Redemption anomaly: QFF on EK

[Isochronous]

Looking at redeeming QFF for return J/F flights HKG-BUD return. Two odd things when I search on the QF website.

1) When I search for my outbound and inbound dates as single one-ways, I get perfect availability on EK. However, when I search for a return booking to do it at once, I don't get the EK option on the BUD-HKG return leg and only get shown BA/AY options.

2) So, why not just book two one-way redemptions? Well the tax difference is enormous. HKG-DXB-BUD prices at 84,000 QFF and HK$244 in taxes. But BUD-DXB-HKG insists on charging me GBP for the taxes and wants to charge me GBP £281.60 - 11.17 times more expensive than the taxes on the outbound leg!

Will I get a more sensible pricing of the taxes if I book via the call centre?
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[esseeeayeenn]

Have you tried searching as multi-city?

 

[Isochronous]

Have you tried searching as multi-city?

As a multicity it shows taxes totaling HK$572, but increases the points required to 210,000 J return when it should only be 168,000.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

As a multicity it shows taxes totaling HK$572, but increases the points required to 210,000 J return when it should only be 168,000.

But it did at least display the EK options. So hopefully you might get some joy from the call centre.
I have noticed lately that the online booking engine does seem to be much more restrictive in terms of combining options. Choosing one option makes many others unavailable. More than I remember as usual.
In a similar situation to yours, if I select to fly to CDG by flying QF to LHR and then BA to CDG, the options for selecting the same route home disappear. Leaving only the Emirates options direct CDG-DXB.
This seems to be happening with both award and cash fares.

 

[madrooster]

But it did at least display the EK options. So hopefully you might get some joy from the call centre.
I have noticed lately that the online booking engine does seem to be much more restrictive in terms of combining options. Choosing one option makes many others unavailable. More than I remember as usual.
In a similar situation to yours, if I select to fly to CDG by flying QF to LHR and then BA to CDG, the options for selecting the same route home disappear. Leaving only the Emirates options direct CDG-DXB.
This seems to be happening with both award and cash fares.

The fare rules don't care about whether you go via LHR both ways or not, so I can say that this is definitely a website malfunction.

 

[Isochronous]

But it did at least display the EK options. So hopefully you might get some joy from the call centre.
I have noticed lately that the online booking engine does seem to be much more restrictive in terms of combining options. Choosing one option makes many others unavailable. More than I remember as usual.
In a similar situation to yours, if I select to fly to CDG by flying QF to LHR and then BA to CDG, the options for selecting the same route home disappear. Leaving only the Emirates options direct CDG-DXB.
This seems to be happening with both award and cash fares.

Alright, will give call centre a go. Will let you know how I go.