Why Qantas why? second class service for codeshare premium pax

[madrooster]

As mentioned you can use a TA to book the QF and BA codes on the one QF ticket, but QF pricing will apply. You'll then get the prized qEat, which IMHO, is a complete waste of time. But then again, I like to be surprised by the menu inflight and don't have any obtuse dietary requirements.

It'd actually be a BA fare and BA pricing, not QF pricing. The BA fares permit the QF prime to be booked.

 

[katiebell]

You were on a BA ticket, BA T&Cs apply, qEat may not be a part of the codeshare agreement, therefore you are ineligible.
This is pretty cut and dry to me.
As mentioned you can use a TA to book the QF and BA codes on the one QF ticket, but QF pricing will apply. You'll then get the prized qEat, which IMHO, is a complete waste of time. But then again, I like to be surprised by the menu inflight and don't have any obtuse dietary requirements.
What I do object to is the fact that shellfish can kill my partner, yet there is no way to alert the airline of this without choosing a cardboard dining option.

This is exactly why I wanted the Qeat: to order an edible meal that would not make me ill as Qeat lists all the ingredients. When I tried to explain to QF why I wanted access to Qeat the answer was: 'you can bring your own food but QF cannot store it, refrigerate it, heat it etc etc'. In other words, there is not much that I could bring that wold still be safe to eat after 10+ hours other than a packet of biscuits. And why should I pay a premium fare and not expect to get a decent meal that can eat?

I did not try to boof a QF flight number as I did not know that QF had restricted access to MMB in recent years.

 

[CaviAck]

I believe that the problems I have experienced are related to QF and not BA because the lack of functionality related to the QF website & QF MMB only. This was the case whether I tried directly via qantas.com MMB or the link from BA.com (which went to the QF website but then the QF website stated the service was not available. Either way, I can do almost nothing on QF MMB for QF operated flights whilst BA MMB has full functionality for BA-operated flights. It used to work in recent years (i.e. all Functionality available on the QF MMB) but some 'clever' person at QF seems to have decided to limit the functionality

Your problem is completely BA related. You're flying on a BA ticket, with BA rules and BA fare conditions. It seems like the PNR that you're using was created by BA and it doesn't matter what airline you're flying with you probably won't get 100% functionality. In majority of cases you will have enough control to add excess baggage, allocate seats and modify any APIS information that is required. However if you want any advanced control of your ticket you'll need the operator created PNR which can be up to two additional PNRs. Also what you would need to keep in mind is when flying on a codeshare you are not always entitled to benefits offered by the operating carrier as you are considered to be flying on the codeshare partner and depending on the codeshare agreement determines the benefits you get. If this is the case, which is what QF has told you it is, then it seems like it's a BA related problem rather than a QF MMB problem as QF can't limit something that's not there in the first place.

This is exactly why I wanted the Qeat: to order an edible meal that would not make me ill as Qeat lists all the ingredients. When I tried to explain to QF why I wanted access to Qeat the answer was: 'you can bring your own food but QF cannot store it, refrigerate it, heat it etc etc'. In other words, there is not much that I could bring that wold still be safe to eat after 10+ hours other than a packet of biscuits. And why should I pay a premium fare and not expect to get a decent meal that can eat?

I did not try to boof a QF flight number as I did not know that QF had restricted access to MMB in recent years.

That's the issue you have when you have restricted dietary requirements. You either need to be flexible with what you eat or choose an airline that will give you something that you will eat. The airline has given you something edible, but if it's not delicious enough for your liking then choose a different airline that will give you something. I understand that you chose QF because you expected to be able to use Qeat, but you're not flying with QF, you're flying with BA. As mentioned above and by others you're on a BA ticket. If you want QF Qeat fly QF on a QF number to be considered QF pax.

Now there is possibly a way around this. You complain that QF hasn't given you access to Qeat, but you haven't clarified whether you're using the BA issued PNR or the operating PNR issued by QF. These are two different PNRs and there is a chance that once you use the QF generated PNR you might be able to access Qeat. The BA generated PNR will naturally always be restricted (even if it's created on the same GDS), whether you see that restriction or not depends on what you normally modify your booking with. Qeat is a little complex and convoluted and hence you might run into the perceived MMB restriction. If even after using the QF generated PNR and that doesn't work then your beef is with BA for not negotiating under the codeshare terms access to Qeat.

