QF / NF (Air Vanuatu) codeshare not operating over Aug-Sep

[Interlude]

Due to scheduled C check, the Air Vanuatu 737-800 is offline for four weeks or so over mid-Aug to mid-Sep. There is a replacement aircraft, so flights are operating, but for reasons that someone here may be able to explain, the codeshare with QF appears to have been suspended for this time. So anyone with a QF booking over this period is rebooked to NF. You still get to/from Port Vila as originally intended, and NF flights give QF FF miles, but no SCs and no doubt my e-ticket with confirmed QF flight will turn into a boarding pass with NF on it, and there goes a much anticipated visit to SYD Flounge.

I wonder if there are other complications, e.g. pax with OW RTW tickets where every flight has to be on a OW flight number?

 

[Austman]

Seems it will be a 737-300. So it's not from QF ...

I'd imagine originally booked QF FF points and SCs would apply.

 

[basso]

It may require some pre-flight organisation, but you should be able to enforce the original contractual rights (i.e. FLounge access) (Have the actually rebooked? I would have thought they'd just stop selling, rather than rebook people)

 

[mannej]

You should be able to get ORC as the change was involuntary.

 

[Interlude]

Thanks for responses. Yes, it is an involuntary change, but I talked to someone at the call centre and they said that it was also involuntary from QF point of view, ie. the changes result from the operator changing equipment and not working out the codeshare arrangements with QF, so this may be one of those things where QF will try to say they cannot be held responsible/liable. However, I will be trying to get the benefits from the original booking, as the day of reckoning for retaining WP is approaching and every SC is going to be needed....

 

[mannej]

That's not your issue. I would search for ORC claim process and go from there.

 

[acrimmo]

The aircraft will be ZK-SLA from Airwork NZ

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The aircraft will be ZK-SLA from Airwork NZ

I believe that is the very reason for nil QF codeshares during that time.

 

[markis10]

The aircraft will be ZK-SLA from Airwork NZ

An old friend, the former VH-CZA, Ansett's first 300 series !

 

[Boogs]

QF halt NF codeshare until end Jan 2014.

i was told that this is due to QF carrying out an audit on NF. Which I'm guessing is safety related. Anyone know anymore??


Here's the agent info.
Latest Qantas News


I only found out when my QF PNR disappeared from MMB! I am now booked onto the NF flight and QF have confirmed that points, SC's and lounge access (in aus) will be granted.

 

[Austman]

A hint to the issues is here: Qantas cancels code share with Air Van | Vanuatu Daily Post

 

[Interlude]

It seems that VLI has been completely removed from the QF booking engine, beyond the end of Jan 2014, so the question of how "temporary" this suspension of the code-share service might be is still open. But without the QF codeshare, one would think that NF's competitive position against Virgin would deteriorate significanly.

QF seems to have done a much better job this time of informing customers in advance. My booking for VLI-SYD in December now has the former QF PNR greyed out, and only shows the NF one, and there is clear information that there has been a "cancellation", and the option either to accept the NF PNR or to call an agent.

An earlier post gave the useful link to more detailed information and options on the agents' page, and the early assurance there about retention of original points and SCs, and lounge access (not in VLI of course), is reassuring. But general customers would not be aware of this? - except here! [and the heading for that agent bulletin needs to correct spelling of Port Villa to Port Vila].

And some more background: http://www.dailypost.vu/content/caa-and-avl-say-aviation-meets-standard

Vanuatu government service delivery in education, health etc. struggles along, but fortunately international quality mechanisms are in place with regard to aviation. However, politicisation of appointments to government departments like Civil Aviation, and to boards and management of government owned entities like Airports Vanuatu and Air Vanuatu makes for a complicated operating environment.

 

[crum]

I was a "victim" of this last week too. Red Roo came back to a query of mine to say that I was still entitled to QF points and SC's as the ticket was sold to me as QF and not NF and asked me to save my NF boarding passes so they could manually process them when I got back. I was allowed into the FLounge with the NF boarding pass on the basis that it was sold as a QF flight. Doesn't help my 9yr old son though who was hoping to go back to Vila in January on an awards booking to catch up with some school friends there.

ps. Interlude, tried to find your number while there to catch up for a shell or two but couldn't find it on the day I was free. Will try again in the new year.

 

[Interlude]

I was a "victim" of this last week too. Red Roo came back to a query of mine to say that I was still entitled to QF points and SC's as the ticket was sold to me as QF and not NF and asked me to save my NF boarding passes so they could manually process them when I got back. I was allowed into the FLounge with the NF boarding pass on the basis that it was sold as a QF flight. Doesn't help my 9yr old son though who was hoping to go back to Vila in January on an awards booking to catch up with some school friends there.

ps. Interlude, tried to find your number while there to catch up for a shell or two but couldn't find it on the day I was free. Will try again in the new year.

I think my next flight in would have been eligible for double SCs, so let's hope that still applies as well. Looks like you must have made it to WP again, so congrats on that. I scraped in with 1220 after doing some D class flights on FJ. Will pm my phone number so there are no further lost kava opportunities.

 

[pjm99au]

For those who love a quick trip to Vanuatu with points and SC's the QF code share on Air Vanuatu has finally been reinstated on the QF website and is book able again

 

[ReLoad]

My timing sucked, I had to book a few NF flights about a week ago, typical!

 

[crum]

Almost pulled the trigger on an NF flight the other day. Glad I waited and nice to hear this news!

 

[Interlude]

Almost pulled the trigger on an NF flight the other day. Glad I waited and nice to hear this news!

I've been holding out on some bookings too....while this codeshare was on hold I had to do a few trips via NAN on FJ, which often involves an overnight on the way. crum: Nice weather now for evening shells of kava: let me know if you get some free time while in Vila!