Why Qantas why? second class service for codeshare premium pax

[katiebell]

I'm flying J soon on QF with a codeshare flight number. I tried to preselect my meal using the Q-Eat service which I have previously found to be excellent. It was not in my MMB. I call the WP help desk and the answer I finally got was that this service is not offered for codesahre tickets because BA chose not to use it. Why Qantas? I use MMB on the QF website. I select my seat on the QF website and do everything else on the QF (& not the BA) website. So why remove this functionality? QF have made a big deal of this service yet I cannot use it when flying QF. I have not seen an asterix stating not available for codeshsre on QF aircraft. Surely offering it to everyone would be a way to show pax who have not flown QF some of the benefits of flying QF and giving them an opportunity to experience this and, just maybe, consider QF next time?

Short-sighted policy and not pax-friendly. Also as both are OW why make a difference when the OW ethos is to streamline services across teh alliance?

 

[Rebekkap]

I'm flying J soon on QF with a codeshare flight number. I tried to preselect my meal using the Q-Eat service which I have previously found to be excellent. It was not in my MMB. I call the WP help desk and the answer I finally got was that this service is not offered for codesahre tickets because BA chose not to use it. Why Qantas? I use MMB on the QF website. I select my seat on the QF website and do everything else on the QF (& not the BA) website. So why remove this functionality? QF have made a big deal of this service yet I cannot use it when flying QF. I have not seen an asterix stating not available for codeshsre on QF aircraft. Surely offering it to everyone would be a way to show pax who have not flown QF some of the benefits of flying QF and giving them an opportunity to experience this and, just maybe, consider QF next time?

Short-sighted policy and not pax-friendly. Also as both are OW why make a difference when the OW ethos is to streamline services across teh alliance?

Ok, I'm confused. You said the reason why you can't select your meal is because BA chose not to use that service, but then you ask Qantas why and blame them for it not being available? Blame BA!

 

[Mattg]

Qantas and British Airways haven't exactly been known for their fantastic relationship in the last couple of years...

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I'm flying J soon on QF with a codeshare flight number. I tried to preselect my meal using the Q-Eat service which I have previously found to be excellent. It was not in my MMB.
Short-sighted policy and not pax-friendly. Also as both are OW why make a difference when the OW ethos is to streamline services across teh alliance?

BA flight number - it may as well be a BA plane because that's how flight numbers work.
You'll also be subject to BAs baggage allowance, earn rates and compensation guidelines if something doesn't go right...

Airlines upsell everything to each other and it's likely BA has the option to provide eat-on-Q but didn't check the box.
You'll also likely find the BA ticket was cheaper....

Agree this is not always clear to end users but there's some insight to how it works and why you're having frustrations when contacting QF.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm flying J soon on QF with a codeshare flight number. I tried to preselect my meal using the Q-Eat service which I have previously found to be excellent. It was not in my MMB. I call the WP help desk and the answer I finally got was that this service is not offered for codesahre tickets because BA chose not to use it. Why Qantas? I use MMB on the QF website. I select my seat on the QF website and do everything else on the QF (& not the BA) website. So why remove this functionality? QF have made a big deal of this service yet I cannot use it when flying QF. I have not seen an asterix stating not available for codeshsre on QF aircraft. Surely offering it to everyone would be a way to show pax who have not flown QF some of the benefits of flying QF and giving them an opportunity to experience this and, just maybe, consider QF next time?

Short-sighted policy and not pax-friendly. Also as both are OW why make a difference when the OW ethos is to streamline services across teh alliance?

This is nothing to do with QF. You have purchased a ticket with BA. The fact that you can access the booking through QF MMB is due to QF and BA both using Amadeus.
If you want to complain to anyone, complain to BA.

 

[mel-world]

I am confused as well. Are you flying on a QF aircraft or on BA metal?

 

[CaviAck]

BA flight number - it may as well be a BA plane because that's how flight numbers work.
You'll also be subject to BAs baggage allowance, earn rates and compensation guidelines if something doesn't go right...

Airlines upsell everything to each other and it's likely BA has the option to provide eat-on-Q but didn't check the box.
You'll also likely find the BA ticket was cheaper....

Agree this is not always clear to end users but there's some insight to how it works and why you're having frustrations when contacting QF.

It was my understanding that the operating carrier's baggage allowance applies unless you're connecting on the same ticket where the MSC's or first operating carrier's allowance is different.

Also check if the QF PNR is different to BA's PNR. If it is try using the QF's PNR and see if you can use ean-on-Q then.

 

[katiebell]

To clarify:

I'm flying to SIN on QF metal/aircraft and then with BA. My problem is related to the QF-operated sector only. The PNR is the same: it works on the QF MMB and the full range of J options, other than Q-eat, are available.

Why am I flying this way? I detest DXB and find this a better, more convenient route. I realise that QF & BA have fallen out but, if they still want to codeshare the pax should not be suffering. IF they cannot give the pax proper treatment then just don't code share.

The explanation I got from the QF WP help line was for QF to blame BA (QF help line staff 'said BA chose not to do this'): I do not know if this is true or just the usual airline flannel of blame someone else (usually the poor travel agent, but in this case BA).

In this case Amadeus is not relevant: I use ba.com MMB for BA metal and QF MMB for QF metal. It is the QF metal/QF MMB that is the problem.

I have had many code share flights and never before have I been denied a service offered by an airline on the basis that my ticket is a code share.

