QF067 PER-HKG 14 November cancelled, want to send us via Sydney!

[antman]

Hi,

Last week we booked the family on a trip to HKG taking advantage of Qantas' Olympic sale. The outward leg was QF67 leaving PER at 1010 and arriving in HKG at 1755 on 14 November. Yesterday we receive an email saying that QF67 has been cancelled and that they want to change our journey to QF574 leaving PER at 0535 and arriving in SYD at 1300 then QF87 leaving SYD at 1540 and arriving in HKG at 2200.

Now, aside from losing an entire day to travel and losing the first evening in Honkers, who in their right mind would want to subject 2 young kids to 2 flights and 16 hours' transit time rather than around 9 hours? That's why we booked a direct flight! Also. my mother-in-law has booked (and, I believe paid for) a flight from SYD to PER a few days beforehand so that she can travel to HKG with us (she returns directly from HKG to SYD so is on a different booking but has received the same email).

There are no better flight combinations available on the day of our intended travel nor the day before or after. The QF67 flights on Monday 12th and Friday 16th are still available but moving by 2 days has serious repercussions for accommodation expenses.

I'm just wondering what our options are. It seems that QF67 has been genuinely cancelled as I can't get it to come up by trying to book a single fare in either Economy or Business Class on the same day but there's the chance that it's just overbooked and we've been bumped because we paid the cheapest fares. If they can't offfer a workable alternative do we just ask for a refund and hope that we can get tickets on another airline for a comparable price between now and November?

 

[simongr]

I would be cancelling, getting a refund and looking for another option.

This might be confirmation that QFi are really exiting the PER market as reported elsewhere.

 

[MarcB]

Just checked EF and the 14th service is not there...EF shows that the service is still operating the following Wednesday. So don't think its a conspiracy.

There might be something going on with some aircraft in November. I had a QF8 from BNE-SYD on 8 November cancelled yesterday on a booking.

 

[Danger]

I would ask Qantas to either put you on the CX flight, upgrade you to premium economy on the SYD-HKG leg with lounge access or route you via Singapore.

 

[antman]

Thanks for your replies. Would they contemplate switching us to the CX136 flight leaving earlier on the same day? I know they're One World partners and the return flight on 22 November looks like it might be a code share (QF68/CX137) but do they work that closely? I note that CX has special fares on sale this month at about the same prices as the QF ones I purchased through their Gold Medal sale.

 

[Danger]

Thanks for your replies. Would they contemplate switching us to the CX136 flight leaving earlier on the same day? I know they're One World partners and the return flight on 22 November looks like it might be a code share (QF68/CX137) but do they work that closely? I note that CX has special fares on sale this month at about the same prices as the QF ones I purchased through their Gold Medal sale.

I don't think they codeshare on that route.

Regardless, I would put the idea to Qantas. I think your leverage is reduced because you only booked the flight a week ago but if you're already got plans in place for your scheduled QF arrival (like non-refundable hotel or tour or something), then you could add that to the mix. The downside to flying with CX is you'll likely earn no points or status credits.

 

[harvyk]

Can't hurt to ask, worst they can do is say no.

 

[mannej]

Thanks for your replies. Would they contemplate switching us to the CX136 flight leaving earlier on the same day? I know they're One World partners and the return flight on 22 November looks like it might be a code share (QF68/CX137) but do they work that closely? I note that CX has special fares on sale this month at about the same prices as the QF ones I purchased through their Gold Medal sale.

It is not a codeshare, as CX do run 2 sets of flights to PER.

Do some research, and find the CX options. Also previously I have found the PER-SIN-HKG on QF and CX, but the QF site doesn't offer it at the moment.

I know it may be a pain, but it does help to have done some research before you go and get back in touch with them.

As for QF pulling out of PER, these flights do get canned randomly, even before the talk of withdrawal. Schedule and load issues are the two main factors at play I would guess.

 

[wandering_fred]

A couple of years ago, when QF changed my PER-HKG flight to leave about 12 hours early, they did accommodate me on the CX flight - albeit in the same fare class. This latter situation did have FF earning issues, although AA did grant original routing credit in the end.

