Adding PAX to bookings - not allowed?

[Timtammi]

I've finally found a price on a QF MEL-LAX return flight at Christmas time that I can stomach.

Only problem is that I need to book 2 x adults and 1 x child and the online booking engine only has the option of booking adults. Rang the agency in question to book on the phone and suddenly the price is about $60 ea more expensive for the adult tickets. They explained that online prices were always cheaper (fair enough, its self serve) so I said I would book the 2 adults online and call them back to add the child and they said I couldnt do that.

Is that right? Surely once I have a booking reference I can add a pax to the booking subject to availability? If they won't do it then once I have an online booking and a booking number can I call QF to have someone added?

It seems unfair to force me to pay a higher price for all 3 pax.

Your advice is appreciated.

 

[serfty]

IME, you can't add PAX to an existing booking.

WHat can be done, is make two separate bookings for the same flights, then cross link them with "TCP Entries". (TCP stands for "To Complete Party")

This generally ensures you get seated together etc ...

 

[NM]

With may of the sale fares, there is no discount for children, so it can be better to just book as 3 x adults.

But if the fare does offer a child discount (often its 75% of the adult fare) then it may be worthwhile paying the extra to book via the phone.

As serfty stated, bookings can be linked. However, it may not be possible to book the discounted child fare without booking at least one adult ticket at the same time. Part of the reason for allowing a discount on a child fare is the expectation that the child will be accompanied by an adult paying the adult fare price. This is likely the reason they told you that you cannot book two adults on-line and the child separately via the phone.

 

[oz_mark]

May I ask which agency this is? I can't recall an oline booking enigine that did not give the option of adding adults and children to the one search.

 

[Travel Guru]

You can't add pax to a booking once its made, all you can is either resell the entire booking and add them in, or TCP them.

The problem you've got is that when there is a child discount, it generally isn't available unless there's an adult on the same PNR, so you wouldn't be able to book a separate child on its own booking.

Either book 2A1C through the call centre on the one pnr, or book 3 adults on the website, whatevers cheaper.

Having said that, i've never noticed a problem with Qantas.com allowing child bookings, if its a different agency, swap agents.

TG

 

[Timtammi]

Thanks guys I understand now.

its statravel.com.au btw and I am only wanting to book through them as its cheaper than booking direct with QF for these flights or any of the other online agencies I've checked.

Will do my maths and proceed accordingly.

Cheers

 

[Travel Guru]

STA seem to have some fairly good route deals on AU-LAX QF fares.

Perhaps give Student Flights (a subsidiary of Flight Centre) a call and see what they can offer, or you can always print up STA's online price and go into Flight Centre and get them to quote beat it by $20 for you.

TG

 

[Timtammi]

Rang STA back again and was successful this time in getting them to book the 2 adults at the online price and only the child at 75% of the "offline" higher price. All up saved over $1000 over booking online at qantas.com.

Worth the effort!

Thanks for all your help and advice

Cheers

 

[Travel Guru]

How do they get those wonderful fares?? (said in his best Jack Nicholson Joker Voice) :mrgreen::mrgreen:

TG

 

[docjames]

How do they get those wonderful fares?? (said in his best Jack Nicholson Joker Voice) :mrgreen::mrgreen:

TG

?Volume

or prepared to accept smaller margins i guess

 

[Travel Guru]

?Volume

or prepared to accept smaller margins i guess

Its not volume, otherwise FC would have the same fare, and i've checked and they don't (we had a client with the same STA fare)

It must be a specially negotiated nett as theres not enough margin on a QF fare to account for the difference.

Interesting

TG

 

[Keith009]

STA has amazing deals with QF/BA. I've bought tickets from them before, pretty convenient for me since they have an outlet at uni. And they do the hard sell with the QF fares, "because they're our best friends" as I was told once. Code: We get good commissions from QF?

 

[Timtammi]

Yes I think they must be special fares just for STA but noone else I looked at even came close in price, they were hundreds of dollars cheaper.

The fare code was something like QFPCOTA?