China Airlines reward seats using Qantas points

[Matt_01]

Hey guys, I just booked CA flights to/from Taiwan for later this year with Qantas Points. Unfortunately, I cannot select our seats via the Qantas website and also can't via the China Airlines website.

When I try via the CA website or App I use my booking reference number (provided by Qantas) and it returns this error: "Please confirm the booking information you entered. The service is limited to CI / AE confirmation numbers/flight tickets except for group reservations." The app acutally recognises me but when I click the 'manage booking' option I recive the above error.
What am I doing wrong? Is it possible to obtain a CA reference number for my booking?

I've also tried ticket numbers without success...

Thank you.

How long was it after you booked the flights via the QF site did you try to log into the CI to select seats. From memory it took around 24-48 or longer to be able to log into the CI website also CI uses the QF PNR. The other thing to check is your combinations of first and middle name, on my QF I have my first name and a separate middle name however for some carriers my first name is passed to their systems with the first initial of my middle name without a space. I know this happens with JL and now CI seems to be another, I am pretty sure I know why this happens.

 

[usmantk]

I booked a few flights recently and was able to select seat, don’t click on manage booking , there is select seat option that is seperate using app

 

[eagle_boy]

@Rembrandt I recently had the same issues. Further to what @Matt_01 has detailed, I can manage my booking through the CI App but must enter my first name and middle name as One (1) name/word. If you can't select your seats or manage your booking here, I contacted the CI Melbourne branch email address and they were really helpful and let me select any seat available via email. It was a really quick and impressive experience. You can find the Sydney and Melbourne email address through CI Contact Us pages.

 

[Rembrandt]

How long was it after you booked the flights via the QF site did you try to log into the CI to select seats. From memory it took around 24-48 or longer to be able to log into the CI website also CI uses the QF PNR. The other thing to check is your combinations of first and middle name, on my QF I have my first name and a separate middle name however for some carriers my first name is passed to their systems with the first initial of my middle name without a space. I know this happens with JL and now CI seems to be another, I am pretty sure I know why this happens.

Less than 48 hours, which made me think I may have to wait a little longer.

I have a middle name but I don't have it on my ticket, never had an issue in the past. Will this be an issue with CA? If it is I guess best to update now than later...

Thanks everyone.

 

[jpp42]

I have a middle name but I don't have it on my ticket, never had an issue in the past. Will this be an issue with CA? If it is I guess best to update now than later...

As described above if your middle name is not on the ticket they add it during check-in at the airport, no stress. It's not going to stop you from flying, but CI (as with some other airlines), do require that the ticket/boarding pass exactly match your passport.

 

[Rembrandt]

I booked a few flights recently and was able to select seat, don’t click on manage booking , there is select seat option that is seperate using app

Awesome, thank you this sorted it out. I was selecting 'manage booking' when I didn't need to.

Just for everyone else that is confused. Download the China Airlines app > my booking > booking inquiry > select flight > passenger (top of screen) > seat

 

[usmantk]

As described above if your middle name is not on the ticket they add it during check-in at the airport, no stress. It's not going to stop you from flying, but CI (as with some other airlines), do require that the ticket/boarding pass exactly match your passport.

For some reason my middle name is listed but without space between first and middle name

 

[encryptededdy]

For some reason my middle name is listed but without space between first and middle name

That's normal, it's how the GDS stores names.

 

[Matt_01]

At the end of the day there have been many that have travelled on QF booked flights with CI over the years and it all just seems to work. Officially CI need a first, middle (if applicable) and family name to be on the booking exactly as per your passport and that is what the call center agents will tell you. The call center agents read from scripts and have no idea what actually happens at check-in. Check-in staff just fix any outstanding issues and you are given a boarding pass. On my flight a week or so back QK checked me in and issued a BP, CI did not like it and reissued a CI BP at the gate. The CI BP had only half my middle name and did not match my passport, it did not stop me from boarding or cause any issues on arrival. From memory we went from doors opening to landside in 10-15 minutes and most of that was the walk to immigration. I have flown on a few CN carriers and CI would have to be up there with one of the easists.

 

[stockmaster]

Interested on anyone's experience accessing lounges while redeeming CI business reward seats using QFF points - any issues encountered?

 

[yangry]

Interested on anyone's experience accessing lounges while redeeming CI business reward seats using QFF points - any issues encountered?

We had access to the Marhaba lounge in Melbourne, and the China Airlines lounge in Taipei.

 

[encryptededdy]

Interested on anyone's experience accessing lounges while redeeming CI business reward seats using QFF points - any issues encountered?

No issues in Taipei. The lounge in T2 where the flights to Australia depart from is quite mid though.

 

[knightfall88]

Interested on anyone's experience accessing lounges while redeeming CI business reward seats using QFF points - any issues encountered?

Taipei lounge is quite standard. But in my opinion, the flight is terrific though

 

[heycam]

Marhaba Lounge in Melbourne is pretty ordinary too. But when flying CI, they do give you a little paper voucher to order a beef noodle soup, which visitors on other airlines presumably don't get.

 

[hachoo]

Taipei lounge is quite standard. But in my opinion, the flight is terrific though

TPE lounge - food selections and the shower are decent. Beef noodle soup isn't bad and the flight is excellent.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

At the end of the day there have been many that have travelled on QF booked flights with CI over the years and it all just seems to work. Officially CI need a first, middle (if applicable) and family name to be on the booking exactly as per your passport and that is what the call center agents will tell you. The call center agents read from scripts and have no idea what actually happens at check-in. Check-in staff just fix any outstanding issues and you are given a boarding pass. On my flight a week or so back QK checked me in and issued a BP, CI did not like it and reissued a CI BP at the gate. The CI BP had only half my middle name and did not match my passport, it did not stop me from boarding or cause any issues on arrival. From memory we went from doors opening to landside in 10-15 minutes and most of that was the walk to immigration. I have flown on a few CN carriers and CI would have to be up there with one of the easists.

CN or TW carriers?

 

[Matt_01]

@anyonebutqantas CI is a Taiwanese carrier and I was checked in via QF (not QK, my very bad typo). The CN carriers I have flow with are CA, MU and CZ.

 

[mrsterryn]

Just curious how the carry on luggage was controlled ? It appears to be less than Qantas. Just curious as I wait out the time for my Seoul trip

 

[encryptededdy]

Just curious how the carry on luggage was controlled ? It appears to be less than Qantas. Just curious as I wait out the time for my Seoul trip

I carried on a wheeled suitcase, a large messenger bag, and a shopping bag into J and nobody said anything. I definitely exceeded the 7kg limit but was not weighed. This was in Taipei.

 

[Matt_01]

Just curious how the carry on luggage was controlled ? It appears to be less than Qantas. Just curious as I wait out the time for my Seoul trip

I didn't bother to look up the weight limits for CI and just fronted up with my rolly carry on and my back pack it was most likely under the weight limit but do not know as nothing was weighed.