Qantas Multi-city booking question

[AB0274]

Hi there, long time lurker, first time poster. Hoping someone might be able to clarify a couple curly questions.

I've booked flights mid next year using the Qantas multi city engine. First time doing so. Was keen to offload some Qantas points & see (what was left) of Business class classic reward seats on offer. I've never flown business class, have been stock piling points through the pandemic and thought I would treat myself (and my partner)!

The itinerary:

Business class;
QF: Melbourne > Delhi (departing 09:20 arriving 17:40)

BA: Delhi > London Heathrow (departing 01:50 arriving 06:45).

Questions:

1. Using the standard portal & searching for classic reward flights "Melbourne to London", this wasn't a route that came up. I also called the call centre and they tried multiple combinations and dates and informed be there was no route into London using classic reward flights. Is it more my good luck / happy hunting I found these tickets, or is there some sort of deeper issue/risk with this route?
2. And secondly, I've received the itinerary and both flights/ passengers are ticketed under the same itinerary and the end destination - London - appears in my Qantas app. If there was an unexpected delay / operational issue for example in Delhi - would we be entitled to having the airline book alternative travel? (I know for people who book different legs as isolated tickets - are not).
3. Also, any knowledge or insight on Delhi airport much appreciated! I didn't know Qantas flew direct to Delhi - was quite surprised.

Thanks!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It’s not uncommon for the search tool to return ‘selected’ routings… can’t go giving away too many award seats!!

As long as it is ticketed i will meet any minimum connecting times and you will be protected in the event of delays or a cancellation on the day of travel.

Cancellations in advance of travel are a bit more tricky. The QF part is fine… they will carry you on their next available service. But if BA cancels you could have a bit of a fight to get new seats. It should in theory be easier as BA is subject to UK261, which means they have to provide you with alternative flights. But getting qantas to talk to partner airlines isn’t always easy.

Personally I wouldn’t have an issue with your itinerary,

Transit in DEL was easy pre-covid… off one plane, through transit security, and out into the main departures area for lounges and gates. Pre-covid the lines could get long at transit security, so don’t dawdle off your flight… a brisk walk might be in order.

The lounges are so-so, but the indoor terminal space was nice enough. Aesthetically similar to Changi in terms of carpet throughout, and lots of space. Although that’s about where it ends!

 

[Ade]

Hi there, long time lurker, first time poster. Hoping someone might be able to clarify a couple curly questions.

I've booked flights mid next year using the Qantas multi city engine. First time doing so. Was keen to offload some Qantas points & see (what was left) of Business class classic reward seats on offer. I've never flown business class, have been stock piling points through the pandemic and thought I would treat myself (and my partner)!

The itinerary:

Business class;
QF: Melbourne > Delhi (departing 09:20 arriving 17:40)

BA: Delhi > London Heathrow (departing 01:50 arriving 06:45).

Questions:

1. Using the standard portal & searching for classic reward flights "Melbourne to London", this wasn't a route that came up. I also called the call centre and they tried multiple combinations and dates and informed be there was no route into London using classic reward flights. Is it more my good luck / happy hunting I found these tickets, or is there some sort of deeper issue/risk with this route?
2. And secondly, I've received the itinerary and both flights/ passengers are ticketed under the same itinerary and the end destination - London - appears in my Qantas app. If there was an unexpected delay / operational issue for example in Delhi - would we be entitled to having the airline book alternative travel? (I know for people who book different legs as isolated tickets - are not).
3. Also, any knowledge or insight on Delhi airport much appreciated! I didn't know Qantas flew direct to Delhi - was quite surprised.

Thanks!

Welcome to AFF, @AB0274

Re : routes in the multi-city - There are so many combinations of routes/cities that make/break an itinerary. So if you did not find the exact routing you are after, it is more that the route you are after is not viable and that is ok, not an issue. I have, in recent past, made up my routes of my own to increase SC earn (for DSC) and some routes were ticketable, some were not. If a route is not found doesn't always mean there is a deeper issue/risk.

Re : DEL - I have transited international to domestic at DEL and during evening hours it does become busy. So that is something to note. However, given that you have approx 7 hours before the BA leg, you can relax a bit and head towards transit security. Given you are flying J, you will have some lounge options to use. Grab a meal, sit back & relax. DEL is a huge airport, so if you need any assistance, pls approach any staff or security in uniform, they will be more than glad to assist

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[AB0274]

Thanks so much @Ade and @MEL_Traveller !

Another question - do you know roughly the status earnings on this classic rewards fare? Will we eligible to earn points on the BA component too?
(We return booked through Qantas, flying BA business class home - Rome > Heathrow and then Heathrow > Sydney (via Singapore).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks so much @Ade and @MEL_Traveller !

Another question - do you know roughly the status earnings on this classic rewards fare? Will we eligible to earn points on the BA component too?
(We return booked through Qantas, flying BA business class home - Rome > Heathrow and then Heathrow > Sydney (via Singapore).

If you are. points club or points club plus member you will earn [heavily reduced] status credits on the qantas components only. IIRC I got 70SCs of something for SYD-LAX one way. There is a table on the qf site but I can’t access it atm.

 

[AB0274]

Fantastic! Yes, I am Points Club plus

 

[encryptededdy]

Per https://www.qantas.com/au/en/freque...ne-earning-tables/classic-flight-rewards.html I think SYD-DEL will come under "International flights (5,001 to 6,500 miles)" (distance is 6476mi), so I would expect it to earn 56 status credits.

I am aware however that Qantas can be geographically challenged at times, so maybe it would come under "Northeast Asia or Southeast Asia" (48SCs), but I suspect not since India really isn't east asia by any definition.

 

[SYD]

If you are. points club or points club plus member you will earn [heavily reduced] status credits on the qantas components only. IIRC I got 70SCs of something for SYD-LAX one way. There is a table on the qf site but I can’t access it atm.

But 100% more SCs than non-PC members - so not to be sniffed at!

There are reports of BA award flights crediting SCs also.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But 100% more SCs than non-PC members - so not to be sniffed at!

There are reports of BA award flights crediting SCs also.

good to know!

As a data point I got QF SCs credited for a flight booked via a partner FF (for travel on QF metal), but received no points on either AS, AA or BA when flying on their metal (all awards, issued through QFFF or partners, with QFFF number included).