QR returning to CBR

[Flyfrequently]

Hi all - urgent question. So I originally had a DOH-CBR booked for end of this month but it was changed to DOH-MEL a few weeks ago automatically by Qatar. Qantas didn’t re-issue the e-ticket and now Qatar cancelled our flights a few hours ago. Anyone been in a similar situation? We’ve called Qantas to try get our booking fixed again but not too hopeful. The updated flight destination was already updated on our Qantas app and booking so thought it was all fine…

I have only read this thread, how stressful. I am curious to know the outcome.
Hope you were successful in having classic reward flight reinstated.

 

[gidxg03]

I’m currently booked on a classic award flight to return from Dublin in January flying this route via Doha. What is the likely outcome for a booking on this flight with Qatar? Will they rebook me on the flight to Melbourne or just cancel the booking?

Very stressful as I cannot find any alternatives to return from Dublin on or around the 12th of Jan.

 

[jumpjam]

I’m currently booked on a classic award flight to return from Dublin in January flying this route via Doha. What is the likely outcome for a booking on this flight with Qatar? Will they rebook me on the flight to Melbourne or just cancel the booking?

Very stressful as I cannot find any alternatives to return from Dublin on or around the 12th of Jan.

I'm booked on a QF reward flight to OSL via DOH in July using this route. I presume Qantas will need to get us to MEL as part of reward flight. Most concern is if booking gets cancelled as very difficult ot get flights next July.

 

[RooFlyer]

QR are pushing to double their offerings to Australia and has made some very good points regarding how poorly QF are operating

And Qantas should stop just protecting its patch by always objecting to it. I agree with what the QR CEO is saying about Qantas. Qantas was definitely not the ‘National carrier’ during Covid. How many more stranded pax world have been screwed without the QR flights?

 

[eastwest101]

This move by Qatar puts all the pressure points on, in all the right places, by cancelling the nice QR international flights from Canberra, Qatar has essentially just moved all the previous business from wealthy public servants and politicians based/living in Canberra who liked international flying, back to the dreadful QF option via SYD or MEL (Qantas 'The Spirit of Sydney') if they want to fly anywhere in the world. If the decision makers want to impede QR's expansion into Australia, then the decision makers can wear that decision and fly on Qantas instead, I can't think of a worse punishment at the moment than being directed back to fly with Qantas rather than the Qatar option out of Canberra.

As well as the aircraft logistics/utilization reasons, I am betting that Qatar are also making a point about Adelaide and other under-served Australian cities to Qantas and the inhabitants of the Qantas Chairman's Lounges.

 

[eastwest101]

And Qantas should stop just protecting its patch by always objecting to it. I agree with what the QR CEO is saying about Qantas. Qantas was definitely not the ‘National carrier’ during Covid. How many more stranded pax world have been screwed without the QR flights?

The Qantas CEO recent comments about trying to limit Qatar's access to the Australian market has elicited a predictable bollocking from the public in the comments section of the media recently.

Remember that the current Prime Minister was also transport minister during the shutdown of Qantas in 2011 and is more of a traditional union guy. So I don't think that Joyce has too many friends on the ALP side of federal politics at the moment regarding Australian Jobs, Jobkeeper payments, refunds, outsourcing, being match fit etc etc. I expect that the Board, Olivia Wirth and Qantas PR will be looking at quietly telling Joyce to put a sock in it soon, and stop making statements to the media.

 

[jumpjam]

Qatar has essentially just moved all the previous business from wealthy public servants and politicians based/living in Canberra who liked international flying, back to the dreadful QF option via SYD or MEL (Qantas 'The Spirit of Sydney')

We're not all wealth public servants and politicians in CBR

 

[Mattg]

This move by Qatar puts all the pressure points on, in all the right places, by cancelling the nice QR international flights from Canberra, Qatar has essentially just moved all the previous business from wealthy public servants and politicians based/living in Canberra who liked international flying, back to the dreadful QF option via SYD or MEL (Qantas 'The Spirit of Sydney') if they want to fly anywhere in the world. If the decision makers want to impede QR's expansion into Australia, then the decision makers can wear that decision and fly on Qantas instead, I can't think of a worse punishment at the moment than being directed back to fly with Qantas rather than the Qatar option out of Canberra.

As well as the aircraft logistics/utilization reasons, I am betting that Qatar are also making a point about Adelaide and other under-served Australian cities to Qantas and the inhabitants of the Qantas Chairman's Lounges.

I agree with you in principle, but if QR gets its way in the negotiation of the new Air Services Agreement (i.e. more weekly frequencies to the major airports), it definitely won't be flying to Canberra. Instead, it would start double-daily flights to SYD & MEL without being forced to continue the flight to CBR/ADL, which it doesn't really want to do anyway.

