Changing oneworld crediting FF program mid ticket no longer allowed?

[Jack_OC]

What if the airline is not oneworld? (Or EK code share)

For example, I fly:
SYD-HKG QF on my QFF WP #
HKG-CDG AF on my FlyingBlue # (thanks QF no more code shares on AF)
CDG-HKG AF as above
HKG-SYD on QF again

I can't double dip, as QF doesn't earn on FlyingBlue and AF doesn't earn on QFF. There are no 'benefits' cross program.

I look forward to seeing the T&Cs that would prohibit this...

I've actually just been booked on an itinerary along these lines - QF to the US then LH home via Europe. I surely don't have to choose between crediting the whole trip to QF or the whole trip to *A? Either way I'd earn no points or SCs on half the trip. I had assumed I could enter my QFF number initially, and then log on and change it to my KF number after the QF flights. Really hoping that will be the case?

 

[moa999]

I also thought (remembering from a thread long ago) that there were multiple off fields, albeit most agents didn't know one from another.

One for points earn, one for points refemptikn (eg family member has bought you the flight) and one for benefits (eg lounge).

Maybe this has changed.


Also based on a post on Facebook, about another member's experience at CDG, appears BA might have a similar policy

 

[Danger]

I also thought (remembering from a thread long ago) that there were multiple off fields, albeit most agents didn't know one from another.

One for points earn, one for points refemptikn (eg family member has bought you the flight) and one for benefits (eg lounge).

Maybe this has changed.

Yes, that occurred to me as well. The only field I can remember is FQTV. Serfty has the knowledge on this one.

 

[Kangol]

Also based on a post on Facebook, about another member's experience at CDG, appears BA might have a similar policy

Interested in this - can you post the link?

 

[NM]

The only time I have change my FF number mid-itinerary is when I had a combination of AA and QF flight all booked in N class. So if the entire itinerary was credited to either one of my FF accounts, at least one flight would not have earned any points/miles. The itinerary included 5 x AA flight number and 1 x QF flight number. So I started with my AA number in the booking and then changed to my QFF number for the last QF flight so I was at least going to earn the minimum 1000 QFF points and 10 SCs (not that the SCs had any value at all to me).

Given that I would not be eligible for earning any points on that N class QF flight if my AA number was used, it could not possibly be considered a case of double-dipping. I received the same lounge access and priority check-in as I would have with either account, I did not use any FF status-related additional baggage allowances. So the only thing this change would have done is reduced my QFF points earning by 1000 points. Great to see QFF is being proactive to reduce their points exposure in this manner.

Does the information available suggest that the FF details can be changed prior to check-in or even at check-in if using a real check-in desk agent for the process? So in my case above, I could have asked AA to only check me in as far as MEL (where I had to collect my bag anyway) and then check-in at the QF counter and ask them to change the FF number before checking me in for the next flight?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

You can add more than one frequent flyer number into an itinerary in a GDS for each airline that is involved. So if you have a mixed itinerary where you fly QF and then a non-partner like LH your agent can send the QF number to QF and the star alliance program number to LH.

 

[Danger]

You can add more than one frequent flyer number into an itinerary in a GDS for each airline that is involved. So if you have a mixed itinerary where you fly QF and then a non-partner like LH your agent can send the QF number to QF and the star alliance program number to LH.

It seems Qantas has suddenly decided it will not allow that, at least not within oneworld programs.

 

[drewbles]

Friday June 7: AA Flagship Lounge T4 LAX. Arrived with BP bearing my AAdvantage Number (am only AA Gold). Presented BP with my QF WP card. Was welcomed, handed the Ving card, and went upstairs. Presented BP with AA number and QF WP card again to the AAngel, and warmly welcomed, reminded of no boarding calls as usual. So, no change on the AA front for using other OW airlines benefits and crediting to AA (didn't ask to change FF number as was in a non-QF earning class up to SFO).

 

[Danger]

There is hope.

I spoke with a "senior lounge host" at Perth who was familiar with the email and said, "Don't worry about it. It's going to be changed back". She said lounge staff had got the email and gone 'what the?' As a result, "the boss's boss's boss" has got involved and it is being reviewed. She commented that they change FF numbers regularly and it's not an issue.

The agent did mention that it's come about due to, what for it, the Emirates alliance. Apparently, Qantas passengers at DXB have been using their Gold or Platinum card to access the lounges but crediting miles to Emirates, hence the alleged 'double dipping'. When I confirmed with her that there is in fact two issues at play (one, changing FF numbers after check in and, two, flying under one FF membership but utilising benefits of another) she agreed there were indeed two issues but reaffirmed that it was being reassessed. At that point she added "We're happy to have you" in whatever circumstance.

