, you'll get the MEL Flounge rather than SYD, but it's not that bad

It is not possible under any circumstances to book EK flights on a Oneworld award. You could book QF SYD-DXB then QR MCT-DOH on the oneworld award, but keep in mind that the DXB-MCT surface sector will then count as one of your 5 stopovers.

I'm not sure about luggage interlining, but I would fully expect to have to collect bags in DXB and MCT - anything less would be a bonus.

I'm not sure that much more can be done, short of flying DXB-AMM-DOH on RJ & QR.

 

[Danger]

I have a similar situation, in part, to you.

I'll be flying QF MEL-DXB on an award ticket and connecting on a separate QF-issued award ticket DXB-MCT-DOH (stopping in MCT). Four separate QF agents told me Qantas in Melbourne would not through-check my bags to MCT. The helpful folk on FlyerTalk referred me to the QF industry site where it specifically mentions through-checking in this situation. I referred the fourth agent to this and after about 25 minutes on hold, he confirmed bags would be tagged from MEL through to MCT. I've had remarks added to my PNR to reflect this.

If you need the policy from the site let me know and I'll dig it up but here's an excerpt: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-ticket-connecting-hkg-84732.html#post1686450.

Beyond that, this is a oneworld award issued by Qantas. Qantas sets its rules so Qantas can break them. I would expect that you could be re-routed DXB-xAMM-DOH on RJ or RJ/QR, as Mattg suggested, without any hit against your maximum miles etc.

 

[docjames]

I'd say if you're welded to QF1 then DXB-AMM-DOH is the solution.

 

[bam71]

I was under the impression that QR was going to FIM to Oman Air and would be handled internally by them? Perhaps call QR and ask what they have done to reaccommodate PAX booked on your DXB DOH service. You may find they have already rebooked you ( or not)

 

[madrooster]

I was under the impression that QR was going to FIM to Oman Air and would be handled internally by them? Perhaps call QR and ask what they have done to reaccommodate PAX booked on your DXB DOH service. You may find they have already rebooked you ( or not)

This is incorrect. It's QF ticket stock and QF has the final say in how the pax is routed. Under a oneworld award they won't rebook onto a non oneworld carrier. That means WY and EK are out.

Only on the day of departure under IROPS would QR FIM to WY. But that won't happen given QR has no presence at DXB anymore.

The options are basically take QR F ex-MEL or as already mentioned, if welded to QF1... to route DXB-AMM-DOH but be warned the entire ticket still cannot exceed 16 coupons. SYD-DXB-AMM-DOH is 3 coupons. SYD-MEL-DOH is 2 coupons.