As for alliances, yes they're there to streamline transfers and connection but they are not there to make it feel like you're flying on one airline. Inter-airline differences will show and what alliances do is make that appear as minimal as possible. Alliances ensure that your baggage will follow you through because of mandatory interline agreements. Alliances will reward you to standardised extra baggage allowances and status benefits when flying on an alliance airline while using your home airline's status. But most of all, alliances are there to improve business for the airline by funneling pax between each other.

 

[katiebell]

Your problem is completely BA related. You're flying on a BA ticket, with BA rules and BA fare conditions. It seems like the PNR that you're using was created by BA and it doesn't matter what airline you're flying with you probably won't get 100% functionality. In majority of cases you will have enough control to add excess baggage, allocate seats and modify any APIS information that is required. However if you want any advanced control of your ticket you'll need the operator created PNR which can be up to two additional PNRs. Also what you would need to keep in mind is when flying on a codeshare you are not always entitled to benefits offered by the operating carrier as you are considered to be flying on the codeshare partner and depending on the codeshare agreement determines the benefits you get. If this is the case, which is what QF has told you it is, then it seems like it's a BA related problem rather than a QF MMB problem as QF can't limit something that's not there in the first place.



That's the issue you have when you have restricted dietary requirements. You either need to be flexible with what you eat or choose an airline that will give you something that you will eat. The airline has given you something edible, but if it's not delicious enough for your liking then choose a different airline that will give you something. I understand that you chose QF because you expected to be able to use Qeat, but you're not flying with QF, you're flying with BA. As mentioned above and by others you're on a BA ticket. If you want QF Qeat fly QF on a QF number to be considered QF pax.

Now there is possibly a way around this. You complain that QF hasn't given you access to Qeat, but you haven't clarified whether you're using the BA issued PNR or the operating PNR issued by QF. These are two different PNRs and there is a chance that once you use the QF generated PNR you might be able to access Qeat. The BA generated PNR will naturally always be restricted (even if it's created on the same GDS), whether you see that restriction or not depends on what you normally modify your booking with. Qeat is a little complex and convoluted and hence you might run into the perceived MMB restriction. If even after using the QF generated PNR and that doesn't work then your beef is with BA for not negotiating under the codeshare terms access to Qeat.

As for alliances, yes they're there to streamline transfers and connection but they are not there to make it feel like you're flying on one airline. Inter-airline differences will show and what alliances do is make that appear as minimal as possible. Alliances ensure that your baggage will follow you through because of mandatory interline agreements. Alliances will reward you to standardised extra baggage allowances and status benefits when flying on an alliance airline while using your home airline's status. But most of all, alliances are there to improve business for the airline by funneling pax between each other.

If you had read the posts completely you would know that I tried both PNRs: neither worked, and food is not a matter of fads but of allergy. I have had full functionality in the past on codeshares and continue to on other OW airlines: QF stopped it. I had a choice: codeshare on QF or CX & chose QF. Next time it will be CX not QF. QF lose business.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

It'd actually be a BA fare and BA pricing, not QF pricing. The BA fares permit the QF prime to be booked.

Just as QF fares allow the BA code to be booked, just not online. If it is a BA fare it will likely be a BA ticket and will leave the OP with the same situation of not being able to use qEat, whether on a QF code or not, if it is not part of the interline agreement.

To resolve the issue, the OP must book through QF on a QF code and ticket, oh and QF operated of course. Or a travel agent can do the same as above, but BA cannot.

 

[madrooster]

Just as QF fares allow the BA code to be booked, just not online. If it is a BA fare it will likely be a BA ticket and will leave the OP with the same situation of not being able to use qEat, whether on a QF code or not, if it is not part of the interline agreement.

To resolve the issue, the OP must book through QF on a QF code and ticket, oh and QF operated of course. Or a travel agent can do the same as above, but BA cannot.

