280K Oneworld award-What happens if QR sectors shut down ?

[jaybeedee]

Mrs jaybeedee and I depart this Saturday on a 280K oneworld award. In August we are returning, flying from Copenhagen to Sharjah on QR (via Doha) and then a few days later Sharjah to Auckland on QR via Doha.(We are visiting my brother who lives in the UAE).

If the UAE ban on air travel from Qatar continues we won't be able to get from CPH to the Emirates on QR. What happens there ? Does any airline have a responsibility to get us from our departure point to our destination (and in the same class!!). Our first segments are on QF and the itinerary was ticketed by QF.

Should we be trying to change it before departure (unlikely to get award flights except possibly in Y), or should we get started and hope that all the political posturing blows over in two months, and if it doesn't someone will have to sort our itinerary out?

In a perfect world, QF would say, ok we can't get you there on QR, but Emirates flies from CPH-DXB and DXB-AKL so here are your J boarding passes. I can't see that happening somehow.

What does happen with award bookings when this type of disruption occurs?

 

[Pushka]

Call Qantas. I was in a similar situation and had to change flights last night for a trip in beginning of July. Had to downgrade to Y but received refund. Get it sorted while you still have options. They would only give me left over award tickets and we are both WP.

 

[flapper]

I've had this happen to me twice; when OW airlines either went broke (Malev) or cut the route I was booked on. Luckily both times before my travel commenced.
You'll most likely get 2 choices.
Take flights on other OW airlines but they would waive the usual OW rtw rules.
Make your own alternative arrangements.
I pretty sure they won't let you fly EK as they are not OW.
Either way I would have a backup plan.

 

[moa999]

I'd say best chance is getting rerouted on BA to DFW via LHR, but I'd probably be waiting to see if the situation sorts itself out. Or maybe even UL (Sri Lankan) which would be next closest to the region.

 

[Pushka]

I'd say best chance is getting rerouted on BA to DFW via LHR, but I'd probably be waiting to see if the situation sorts itself out. Or maybe even UL (Sri Lankan) which would be next closest to the region.

I cant see this getting sorted out by Saturday.

 

[dajop]

In a perfect world, QF would say, ok we can't get you there on QR, but Emirates flies from CPH-DXB and DXB-AKL so here are your J boarding passes. I can't see that happening somehow

You could however try for CPH-LHR-DXB on BA/QF or BA/BA or combinations of BA, AY, QF, RJ & AB. For DXB-AKL you can look at QF, CX, UL & MH or combinations thereof. Before calling, do a bit of homework online.

One good thing, the 280K awards are not so restrictive with regions and backtracking, the main restrictions are segments and mileage (35,000). If you are not close to either limit, there may be some options.

Otherwise, see if you can re-route to MCT instead of Sharjah and get a cheap $$ fare from there to DXB, Sharjah or AUH.

 

[ozflier]

I am in a similar situation.
We have a OWA which includes Warsaw to Doha to Narita on the 8 july .
A quick on the BA award site shows no available options.
At least we are not booked to any other spots in the affected countries.
Hopefully we will be OK.

 

[moa999]

I cant see this getting sorted out by Saturday.

The relevant sectors for jaybeedee aren't till August

 

[moa999]

I am in a similar situation.
We have a OWA which includes Warsaw to Doha to Narita on the 8 july.

No issues with that apart from what I expect will be delays in and out of Doha

 

[jaybeedee]

I am in a similar situation.
We have a OWA which includes Warsaw to Doha to Narita on the 8 july .
.....
Hopefully we will be OK.

I think you are fine - just may be delays and general confusion, but Qatar will still be flying to those ports.
My issue is going from Doha to the UAE.

 

[Pushka]

The relevant sectors for jaybeedee aren't till August

Sure, but I wouldnt want to be stressing about the "what ifs" once I leave Australia

It is indeed the DXB - Doha (and other 'Arabian' airports) that are the issue here.

 

[jaybeedee]

You could however try for CPH-LHR-DXB on BA/QF or BA/BA or combinations of BA, AY, QF, RJ & AB. For DXB-AKL you can look at QF, CX, UL & MH or combinations thereof. Before calling, do a bit of homework online.

One good thing, the 280K awards are not so restrictive with regions and backtracking, the main restrictions are segments and mileage (35,000). If you are not close to either limit, there may be some options.

Otherwise, see if you can re-route to MCT instead of Sharjah and get a cheap $$ fare from there to DXB, Sharjah or AUH.

Certainly nothing available in J around that time. I thought about Muscat as well, but the only award flights are either with Royal Jordanian (and loong layover) or with an 18hour layover in Doha on the AUckland route.

Teh call centre are saying that as far as they are concerned flights have not yet been officially affected (and interestingly although EKetc have stopped flying to Doha, QR hasn't yet announced that they will stop flying to UAE).

The QF call centre offered award flights from CPH-DXB on Emirates, but when I reminded her about the OneWorld award she realised that wasn't an option. I had a look at buying the Emirates CPH-DXB awards as backup insurance, which was available but about $1000 in surcharges (plus points plus whatever points costs I have in making changes to my 280K awards, less any refund I get). I figure I can get to Oman and Doha to get back to Auckland *relatively* easily.

So at the moment I am tempted to agree with Moa999 and leave things and wait for the geopolitical manoeuvring to settle down.

And everything was looking so well lined up up until this morning

 

[Oxy]

You could however try for CPH-LHR-DXB on BA/QF or BA/BA or combinations of BA, AY, QF, RJ & AB. For DXB-AKL you can look at QF, CX, UL & MH or combinations thereof.

Something along these lines would have to be your best bet. You should be able to find something from LHR-DXB,LHR-AUH,TXL-AUH or LHR-MCT around the dates you need, though J will be a lot harder obviously.

Do they give any flexibility to the rule that states no changes after travel has commenced? Surely they would have to, if right now they are saying there is no issue because the flights are still valid...

Good luck!

 

[burmans]

No issues with that apart from what I expect will be delays in and out of Doha

Though this could be problematic if your turnaround in Doha is short!.

 

[blu]

Mine's 50 minutes, but in Dec. Hopefully gets resolved after Eid later this month.

 

[kpro]

Had a few sectors of a 280k award coming up which included Qatar. Called up and was able to change these with no change fee. Luckily there were still a few options available.