Fingers crossed it's fixed and reverts to how it was very soon.

I was amused, however, with the underlying tone of the agent: management makes a decision that those on the front line know doesn't work in practice.

 

[CaviAck]

The agent did mention that it's come about due to, what for it, the Emirates alliance. Apparently, Qantas passengers at DXB have been using their Gold or Platinum card to access the lounges but crediting miles to Emirates, hence the alleged 'double dipping'. When I confirmed with her that there is in fact two issues at play (one, changing FF numbers after check in and, two, flying under one FF membership but utilising benefits of another) she agreed there were indeed two issues but reaffirmed that it was being reassessed. At that point she added "We're happy to have you" in whatever circumstance.

I still don't see how that's double dipping... They're still getting lounge access and crediting only one lot of miles to one FF account... No different to using QFF to get lounge access and then crediting to say AA.

 

[madrooster]

No different to using QFF to get lounge access and then crediting to say AA.

It's likely to be a management knee-jerk reaction to the fact that QF would then need to pay AA/EK/whoever for miles rather than eat the (albeit likely lower) cost of crediting to their own QFF program.

 

[Danger]

I still don't see how that's double dipping... They're still getting lounge access and crediting only one lot of miles to one FF account... No different to using QFF to get lounge access and then crediting to say AA.

I completely agree. But it seems Qantas doesn't.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

It seems Qantas has suddenly decided it will not allow that, at least not within oneworld programs.

My post doesn't refer to changing the program mid way through, its all set at time of booking.

 

[opusman]

The agent did mention that it's come about due to, what for it, the Emirates alliance. Apparently, Qantas passengers at DXB have been using their Gold or Platinum card to access the lounges but crediting miles to Emirates, hence the alleged 'double dipping'.

There's nothing in the rules that prohibit that practice; the only qualification for lounge access as a QFF Gold or above is to "be departing that day on a Qantas (QF) or Emirates (EK) operated flight". It doesn't say anything about having to have your QFF number in the booking.

 

[Mal]

Yep. Not against the rules.

Someone in accounting has likely decided that it is too hard to correctly apportion the cost of lounge access to other airlines so wants to rely on FF number in booking to charge rather than actually tallying entries. Great idea in theory. Complete failure in practice.

Other airlines do manage this through various means, and the F lounges are very diligent at recording who is entering and under which status.

 

[Jack_OC]

You can add more than one frequent flyer number into an itinerary in a GDS for each airline that is involved. So if you have a mixed itinerary where you fly QF and then a non-partner like LH your agent can send the QF number to QF and the star alliance program number to LH.

How do you do this in practice though? Is it something only a travel agent can do? If I use the Manage Booking function on the QF, LH or SQ websites, it allows me to change FF details, but if I do so (with any of those websites) it applies the same FF details to the whole itinerary. It won't let me add more than one FF number.

I also tried adding my QFF number via the QF website, and then my KF number via the SQ website, but doing that removed my QFF number.

 

[Danger]

How do you do this in practice though? Is it something only a travel agent can do? If I use the Manage Booking function on the QF, LH or SQ websites, it allows me to change FF details, but if I do so (with any of those websites) it applies the same FF details to the whole itinerary. It won't let me add more than one FF number.

I also tried adding my QFF number via the QF website, and then my KF number via the SQ website, but doing that removed my QFF number.

I've only ever done it through Qantas over the phone or at the airport. Both methods required some pushing as it's not something done every day.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

How do you do this in practice though? Is it something only a travel agent can do? If I use the Manage Booking function on the QF, LH or SQ websites, it allows me to change FF details, but if I do so (with any of those websites) it applies the same FF details to the whole itinerary. It won't let me add more than one FF number.

I also tried adding my QFF number via the QF website, and then my KF number via the SQ website, but doing that removed my QFF number.

yes the agent can do that in the GDS

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

yes the agent can do that in the GDS

In my case I had AF put both numbers in my itinerary. I can now see through both my QFF and AFFB profiles, so I presume they are both in there.

I was also able to get my preferred WP seat selection on the QF segments and same on AF.

I guess I just need to make sure the right number is on the BP, and have the desk change it if not.

 

[Danger]

In my case I had AF put both numbers in my itinerary. I can now see through both my QFF and AFFB profiles, so I presume they are both in there.

I was also able to get my preferred WP seat selection on the QF segments and same on AF.

I guess I just need to make sure the right number is on the BP, and have the desk change it if not.

Be careful, though. Do you know which flights will accrue to which airline? I wouldn't necessarily take it for granted that, for example, that your AF flight will accrue to AF and your QF flight to QF. You may find that one of the FF numbers will be the automatic accrual number.