Can't book a single-leg rewards flight

[SamParker]

A bit of a strange one, but I'm hoping someone can answer:

I need to travel to NY for work early next year and was thinking of doing a layover in Rio. My company would then be paying for my flight to Rio and then home from NY and I would have to book my own Rio --> NYC flight.

I logged onto the Qantas site looking for flights but the search engine won't allow me to do a single leg reward from Rio --> NYC. It does allow a return from NYC --> Rio --> NYC and there are definitely seats on the return leg available. I assume the system does not allow this because they cannot sell rewards seats on another airline as a single leg?

What else can I do? I was thinking of two options: 1) I book the return and not show up for the first leg - but I think I run the risk of the airline cancelling my return if I have a "no show" for the first leg, (and this would waste 30k points) or 2) maybe there is a way to book, then split the booking, and then cancel the first leg? Or is there anything else I could do?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sameer

 

[justinbrett]

A bit of a strange one, but I'm hoping someone can answer:

I need to travel to NY for work early next year and was thinking of doing a layover in Rio. My company would then be paying for my flight to Rio and then home from NY and I would have to book my own Rio --> NYC flight.

I logged onto the Qantas site looking for flights but the search engine won't allow me to do a single leg reward from Rio --> NYC. It does allow a return from NYC --> Rio --> NYC and there are definitely seats on the return leg available. I assume the system does not allow this because they cannot sell rewards seats on another airline as a single leg?

What else can I do? I was thinking of two options: 1) I book the return and not show up for the first leg - but I think I run the risk of the airline cancelling my return if I have a "no show" for the first leg, (and this would waste 30k points) or 2) maybe there is a way to book, then split the booking, and then cancel the first leg? Or is there anything else I could do?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sameer

It's because the website won't sell tickets ex Brazil.

You'll need to call to book. You will be exempt from the assistance fee as it's not bookable via the web.

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

You will need to ring - if QF dont fly to a country it cannot online collect the tax and charges for the ticket in the country of origin.

 

[justinbrett]

if QF dont fly to a country it cannot online collect the tax and charges for the ticket in the country of origin.

No that's not true, there's plenty of countries they sell tickets from that they don't fly to (eg Mexico).

 

[SYD]

It's because the website won't sell tickets ex Brazil.

You'll need to call to book. You will be exempt from the assistance fee as it's not bookable via the web.

Just to clarify, the search you’re doing (NYC- RIO return), if you can see RIO-NYC flights that suite, just call and book those. Should be no issue.

 

[justinbrett]

Just to clarify, the search you’re doing (NYC- RIO return), if you can see RIO-NYC flights that suite, just call and book those. Should be no issue.

A suite would suit!

 

[SYD]

A suite would suit!

Bloody auto-uncorrect…..

 

[AIRwin]

A suite would suit!

Doh! Or via DOH?

 

[SamParker]

Just to clarify, the search you’re doing (NYC- RIO return), if you can see RIO-NYC flights that suite, just call and book those. Should be no issue.

Ugh, I called they said they couldn't book it as a single. . The flights were just not appearing for them if requesting ex. from Rio.

And they outsight said that I would be risking the flight being cancelled if I just didn't rock up for the first leg.

Surely, this can't be the only way? Should I try another agent?

 

[elanshin]

Ugh, I called they said they couldn't book it as a single. . The flights were just not appearing for them if requesting ex. from Rio.

And they outsight said that I would be risking the flight being cancelled if I just didn't rock up for the first leg.

Surely, this can't be the only way? Should I try another agent?

Yes you'll need to HUACA a few times to find an agent that knows what they're doing. Many can only follow the manuscript (aka what you can do yourself online).

 

[Mattg]

Last time I tried to use Qantas points to book a reward ticket out of South America, it took seven calls before I got through to an agent who could see (and/or knew how to properly look for) availability on the flight I wanted. (I had already checked for availability before calling and knew there was a seat available - just couldn't book it online.)

You might need to try calling a few more times, although it might test your patience.

 

[ronlon]

Last time I tried to use Qantas points to book a reward ticket out of South America, it took seven calls before I got through to an agent who could see (and/or knew how to properly look for) availability on the flight I wanted. (I had already checked for availability before calling and knew there was a seat available - just couldn't book it online.)

You might need to try calling a few more times, although it might test your patience.

Any tips of what to say to an agent so they can see or know how to book what we can see? I have had this situation in the past and again recently. Or is it better to keep calling to get a proficient agent ? In my recent example agent 3 was able to complete the booking but it took 1hr 20min. Agent 1 knew very little, agent 2 was a bit better but still not fully across things

 

[Mattg]

Any tips of what to say to an agent so they can see or know how to book what we can see? I have had this situation in the past and again recently. Or is it better to keep calling to get a proficient agent ? In my recent example agent 3 was able to complete the booking but it took 1hr 20min. Agent 1 knew very little, agent 2 was a bit better but still not fully across things

I honestly don't know if there's anything you could say to an agent who has no idea what they're doing, other than asking to speak to a supervisor. Personally I just hang up and call again - eventually, hopefully, you'll reach someone who knows what to do.

I really wish Qantas would give you an option to keep waiting on hold until someone in Hobart is available... I'd prefer to wait 3 hours for that than have to call 6 times.

 

[SamParker]

Just a report back here. I got someone on the third call to book the flight. No questions asked and no booking fee (because I couldn't get it on the website)

Thanks all for the advice!