QR flight booked using velocity points cancelled

[Rebus]

I'm not in the position of having a QR flight cancelled but I have just noticed that I have been moved to a different service without notification.

This is a Velocity redemption booking MEL-DOH-MAN in December for 4 x pax. I booked in January on QR989 ex-MEL which is the 1610 departure. At that time VA7 was scheduled to depart at 1710 but I chose the earlier flight to allow a bit of extra time for transit as we are travelling with two kids.

Upon checking QR Manage Booking we have been switched to QR905 which now occupies the 1710 departure slot as VA7 has been moved to a 2340 departure. QR989, our original booking, is still scheduled to depart at 1610.

FWIW QR989 originates CBR and QR905 originates AKL.

Does anyone have a theory as to why we have been moved to a different QR service departing one hour later? And is it worth a call to QR to request that our original booking is honoured, given that the flight can still be booked?

 

[gibbo24]

It seems quite a few Velocity members who redeemed points for Qatar Airways flights that were subsequently cancelled have been unable to secure alternative flights.

We've covered the issue in this article:

Velocity Won't Rebook Cancelled Qatar Airways Reward Flights

Qatar Airways has understandably had to cancel many flights between Doha and Australia in recent months. Unfortunately, passengers who had booked using Velocity Points are not being offered alternative flights.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Hi Matt,

I see I was quoted in the article. Just flagging that I did not get rebooked by Qatar, nor did I use Avios as the paragraph introducing my quote suggests. I used Velocity points.

To update any readers, I was successful in being rebooked by Virgin, on Qatar prime flights which were within policy for travelling with my firearms. Over 20 hours worth of mostly phone calls, some live chat and emails. The QR and VA hold tracks are pretty nightmare inducing at this point.

But in the end, none of that mattered as I was stonewalled by both carriers, only managing a resolution by escalating using industry connections that I have from my previous line of work. Not my style or my preference but it turned out to be the only way. I am extremely grateful for their assistance. Had I not reached out to them I'd have been forced to cancel and rebook an alternative (for upwards of $5k last minute).

I am really unlikely to ever book a QR itinerary through VA again, it's just not worth it. A real shame as I have a 7 figure Velocity balance which I seldom use.