QF fares generally don't allow the BA code to be booked on the long haul sectors. This is because of the agreement with EK. I've looked a number of times as an agent and BA codes are definitely not permitted. I'm happy for you to correct me if you can find a QF fare basis (other than the generic fully flex Y/W/J/F bases) that permits a BA code to be booked on the long haul sectors. There are no QF codeshares on BA long haul to/from Europe so that rules those out. QF do codeshare on AY to HEL though. In contrast, BA fares permit just about any oneworld prime to be used in their fares, therefore allowing a QF prime for the Asia-AU sector. Their only restriction most of the time is that the long haul ie. Asia-Europe is on the BA prime.

The ticket stock used for the ticket is irrelevant. It's not a requirement that you must be on 081 ticket stock. If you are booked on the QF prime (prime means QF code + QF metal in one word) you shouldn't have an issue. If you grab a seat in J into a PNR on the QF prime that is under 7 days from departure, Q-eat appears correctly but won't let you actually pick the meal until a ticket is issued for the sector.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

QF fares generally don't allow the BA code to be booked on the long haul sectors. This is because of the agreement with EK. I've looked a number of times as an agent and BA codes are definitely not permitted. I'm happy for you to correct me if you can find a QF fare basis (other than the generic fully flex Y/W/J/F bases) that permits a BA code to be booked on the long haul sectors. There are no QF codeshares on BA long haul to/from Europe so that rules those out. QF do codeshare on AY to HEL though. In contrast, BA fares permit just about any oneworld prime to be used in their fares, therefore allowing a QF prime for the Asia-AU sector. Their only restriction most of the time is that the long haul ie. Asia-Europe is on the BA prime.

The ticket stock used for the ticket is irrelevant. It's not a requirement that you must be on 081 ticket stock. If you are booked on the QF prime (prime means QF code + QF metal in one word) you shouldn't have an issue. If you grab a seat in J into a PNR on the QF prime that is under 7 days from departure, Q-eat appears correctly but won't let you actually pick the meal until a ticket is issued for the sector.

I must admit I haven't used a GDS in years, so I'll take your word for it.

In order to book the QF prime, I presume you would have to call BA as I don't think these are available online, or use a TA.

The key point is you need QF marketed and operated to get the Q-eat option. A codeshare is different and may exclude a number of elements that are non essential to carriage.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

QF fares generally don't allow the BA code to be booked on the long haul sectors. This is because of the agreement with EK.

I've looked a number of times as an agent and BA codes are definitely not permitted. I'm happy for you to correct me if you can find a QF fare basis (other than the generic fully flex Y/W/J/F bases) that permits a BA code to be booked on the long haul sectors.

There are no QF codeshares on BA long haul to/from Europe so that rules those out. QF do codeshare on AY to HEL though. In contrast, BA fares permit just about any oneworld prime to be used in their fares, therefore allowing a QF prime for the Asia-AU sector. Their only restriction most of the time is that the long haul ie. Asia-Europe is on the BA prime.

The ticket stock used for the ticket is irrelevant. It's not a requirement that you must be on 081 ticket stock. If you are booked on the QF prime (prime means QF code + QF metal in one word) you shouldn't have an issue. If you grab a seat in J into a PNR on the QF prime that is under 7 days from departure, Q-eat appears correctly but won't let you actually pick the meal until a ticket is issued for the sector.

So whilst technically possible to book eg QF81 connecting to BA12 via a TA's GDS, it appears neither airline will offer the above option on their own websites as BA only offer the cheap J fares on 100% BA marketed flights irrespective of whose metal it is eg BA74xx (ops by QF5 or QF81 is still considered BA).

Similarly QF will only offer QF marketed flights which may be operated by themselves or EK or AY.

What's the cost of J booked on BA marketed flights via SIN vs QF marketed flights via DXB? In a nutshell not worth paying thousands more for the fare just for the ability to use Qeat.

Life is all about choices so the OP's dislike of travelling via DXB on QF marketed and operated flights and avoidance of same comes at the expense of being able to have the Qeat option.

You can't have your cake and eat it too it would seem.

 

[Ansett]

Am I missing something?

I thought all airlines offer meals based on diet and allergy's? If this is the case then surely all the OP would need to do is to select recommended diet option and perhaps even ensure they advise the airline of any allergy concern in writing and follow up by phone to ensure there is no risk.

If I had a serious dietary issue I certainly would not be relying on a list of ingredients that may or may not be comprehensive enough to ascertain if the meal offering is or is not acceptable.