My point is: QF offer Q-eat and make a big deal of it. It is a good service. This is one reason I chose QF-BA rather than CX-BA for this trip. QF are treating pax in my situation as second class. They are still making money out of my fare. QF promote Q-eat but then do not offer it to everyone on their planes. If they are going to be so restrictive then they should asterix the promotions as 'only on QF ticketed and operated flights'.

 

[downtheback]

As you booked the flight through BA, you are essentially a BA passenger who happens to be flying on QF metal, and it is up to BA to (pay???) QF for the Q-eat service which could (potentially) cost QF more to produce. IMHO, I would much rather just fly a QF codeshare with Emirates to Europe, but that's a different kettle of fish. I've never found BA to that good for the money it costs to fly to Europe in Business Class.

 

[trixydoza]

Would you rather you weren't able to deal with the booking via QF MMB at all?

 

[juddles]

I think that codeshares and the corresponding interaction between systems is a dodgy area. Maybe it is because it is just a very complex art to weave the systems together, maybe it is because of the suspected use of cheap-recently graduated?-IT people

I frequently fly QF/LAN codeshares in J across the pacific, and seat selection is IMPOSSIBLE - the QF site and the LAN site both only have partial seatmaps, and anything you select on either system does not stick through to actual checkin stage. I have on many occasions tried to sort this through via both LAN and QF premium hotlines, have been assisted by very caring and energetic staff, but it just does not work.

 

[Princess Fiona]

To clarify:

I'm flying to SIN on QF metal/aircraft and then with BA. My problem is related to the QF-operated sector only. The PNR is the same: it works on the QF MMB and the full range of J options, other than Q-eat, are available.

Why am I flying this way? I detest DXB and find this a better, more convenient route. I realise that QF & BA have fallen out but, if they still want to codeshare the pax should not be suffering. IF they cannot give the pax proper treatment then just don't code share.

The explanation I got from the QF WP help line was for QF to blame BA (QF help line staff 'said BA chose not to do this'): I do not know if this is true or just the usual airline flannel of blame someone else (usually the poor travel agent, but in this case BA).

In this case Amadeus is not relevant: I use ba.com MMB for BA metal and QF MMB for QF metal. It is the QF metal/QF MMB that is the problem.

I have had many code share flights and never before have I been denied a service offered by an airline on the basis that my ticket is a code share.

My point is: QF offer Q-eat and make a big deal of it. It is a good service. This is one reason I chose QF-BA rather than CX-BA for this trip. QF are treating pax in my situation as second class. They are still making money out of my fare. QF promote Q-eat but then do not offer it to everyone on their planes. If they are going to be so restrictive then they should asterix the promotions as 'only on QF ticketed and operated flights'.

amadeus is entirely relevant. If you want access to the full range of services offered on an airline book a ticket with them.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Code shares are a difficult area. Last year I got my knickers in a knot because I didn't get the First Host service at Sydney airport. I had booked a first ticket to Nairobi (revenue) at the Qantas site, money paid to Qantas and a Qantas codeshare. However the metal from Sydney was Emirates (partly because it minimised wait time for the Nairobi flight and partly because I wanted to try the shower). As far as I was concerned, I was Qantas F,as far as Qantas was concerned I was Emirates F - reverted to Qantas when I boarded Qantas metal on the way home. After some discussions on my return, we agreed it was a matter of managing expectations and that the web site should say the First Host was available when on a Qantas operated flight as it does for Chauffeur drive. Unfortunately a year later the website has still not been changed. ......Basically I would not be expecting to get anything when travelling on a codeshare, as it seems a sort limbo thing.

 

[trixydoza]

After some discussions on my return, we agreed it was a matter of managing expectations and that the web site should say the First Host was available when on a Qantas operated flight as it does for Chauffeur drive.

And even then, I think if you book QF F using (say) AA miles out of SYD/MEL, you don't get called by the First Host.

But I digress. This is entirely a BA issue. QF doesn't deserve any criticism here.

 

[Flying mermaid]

And even then, I think if you book QF F using (say) AA miles out of SYD/MEL, you don't get called by the First Host.

But I digress. This is entirely a BA issue. QF doesn't deserve any criticism here.

Would that be a QF flight no? Sorry! I don't really understand award bookings outside of Qantas! (Well if I am honest, I would have to say I barely understand award bookings at all . ). Certainly my talks with them said Qf flight number on QF metal got First Host, Qf number on non QF metal didn't.

 

[katiebell]

I have always had full MMB functionality when codesharing on other airlines metal/flights and not had this sort of problem before.

 

[trixydoza]

Would that be a QF flight no? Sorry! I don't really understand award bookings outside of Qantas! Certainly my talks with them said Qf flight number on QF metal got First Host, Qf number on non QF metal didn't.

Nothing to apologise for!

Yes, it's a QF flight, but apparently they treat award bookings differently if they're not made via QF or EK. So no chauffeur service, for example. (Although you may still be able to arrange it via MMB, there's no guarantee it will work out in the end.)

 

[CaviAck]

Would that be a QF flight no? Sorry! I don't really understand award bookings outside of Qantas! (Well if I am honest, I would have to say I barely understand award bookings at all . ). Certainly my talks with them said Qf flight number on QF metal got First Host, Qf number on non QF metal didn't.

Not sure if it applies to the first host but it applies to chauffeur drive, I believe the T&Cs extend to what stock the ticket is issued on as well. I remember the condition being it must be ticketed on QF (081) or EK (176) ticket stock.

 

[trixydoza]

I have always had full MMB functionality when codesharing on other airlines metal/flights and not had this sort of problem before.

If that's the case then it sounds like QF have been doing a pretty good job!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thanks for the explanations . I will add this to my knowledge (my friends and relatives view me as an expert).