Strategy Connecting QF to QR on Separate Tickets

[_TheTraveller_]

Flying on a Thursday from BNE-DOH on QR899 as an award ticket. Being SYD based, I'll need to fly up to connect. I'll be travelling with HBO so no need to through-check bags.

Given that I don't have any bags. Is there any point in buying a revenue ticket? In instances where I misconnect at BNE due to late arrival, I don't think QF will do anything for me.

Few options:

• Award ticket on QF508 arriving into BNE at 8:35am and spend the day working in the lounge
  • Makes it impossible to miss QR899
• Award ticket on QF542 arriving into BNE at 6:05pm arriving 4~ hours prior to QR899
  • If QF542 is cancelled then I might still have enough time to take a subsequent flight and make the connection.
• Revenue ticket on QF546 arriving into BNE at 7:05pm arriving 3~ hours prior to QR899
  • Able to get BPs all the way through
  • Hope QF will protect me (haha)
  • Could potentially book an earlier revenue fare and still get BPs all the way through.

I thought this would be an interesting conversation given some experiences I've read on here with some people opting to arrive the night before their international connection or the morning of if it's a evening international flight. What would you guys recommend?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I would buy a rev flexY tix.
Will be more expensive than a discY tix, yes, but QF check in staff might be a bit more lenient on flexY tix than a discY tix, if the first flight out of SYD is cancelled.
SYD - BNE is a route with lots of traffic during the day, normally, but BNE is well known for closing the airport during thunder storms, been through that when flight was delayed departing due to thunder.
I would leave at least 4 hrs between dom and int flights, especially on separate PNRs.

 

[Spacetravel]

For oneworld (or qantas) through check rules still allow different bookings if one is rev one is award. I know you aren’t checking any baggage but you should be able to check in for QR and receive boarding pass in Sydney. That way if flight delay etc it should be protected.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/baggage/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html

See:
“Note the ^ for QF to/from oneworld on separate PNRs: "Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel."”

 

[levelnine]

#2 with HLO, especially if you're P1. I'd be relying on my status to get me shifted to an earlier/alternative flight if it looked like there were going to be delays/cancellations with your originally booked flight.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

For oneworld (or qantas) through check rules still allow different bookings if one is rev one is award. I know you aren’t checking any baggage but you should be able to check in for QR and receive boarding pass in Sydney. That way if flight delay etc it should be protected.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/baggage/interline-and-through-checked-baggage.html

See:
“Note the ^ for QF to/from oneworld on separate PNRs: "Exemptions apply for customers travelling on a oneworld separate PNRs when using a combination of award travel and revenue travel."”

I'm aware of these rules but unfortunately given QF's history especially given the case of someone who misconnected at BNE and was left to fend for themselves. Best to take things into my own hand where possible

 

[_TheTraveller_]

An update....

Talk about consistently inconsistent. First they said they couldn't then I said their website said it's possible. Then she tries my QR PNR which was searchable on the QF site and she couldn't find anything and at the point I just gave up.

They also added in the fact that they couldn't touch another PNR issued by another carrier.


Amazing training and service as usual...

 

[shuuy]

I'm in a similar situation, MEL-DOH, departing SYD. I chose a flight leaving 6h in advance, and not checking bags, assuming things will work