One wonders how the OP survived prior to Q eat which is relatively recent?

 

[katiebell]

Am I missing something?

I thought all airlines offer meals based on diet and allergy's? If this is the case then surely all the OP would need to do is to select recommended diet option and perhaps even ensure they advise the airline of any allergy concern in writing and follow up by phone to ensure there is no risk.

If I had a serious dietary issue I certainly would not be relying on a list of ingredients that may or may not be comprehensive enough to ascertain if the meal offering is or is not acceptable.

One wonders how the OP survived prior to Q eat which is relatively recent?

Airlines do not cater for allergy: it is BYO food. Qeat is great because it lists ingredients including spices etc in trace amounts. J meals on most airlines have something suitable and enjoyable to eat. Special meals are not edible, often not the actual special meal requested and often contain the allergen i need to avoid.

I the past I ate bits of meals and filled up on the snacks etc. Much better to be able to a proper meal and not junk food.

 

[madrooster]

So whilst technically possible to book eg QF81 connecting to BA12 via a TA's GDS, it appears neither airline will offer the above option on their own websites as BA only offer the cheap J fares on 100% BA marketed flights irrespective of whose metal it is eg BA74xx (ops by QF5 or QF81 is still considered BA).

On their own site, yes it'll only offer BA marketed. Though via a TA (or calling BA directly and sucking up any booking assistance fees), it is perfectly possible on BA sale fares.

 

[katiebell]

Having now completed my trip, the problems were all with QF and persisted even on the final leg. I could not get a BP for the QF sector to Aus. I lost my pre-selected seat. I had to queue at the transfer desk in SIN and almost missing out on a much-needed shower. Regardless of who does what in a code share this makes an utter mockery of then seamless travel promoted as a benefit of flying OW alliance airlines. I have had better experiences with transfers between alliances.

The poor BA check in agent did his best to get my QF BP but nothing worked and QF were not interested in helping. From other posts this is also now an issue with AY code share on QF. So it would seem to be the way QF are treating code shares: disgracefully.

No one at BA told me that BA decided pax on QF were to have restricted services and were surprised at the BP problems for the QF sector. On the other hand QF told me that they do not offer full functionality to code share pax (and did not say that BA would not let them offer full functionality). It seems to be a problem with QF.

This was not a problem on previous codeshares on QF metal: it was seamless, it was fully functional: it just worked and really encouraged me to fly QF on the far east-Aus sector. Not any more: it will be CX to HKG and then BA or AY.

QF clearly have no interest in OW and it makes me wonder if QF are about to leave OW.

 

[opusman]

QF clearly have no interest in OW and it makes me wonder if QF are about to leave OW.

It's not really a OW issue is it? Codeshares are negotiated between airlines independent of any alliance. I think it's more likely that QF have no interest in BA any more

 

[OATEK]

"The poor BA check in agent did his best to get my QF BP but nothing worked and QF were not interested in helping. From other posts this is also now an issue with AY code share on QF. So it would seem to be the way QF are treating code shares: disgracefully."

We were issued with BPs for the QF BKK-SYD flight by AY in HEL in April. But when we got to the gate in BKK (after endless hours in the QF lounge) the system went beep and they took our passes away. They then entered data from the BPs into their checkin system, and eventually brought the original passes back. Gate staff did not want to discuss why this was necessary, and as flight was delayed and staff and passengers fractious, we didn't push for an explanation. So certainly not seamless, although our preselected seats stuck.

 

[TonyHancock]

Purely as a reference point I checked in online and had the F check in at LHR T5 print my BP's for OSL-LHR-SIN-MEL without issue. (The SIN-MEL was QF36 as a BA codeshare.)

As an aside the FA's on QF36 appeared to take meal orders from OW "elites" prior to others. I was traveling as a BA OWE.

It was all rather seamless.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Having now completed my trip, the problems were all with QF and persisted even on the final leg.

I could not get a BP for the QF sector to Aus. I lost my pre-selected seat. I had to queue at the transfer desk in SIN and almost missing out on a much-needed shower.

Is it not possible to get off the BA flight and head directly to the lounge and get your boarding pass there thus eliminating the need to queue at the transfer desk?