 

[jakeseven7]

Love the barbs by Akbar Al Baker

“The largest operator in Australia (Qantas) has cut its flight to 50 per cent of pre-Covid level, more than doubled the price of the fares to the Australian people in the benefit of the shareholders,"

“In addition, getting billions of dollars of state aid during the pandemic period in 20 and 21.

“And at the same time, even their large international partner has also cut flights to only 50 per cent to pre-Covid levels.

“While we are offering an alternative to the Australian people who we always like to serve."

Rich rubbish coming from him as usual, the Australian women his airline mistreated Im sure feel ‘served’ that’s for sure!

 

[twiningb]

I agree with you in principle, but if QR gets its way in the negotiation of the new Air Services Agreement (i.e. more weekly frequencies to the major airports), it definitely won't be flying to Canberra. Instead, it would start double-daily flights to SYD & MEL without being forced to continue the flight to CBR/ADL, which it doesn't really want to do anyway.

Yes, but I'm not really so bothered about them adding more SYD/MEL capacity.

What's more interesting to me is that they seem to have just discovered the ADL freight loophole. If that were always an option, I don't know why they weren't doing that for the second SYD rotation back before COVID instead of the CBR tag flight.

 

[jase05]

Rich rubbish coming from him as usual, the Australian women his airline mistreated Im sure feel ‘served’ that’s for sure!

He still makes some very valid points. Qantas has treated the Australian public with disdain for far too long now.
Australian skies should be opened up for all. As long as safety records are met then the more options we have the better off we are

 

[MMM]

I am extremely nervous now as we have a flight CBR-MEL-DOH mid next year on this route, booked using Qantas rewards. So my heart is sinking expecting it be cancelled.

 

[gidxg03]

I am extremely nervous now as we have a flight CBR-MEL-DOH mid next year on this route, booked using Qantas rewards. So my heart is sinking expecting it be cancelled.

I received notification tonight I’ve been moved to the Melbourne flight. Had an issue I couldn’t accept the changes but a call to Qantas sorted it out.

 

[LondonAussie]

I just received a CheckMyTrip notification about schedule changes on QR988, but I can't actually see any changes on my booking. Nothing from QR directly yet.

 

[Tpownage]

This is an FYI for my experience.

I had a Doha > Melbourne > Canberra > Melbourne > Adelaide Flight booked for Feb 5th 2023.

Upon checking my booking reference on Qatar and Qantas websites it indicated QR988 Doha > Canberra CANCELLED New Time 15 mins later Doha Departure Doha > Melbourne QR988.

I called to fix this and they had to "accept" the new flight,luckily for me this actually simplifies my routing Doha > Mel > Adelaide.

But if you have a ticket booked on Doha > Canberra Call Qantas if a Reward Flight or Qatar if its a cash flight ASAP.

You shouldn't lose your Doha > Mel as this is "auto changed" but still needs to be accepted and if your end destination is Canberra you need to add a new flight.

 

[MMM]

I received notification tonight I’ve been moved to the Melbourne flight. Had an issue I couldn’t accept the changes but a call to Qantas sorted it out.

So were you originally departing from CBR, and now the flight starts in MEL?

On both the Qantas and Qatar sites, my booking is still "Confirmed" so nothing yet from them.

Also, when is your flight? Mine is mid June. Just wondering when I should be expecting the cancellation.

 

[gidxg03]

So were you originally departing from CBR, and now the flight starts in MEL?

On both the Qantas and Qatar sites, my booking is still "Confirmed" so nothing yet from them.

Also, when is your flight? Mine is mid June. Just wondering when I should be expecting the cancellation.

No my flight was DOH-CBR and is now DOH-MEL which suits me much better as I’m from Melbourne. My flight is Jan 12th so they might not have got to your flight yet.

When I received the change notification I went into the app to confirm as requested but there was no option to confirm it just said call Qantas. I rang last night and they accepted the change for me. It’s showing in my bookings now but I still do not have a new ticket so looks like I’ll be calling again.

 

[MMM]

No my flight was DOH-CBR and is now DOH-MEL which suits me much better as I’m from Melbourne. My flight is Jan 12th so they might not have got to your flight yet.

When I received the change notification I went into the app to confirm as requested but there was no option to confirm it just said call Qantas. I rang last night and they accepted the change for me. It’s showing in my bookings now but I still do not have a new ticket so looks like I’ll be calling again.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. My flights are in Business Class, so I am truly hoping any change isn't too disruptive to my plan. I don't terribly mind sorting out getting to Melbourne, its just more money for another flight.

Best of luck dealing with Qantas, keep us updated with how it pans out.

 

[Pete98765432]

Canberra ABC news is reporting that QR have advised the airport that flights will resume in April.

 

[AIRwin]

Canberra ABC news is reporting that QR have advised the airport that flights will resume in April.

April 1?