Can I make a back-up booking same day?

[MichelleL94]

Sorry if this is a silly question. I have made a booking for BNE>MEL>HKG>LHR for July next year. The MEL>HKG sector is with Cathay. I booked these flights as it was all I could find with business sectors. I am now reading that Cathay is having issues and lots of cancellations. I am hoping this may have resolved by next year but is it possible to book back-up flights with FF points classic rewards on the same day or will that mess with my original booking? I can find some with other partner airlines. I have plenty of points but its just the extra taxes that would be a bit painful! Obviously one booking would have to be cancelled prior to 24 hours before the flight. Thanks for your help.

 

[bam71]

If you can, I would. Ensure however that you are not on the same airlines as they could detect a duplicate and cancel one. Steer clear of any carriers your current booking is on.

 

[Pushka]

Sorry if this is a silly question. I have made a booking for BNE>MEL>HKG>LHR for July next year. The MEL>HKG sector is with Cathay. I booked these flights as it was all I could find with business sectors. I am now reading that Cathay is having issues and lots of cancellations. I am hoping this may have resolved by next year but is it possible to book back-up flights with FF points classic rewards on the same day or will that mess with my original booking? I can find some with other partner airlines. I have plenty of points but its just the extra taxes that would be a bit painful! Obviously one booking would have to be cancelled prior to 24 hours before the flight. Thanks for your help.

I've done this and cancelled the one I don't need. Systems don't seem to talk to each other.

 

[MichelleL94]

I have tried to make a booking on the couple of days either side with a different carrier both on mine and my husband’s frequent flyer accounts and on different devices and I keep getting error messages. Maybe it can’t be done?

 

[Quickstatus]

I have done this PreCovid and did not have problems.

Dont know what happens now

 

[Pushka]

I have tried to make a booking on the couple of days either side with a different carrier both on mine and my husband’s frequent flyer accounts and on different devices and I keep getting error messages. Maybe it can’t be done?

It can be done. I had two booked just last week. Sometimes you get error messages because what you are trying to do can't be done online but not because of there being 2 bookings.

 

[MichelleL94]

I was trying to book through Doha which was the problem. There is a glitch apparently with that. Booked Sydney to London via Singapore. Only economy and PE but better than paying cash for an economy seat and at least I know I can get there now . Other booking appears ok. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Hvr]

BNE>MEL>HKG>LHR

It looks like you're worried about the MEL-HKG leg being cancelled,

Is this one booking? If so once any leg is cancelled then the rest may also fall over. You could end up in HKG on your alternate flight but because you didn't take the original flight, the HKG-LHR might be cancelled.

 

[MichelleL94]

Yes if Mel > HKG gets cancelled I would imagine that the whole booking would be a problem. I would have to call and see if alternative can be sorted. Otherwise back up flight Sydney to LHR via Singapore is 2 days after original flight - so would still have that up my sleeve.

 

[kpro]

I've certainly done this on Qantas domestic, during the crazy lock down and state borders closing on short notice period that was the last two years.

Two QF tickets to different destinations on the same day, within hours of each other. Only cancelling one the morning of or even a few hours prior to the flight. No cancellations or communications asking why I had conflicting flights booked. Even called up to adjust timings and the call centre staff seemingly didn't care or notice)

 

[palpal]

I did make a backup booking on 2 separate classic reward bookings a month ago. It let me book but then few days later I got email from qantas saying they detected a ‘duplicate booking’ and said I needed to call them or else they will auto cancel.

 

[gibboflyer]

I did make a backup booking on 2 separate classic reward bookings a month ago. It let me book but then few days later I got email from qantas saying they detected a ‘duplicate booking’ and said I needed to call them or else they will auto cancel.

Same with us, we booked Tokyo on points and as it hasn’t opened to independent tourists yet we booked Noumea as well at a similar time and received a duplicate booking email so rescheduled Noumea for sooner.

 

[MichelleL94]

My bookings are two days apart so not sure if that will be different - will have to wait and see.

 

[ronlon]

my experience with a back up booking on same departure date has been mixed: no issues or could not complete the booking had to call or booking confirmed but got follow up email to contact Qantas. I had one agent say there is a risk of auto cancel yet another agent said I could keep 2 bookings. Just keep abreast of Cathay schedules, covid etc and make a call down the track which way is the likely route to get you to London. You get all the taxes back on the cancelled flights.