You can but ask, as you prepare to wander.

Fred

 

[Awesom Andy]

Not sure how much it is to book on CX at the moment, but I would call up QF, and offer 2 options. 1: put you onto the direct CX flight, or 2: full refund in method of payments (i.e. not vouchers), and do so without any fees/charges.

 

[dajop]

I'd try for CX option if they let you, or then QF to SIN then see if they can get you on CX from there to HKG. They could not have given you a worse option, even PER-MEL-HKG - on QF all the way is 80 minutes shorter (although still bad leaving at 6:10, arriving at 21:00) and would eliminate the bus journey during the transfer, but I wouldn't expect anything different from Sydney Airlines.

 

[Simo]

I would give them a call and see if they can put you on a CX Flight.

Can you leave a few days earlier and make the holiday a bit longer.

 

[11sjw]

Late last year we went through Singapore and yes you get in a little later but it wasn't too bad (with a 5 yr old).

 

[antman]

Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

I spoke with a Qantas rep on Friday and she offered my QF to SIN, leaving 1220 and then CX to HKG but arriving at 2210. Too late for my liking into HKG - removes the option of getting something decent to eat in the city and I don't like to pay for a hotel room from 2pm and not check in until 9 hours later. I asked about the direct flight (CX136) but she said no. However, she had to keep checking the "rules". She did confirm that we could get a refund if they couldn't give us a suitable alternative. I said that I'd talk it over with my wife and Mother-in-law.

We really do need to travel on the dates selected because of work, school, staying at our first hotel over a weekend to use a free weekend night voucher and staying at Disneyland when their Xmas season starts, not before. Also, my m-i-l needs to be in Sydney for a medical appointment on a particular date.

One piece of good news is that CX have introduced their new cabin on CX136/CX137, so no fixed shell economy seats if we go down the CX route. I understand that they are using the upgraded cabin on all flights between SYD and HKG.

What I'm going to do is push harder for them to book us onto CX136 and keep the rest of the bookings as-is (QF68 for the family and QF128 for the m-i-l), just for simplicity. If they won't do that, then I'll get the refund and book on CX136/137 (and CX136/CX161 for the m-i-l). The reason for looking at CX exclusively is that they have by far the cheapest fares of any full service airline between HKG and PER at the moment.

Anybody have any feedback on the cancellation history of CX in/out of PER?

 

[eastwest101]

Stick to your guns on this as it looks like you have already made commitments for acomodation and other peoples travel plans. Try again with QF and keep pushing with your already established and sunk costs, but I wouldn't be surprised if you end up getting a full refund from QF and go ahead and book the CX flights if they are similar in pricing. As others have said - get the full refund and not vouchers.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I realise the QF Sale period is over however is the cost of flying on CX still cheaper than the QF ticket & will they allow the M-I-L do do the open jaw itin PER/HKG/SYD?

 

[cosi]

Anybody have any feedback on the cancellation history of CX in/out of PER?

I always use CX to travel regularly to HK because QF are always cancelling flights.

For example, I wanted to travel to HK on 22nd August and knew that their was a QF on a Wednesday.

Guess what - QF flight is not operating on that day.

November is busy month with lots of traffic so you can have 100% confidence in CX

Option via SIN is your best bet - just email your hotel with your updated arrival time.

 

[JohnK]

Keep pushing for the desired outcome but personally I would take the option offered even if it does get into HKG a little late.

Take note that one thing I have noticed with CX is open jaws become very expensive online as they are charged at higher fare classes.

Another thing to consider is depending on your status airfares on CX in cheapest booking classes do not earn QFF points or 0.5 QFF points/mile and also do not accrue status bonus.

 

[mannej]

If QF used the CX option, would that not be a case for ORC?

 

[antman]

Take note that one thing I have noticed with CX is open jaws become very expensive online as they are charged at higher fare classes.

Surprisingly, the open jaw is slightly cheaper using the CX website.